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As such, he was one of the founders of the University and made a very significant contribution to the efforts led by Max van der Stoel to persuade governments and international organisations to support the SEEU project. Donors could be confident that as a former senior OECD Education official George, along with the other leading European higher education experts Jan de Groof, Roberto Caneiro and Rolf Dubs, would ensure the academic viability of the proposals and temper enthusiasm with reality.
George had been a senior member of various Council of Europe missions under the Legislative Reform Programme led by Peter Fischer-Appelt, starting in Bulgaria in 1992, and which I joined on its second mission to Albania in 1994. Peter, George and I with a member of the Council’s Secretariat met a highly dedicated but small and under-resourced Ministry working to reform Albanian higher education. Working with people with such expertise and commitment was not only a new experience for me, but George in particular inspired me to take an active part in the Programme which led on to greater things.
George was a straightforward man who was never afraid to express his opinions while listening carefully to those of others with whom he might disagree. Once we both became involved in the ‘Stoel’ project we travelled frequently first to Skopje and later to Tetovo for discussions among ourselves and with government and political leaders including our current Rector. On one occasion the entire International Foundation and its secretariat flew from Zurich via Zagreb to Ohrid in an old turboprop. There are several interesting anecdotes about that journey, but what I recall first was George taking the seat up front with the pilots and giving us a running commentary about the proximity of the mountains we were skimming along the way. A gift to nervous flyers! On another occasion which is part of SEEU folklore George, who had taken a personal interest in the developing proposals for a teacher training faculty, later LCC, was putting forward his views in typical assertive way and voices were raised. At the critical moment, one of the elderly fluorescent tubes in the room in the old Tetovo HQ exploded. And of course, with support from above like that, George got his way.
SEEU today owes a great deal to George Papadopoulos. He was a highly intelligent, educated man who talked of his childhood in undivided Cyprus with obvious affection. He gave many years of service to OECD. His work in bringing former Communist and Socialist countries’ higher education systems into the mainstream is unparalleled. Without his input I am sure SEEU would not be as successful as it is today. We lament his passing, but we celebrate his life and his commitment.
Dennis Farrington
President of the Board
June 2013