News of Interest to students who plan a full term (or two full terms) in any of Heraklion, Bonn, Warsaw, in the context of the CAN-EU funded transatlantic student exchange agreement.

Follow this link to find  out  which courses,  offered by our European partners, are transferrable as York CSE courses
upon your successfully completing them. Each row is a row of courses which will be credited as the York course on the first column.

This is a page predominantly about the Summer 2007 School in Heraklion, Crete, but contains also some more general info on exchanges.

2008 Summer School in Heraklion Crete (CSE 4215 3.0; July 1-July 31; Classes: July 7-July 24)

Sponsored by ICS/FORTH

Application Form

As previously communicated to all students enrolled in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year computer science courses, the department is actively encouraging international exchanges and in that context it has organised, since 2003, summer schools in Germany (Fachhochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) and is now continuing to expand these by planing in 2008 a summer school in Crete (CSE4215 3.0).

These schools are consistent with and support a broader exchange program recently established with two partners in Canada (U of New Brunswick and Dalhousie U) and three partners in Europe (Fachhochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Warsaw University of Technology, University of Crete and ICS/FORTH).  This program allows for one-term or two-term  student exchanges across the Atlantic. Summer schools are an integral part of this effort. Participating York computer science students will be immersed in a foreign culture and language milieu for approximately a month, and take an intensive computer science course abroad (in English) that counts toward their degree at York. This brief visit, it is hoped, will whet the appetite of students and prepare them to go back, to the same or to one of the other two European partner universities, for at least one full term of study (fall or winter, or both). Unlike summer schools, instruction during the longer exchange visit in the fall or winter terms may be in the host country's native language, although there may also be some courses that are taught in English.

It is important to note that the University of Crete provides linguistic accommodation to English speaking visiting students (Fall and or Winter terms; instruction in Summer Schools is in English). This accommodation extends to instruction and examination. I quote from
http://www.uoc.gr/erasmus/uoc.html:

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction is Greek. However, special arrangements for English-speaking students can be discussed with each Department.

The language barrier will be addressed systematically, first by "survival" language courses offered by the host institutions during the summer schools. These brief courses in basic language skills will give the visiting students the ability to interface with the locals in their native language, and will be a good co-requisite towards appreciating the host country's culture. These skills along with the fact that many people in Heraklion, Bonn and Warsaw are able to communicate in English will make it fairly easy for York students to communicate.

For longer term visits, York students who wish to participate in a fall or winter (or both) exchange have access to, and it is recommended that they take, intensive language courses at York as part of their preparation to go for a fall and/or winter exchange. York has a rich set of courses in both German and (modern) Greek.

Of strong interest to those contemplating participation in an exchange program is the new honours degree programs that leads to an International BSc (iBSc) and an International BA (iBA) in Computer Science. For details see the latest on-line mini-Calendar and checklists on this page http://www.cse.yorku.ca/cscurrent_students/undergrad_students/index.html.


For advise and more information please email me.

Course Outline

Course Director: Maria Papadopouli, ICS and Department of Computer Science, University of Crete.

  1. Visit Knossos (King Minos's domain). Allow the better part of a whole day!
  2. Visit the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion.
  3. Visit Fodele, El Greco's birth place.
  4. Visit Phaistos (this also has many morphs: From "Festos" to "Phestos" and back. Original is Φαιστος).
  5. Visit Chania (or Hania).
  6. Visit Sfakia (or "Chora Sfakion"). In this context, and if time (and strong legs) permit, you will want to walk the Samaria Gorge. This can be combined with a visit to Chania. While at it combine with a visit to Fragokastelo.  If you are lucky you may witness "Drosoulites", ghostly shadows that sometimes are seen "dancing" on the outside walls of the Castle. Where they are coming from no one knows ...
  7. Visit Agios Nikolaos.
  8. Visit Rethimnon.
  9. Visit the various historic monasteries. ("Moni Preveli" is a must-see.)
  10. Don't miss "Oropedio" (the Plateau).
  11. If you want to see where Zeus was hidden as a baby by his mother (because his dad, Kronos, had the bad habit of eating his children), then you must visit Dikteon Andron (Dikteon Cave).
  12. But no matter what you do, do taste the food at every opportunity! I was impressed by "Kyriakos" in my previous visits to Heraklion, but this is only one of many excellent places to eat  in Heraklion and elsewhere in Crete.
  13. Last but not least, Crete has beautiful beaches. Not too far from Heraklion are "Agia Pelagia", "Lygaria" and "Stalis" beaches. Beautiful sea, and nice little restaurants by the sea for you to enjoy a post-swim bite (great seafood!).
 

FAQ

  1. How do I enrol to the summer school (CSE 4215 3.0)?  You will enrol at York using REM. However this is by permission only (as, for example, is the enrolment procedure for CSE 4080). It will be necessary for you to obtain prior permission from the undergraduate director (Peter Cribb). Permissions will be influenced by your standing (overall gpa is a major factor) and the fact that there are only a total of approximately 10 spots available. Needless to say that prerequisites must be totally met. CSE 4215 3.0 (SU08) has been mounted on the student information system at York (SIS) and will show up as one of the York courses once the summer 2008 lecture schedule becomes public.
  2. Will this summer course count towards my York degree? Yes! This is, from our perspective, CSE 4215 3.0. It just happens to be taught off campus.
  3. What about texts? Will we buy them in Iraklion? The "must have" text is found here.
  4. What about my air fare to and from Heraklion? Am I responsible for the cost? If you have enrolled in CSE 4215 3.0 then you are eligible to apply for a York International Mobility Award (in short YIMA), which is means tested, and is usually enough to cover most of the travel cost.
  5. How easy is it to book flights to Crete? Very easy! There are several airlines that fly to Athens from Toronto, and from there there are frequent connections to Heraklion (a 30 min. flight from Athens). Check with your travel agent. My experience has been that agents are in general more cost-effective than on-line reservations. I also found that reserving early is cheaper. You can also go to Heraklion by boat (from Pireus) at a substantially reduced cost.
  6. Will I need a VISA to travel to Greece? If you are a Canadian citizen, no. Otherwise, you might need one. Please enquire and make necessary and timely arrangements with the Consulate General of Greece in Toronto (http://grconsulate.com/en/indexEN.htm).
  7. Where will I stay and what will be my accommodation costs? Accommodation has been reserved "PETOUSIS Apartments (hotel)" in Ammoudara, a suburb of Heraklion  (see http://www.petousis.gr/HOTEL/e/main_e.html). The hotel stay cost,  based on double occupancy (two people per room) is 25.00 Euro per person per day (20 Euro per person per day based on triple occupancy) before the ICS subsidy. The price includes breakfast. The ICS subsidy is 200 Euro per student and will be applied toward each student's hotel bill.
  8. What are the dates of stay, nominally? The course dates (instruction only) are July 7-July 24. Thus, typically, you will plan to arrive to Heraklion sometime between July 1-6, and plan your departure, typically, on the 31st of July. The course project and final exam will likely be due near your departure date (the week of July 28).
  9. What are the times/days for classes? The course days/times are: Monday  14:00-17:00, Tuesday 16:00-19:00, Wednesday 13:00-16:00, Thursday 10:00-11:00 and 16:00-18:00.
  10. Will there be any "survival Greek" instruction in this summer school, and what will it cost to register?  Yes, there is expected to be. And it will be compulsory. The cost will be totally absorbed by the ICS or the Computer Science department in Crete so it will be a free service to you.
  11. Are both accommodation and instruction in the city of Heraklion? Accommodation will be in Heraklion. Instruction is in Voutes, in the ICS premises (see map). This is outside Heraklion.
  12. What do I need to legally drive in Greece? You need a valid Canadian driver's licence and an International driver's licence that is issued by any CAA office in Toronto while-you-wait.


  Last updated: May 16, 2008