The team of psychology students from the University of Crete, Galini Lazarakou, Zinovia Leimoni, and Antonios Petris, or otherwise known as the PsychoNegotiators, have impressed in the realm of student negotiation competitions over the last year. In a field dominated by students with backgrounds in Economics and Law, the University of Crete students, with their studies in Psychology, bring a new perspective to these types of competitions, proving that everyone can participate, each bringing their own unique approach and perspective.

Under the guidance of Mr. Georgios Trialonis and Assistant Professors of the Psychology Department at the University of Crete, Ms. Panagiota Dimitropoulou and Mr. Alexis Arvanitis, the negotiation team from the University of Crete demonstrated exceptional negotiation skills and strategic insight. Their journey began with a dynamic victory in the national competition, Athens Negotiations Tournament, conducted by the Athens University of Economics and Business. This victory opened the door to the global stage.

In their first participation in the global university competition The Negotiation Challenge (TNC) (https://students.thenegotiationchallenge.org/), facing top universities from around the world such as Harvard, Columbia, and Washington University, the University of Crete team climbed the ranks of the competition and showcased their abilities in cultivating constructive relationships and maximizing value during three rounds of intense negotiations. Notably, in the second round, competing against the University of Washington, Antonios, Zina, and Galini emerged as the team with the second-highest performance in the entire competition. Thanks to their effort, dedication, and soft skills, the team qualified as one of the 16 finalists among 66 teams from universities around the world.

The final round of The Negotiation Challenge is scheduled to take place on April 5-6, 2024, at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The PsychoNegotiators, with the practical support of the University of Crete behind them, are ready to showcase their skills abroad and make the most of this experience, both socially and personally.

We warmly wish them every success!