Iowa State is pursuing an agreement with the American Farm School (AFS) in Greece to establish a partner location in the city of Thessaloniki.
The partnership leverages the university's 30-year relationship with AFS to establish an education and research hub in Europe, enhance the reputation of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) globally, and create new opportunities for students and faculty.
Subject to final approval, the new institution will be named the AFS University of Science and Technology and will operate under the commercial name AFSU. It will be based on the school's campus in Thessaloniki, making full use of its modern facilities, laboratories, educational farm and extensive international partnerships.
New Greek law creates opportunities for global partnerships
The creation of AFSU arises from a new Greek law that allows foreign universities (Iowa State, in this case) to create non-profit educational entities within the country. Iowa State would be the first American university to establish such an entity focused on agriculture and related sciences. University representatives, including CALS leadership, provost's office, general counsel and the office of the senior vice president for operations and finance, have been exploring the partnership since August 2025.
An application for a license to establish and operate a University Legal Entity in Greece with ISU as the parent institution was completed in February. The entity is pending approval by the Greek government as well as the Iowa Board of Regents and Higher Learning Commission.
Three schools in the university
Initially, AFSU will consist of three schools:
- School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, offering a four-year bachelor's degree in plant production.
- School of Sciences, offering four-year bachelor's degrees in food science and biochemistry.
- School of Business Administration and Economics, offering a four-year bachelor's degree in agricultural business.
All programs will be taught exclusively in English, strengthening the university's international outreach and attracting students from Greece and abroad. Once licensed, undergraduate programs will begin in the 2026-27 academic year, with applications for graduate programs to follow at a later stage.
"Since its founding, Iowa State University has focused on excellence in education and research. AFSU will have a bright future as a leader in agriculture, food, business and the sciences," said CALS dean Daniel Robison.
More about the American Farm School
The American Farm School, founded in 1904, has educated generations of professionals, supported agricultural production, introduced innovative practices, and contributed meaningfully to regional economic growth. AFS has been a close partner with Iowa State for 30 years, providing training to more than 300 CALS students and exchanging more than 25 faculty and staff.
According to AFS president Jeff Lansdale, establishing the new university represents both a natural next step and a significant advancement for Greece's higher education landscape, bringing a leading American university into the center of the country's academia.
"Our partnership with Iowa State University and the launch of AFSU represent a historic milestone for Greece, as a leading American university takes part in the country's new non-state university framework," he said. "After 122 years of service, we are taking a bold step forward: establishing a university that imparts scientific knowledge, technology and hands-on education. Our goal is to prepare professionals who will lead the agro-food sector into an era of sustainability, innovation and global engagement."