a good business school with strong regional influence according to Eduniversal, it has received 2 palmes of excellence by the ranking agency. In 2016 the external evaluation committee gave University of Macedonia a Positive evaluation. An external evaluation of all academic departments in Greek universities was conducted by the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (HQAA). Department of Economics (2014) Department of Business Administration (2010) Department of Accounting and Finance (2014) Department of International and European Studies (2014) Department of Balkan Slavic and Oriental Studies (2014) Department of Music Science and Art (2014) Department of Educational and Social Policy (2013) Department of Applied Informatics (2013) Student Life Student body Dormitories and student housing The university has its own university residences in Nea Krini neighborhood of Kalamaria, in the south suburbs of Thessaloniki. Alimentation Service The university owns a university restaurant where students can have breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. In order to be served, students must indicate their alimentation card or pay if they don't have one. The alimentation card is provided to students of low-income or large families, as well as some foreign students. Athletics The university has its own sports indoor hall and its own gym. It is active in many sports and is taking part in university competitions in Greece. Its most successful departments are fencing and volleyball. The university's volleyball team was coached by former Greece men's national volleyball team and Iraklis VC former coach Alekos Leonis. Traditions According to the university's tradition, caps and gowns are worn only by members of faculty at graduation ceremonies. Student groups The university has a wide variety of student groups. There are political groups representing all major political currents in Greek politics, that regularly take part in student elections. There are also volunteering student groups such as a local section of Erasmus Student Network, ESN UOM Thessaloniki (the first section in Thessaloniki) active in promoting, developing and supporting the Erasmus community. and a Local Committee of AIESEC, the first one in Thessaloniki, active with promoting AIESEC's scopes. The university also has an environmental student team doing various activities on and off campus, such as tree and flower planting. TEDx The University of Macedonia hosts an annual TEDx event since 2013 organised by students. Memberships and cooperations University of Macedonia is currently member of the following associations/organizations: European University Association (EUA) International Association of Universities (IAU) International Association of University