As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms research, teaching, and administration, universities face major challenges related to academic integrity, data governance, and ethical oversight. At the same time, they must balance innovation with safeguarding critical thinking, institutional autonomy, and equal access to knowledge.
Universities in the Digital Age (Rectors’ Meeting) Panel of University Rectors and Senior Leadership of Greek Higher Education Institutions
Who the
Speakers are:
Speakers
-
Nikolaos PapaioannouDeputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and SportsNikolaos G. Papaioannou studied at the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
He then began working on his doctoral dissertation, which he defended in 1991. In 1995, he was elected Lecturer at the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy in the Department of Veterinary Medicine. In 2012, he was elected Full Professor. From 2013 until he assumed the duties of General Secretary for Higher Education, he served as Director of the Laboratory of Pathology.
He served as President of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from 2017 to 2019. On June 11, 2019, he was elected Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, assuming office on September 1 of the same year.
He has been trained in the laboratories of Pathological Anatomy at the veterinary schools of Zurich, Utrecht, and Wisconsin in the United States of America. His teaching work is related to the field of pathology, while his scientific and research work focuses on the study of the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases as well as the diagnosis of neoplastic conditions. Mr. Papaioannou has coordinated numerous Greek and international competitive research projects and has published a large number of scientific articles in distinguished international journals. He has supervised seven (7) doctoral dissertations, served as a member of three-member advisory committees for eighteen (18) theses, and participated as a member of seven-member examination committees for thirty-seven (37) doctoral dissertations, both in Greece and abroad.
In May 2023, he accepted the Prime Minister’s proposal to be included on the State ballot of New Democracy for the 2023 national elections.
From July 29, 2024, to March 14, 2025, he served as General Secretary for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.
On March 15, 2025, he was sworn in as Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, responsible for Higher Education.
-
Stelios KatranidisRector of University of Macedonia -
Stamatis AggelopoulosRector of International Hellenic University -
Theodoros TheodoulidisRector of University of Western Macedonia -
Fotios MarisRector of Democritus University of Thrace -
Charalambos BillinisRector of University of Thessaly -
Christina KoulouriRector of Panteion University -
Kyriakos AnastasiadisRector of Aristotle University (AUTH) & Professor of Cardiac SurgeryKyriakos Anastasiadis, Professor of Cardiac Surgery, is the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki since 2025.
He obtained his MD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1991 and his doctoral thesis (PhD) in 2004. Since 2011 he serves as Head of Cardiothoracic Department at AHEPA University Hospital in Thessaloniki. In 2017 he was elected Deputy Head and between 2020-2024 he served as Head of the Aristotle University School of Medicine and President of the Biomedical Research and Education Special Unit.
Kyriakos Anastasiadis is a pioneer and key-opinion-leader in the field of minimal invasive extracorporeal technologies, founder of Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Technologies International Society (MiECTiS). Moreover, he founded in 2015 the Postgraduate Course on Extracorporeal Technologies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, which is the only accredited program in Greece by the respective European Board. He is fellow of the European Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (FETCS), the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), and the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP). He has been appointed as President of the National Boards of Cardiothoracic Surgery for Northern Greece.
He has edited 8 books and more than 16 book chapters, while he authored numerous publications which received more than 3,000 citations. He obtained the Best Innovator Award by the Royal Society of Medicine in 2010 and a Honorary Distinction by the Director of Cardiac Centre in Mauritius, Africa after completion of a humanitarian philanthropic mission. He was recognized by the Greek Reporter as one of the Greeks Who Left their Mark in 2018. -
Andreas FlorosRector of Ioanian University -
Christos J. BourasRector of University of PatrasChristos J. Bouras is Professor at the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics specializing in the field of Algorithms and Applications in Networks, Telematics and New Services. At the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics he teaches Telematics, Network Interconnection, Broadband Technologies and Public Networks at undergraduate level and Algorithmic Topics on Networks and Telematics at postgraduate level. His research interests include 5G and Beyond Networks, Performance Analysis of Network and Computer Systems, Computer Networks and Protocols, Mobile and Wireless Communications, Telematics and New Services, E-Learning, Networked Virtual Environments, QoS and Pricing for Networks and Services and WWW Issues. He has published more than 600 papers in various well-known refereed books, conferences and journals. He has been member of editorial board for international journals and PC member and referee in various international journals and conferences. He has participated in several Greek and international R&D projects and is co-author of 9 books in Greek and editor of 2 in English. He has supervised 17 PhD Theses, 41 Postgraduate Theses and 179 Diploma Theses. He has extensive professional experience in Design and Analysis of Networks and Telematics, Network Protocols, High Bandwidth Networks, Techno-economic Models for Broadband Infrastructures and Distance Learning. He has served as Director of the Graduate Program in Computer Science and Technology, Member of the Managing Board of the Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE), Vice President of the Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE), Deputy Rector for Finance, Planning and Project Implementation, Vice President and CEO of the University of Patras Property Development and Management Company, Rector and President of the University of Patras Property Development and Management Company.