The International Bilateral Relations of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens commenced in 1982 by the Rector, Professor Michalis Stathopoulos, during his term of office.   Ever since, many International Bilateral Cooperation Agreements have been signed with peer Universities -primarily public ones- or equivalent institutions of higher education and research as well as international networks.

The International Bilateral Cooperation Agreements promote inter-university cooperation and aim at the dissemination of knowledge, the exchange of information and the promotion of science and research.  In addition, the International Bilateral Cooperation Agreements provide, inter alia, exchange of academic staff and students, administrative personnel, research material as well as the organization of joint research programmes and scientific meetings (workshops, symposia, conferences and other).

These agreements are ruled by the Regulations on International Bilateral Agreements of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, adopted by the Senate in July 2008, on the recommendation of the Committee of International Relations and European Educational Programmes.