It is of outmost importance for EST S.A. to acquire and maintain collaboration with educational institutions and in this respect has always provided assistance to Professors and students by completing various questionnaires for research purposes or offering various information about the organization, as appropriate. As such, the Company has developed an ongoing and strengthening partnership with the University of Piraeus during the last years. The joint activities include:

Ø                   Lectures are conducted at the University of Piraeus by the Company’s Managing Director.

Ø                   Two in house Master Thesis projects, with 6 months duration have been offered to the University’s students within 2005 co-supervised by University Staff and EST S.A.

Ø                   One day long visits to the Company’s Head Quarters by groups of students are carried out, in the context of which EST S.A. Management Team and personnel; provide an insight to the students on Values, Mission & Vision, Policy & Strategy, Processes, QSEMS, Key Performance Indicators.

Ø                   Full time employment has been offered to the University’s graduates that had completed their Master Thesis at EST S.A.

Ø                   Part time employment is being offered to some University’s students during the summer-time in order to allow them to complete their practical training and obtain valuable experience in the field of shipping.

Meetings are carried out between the Management and University’s Professors to explore new avenues of co-operation, to foster Excellence and to enhance the students’ and the professional society’s efforts towards a culture and a practice of Excellence.