The educational and pedagogical philosophy of the College is reflected in the “HAEF Mission Statement”:

“The mission of Athens College is to provide, by international standards, the highest quality education to the most deserving candidates and to cultivate in its students those habits of mind, body, and spirit necessary for responsible citizenship in Greece and the world; moral courage, intellectual discipline, compassion, and an unswerving devotion to justice and truth.

Our goal is to instill in our students, by teaching and by example, a strong sense of measure. We seek thereby to secure in them the bond between learning and judgment and the affiliation of intelligence and responsibility. Thus do we honor the enduring values embodied in the tradition of both Greece and America. Thus do we cultivate a deep respect for the Greek heritage in all its richness and its complexities.”

Our primary means of achieving these goals are:

• Emphasis on developing creativity and the ability to think critically.
• Harmonious synthesis of humanistic education and technology; and of our local cultural traditions and international intellectual and educational trends.
• Familiarization with modern research techniques and development of skills for pursuing the in-depth study of specific disciplines.
• Development of individual initiative and freedom, balanced with social responsibility and team spirit.

The HAEF goals are achieved by:

• Supplementing and enriching the classes of the regular curriculum.
• Applying contemporary teaching methods and approaches, focusing on the active participation of students, the broad use of the library and the labs, and the diversity of text books.
• Fostering and promoting role models and intellectual, social and moral values.
• Offering a plethora of extracurricular activities, such as student Clubs, student publications, collaborative programs involving schools abroad, participation in international educational events and European Union programs.
• Providing a series of traditional institutions in place at HAEF for decades: debate and forensics competitions, awards and Student Communities (which familiarize students with the democratic process, encourage their active involvement in the community and promote contribution to society).