Speakers

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  Nikolaos Maghioros Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  

  Nikolaos Maghioros

  Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

  Professor Nikolaos Maghioros serves as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Development at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he is responsible for shaping academic strategy, advancing curriculum development, promoting institutional modernisation, and ensuring alignment with European Higher Education policies. As President of the University’s Quality Assurance Unit, he oversees both internal and external evaluation processes, accreditation procedures, and compliance with national and European regulatory frameworks.

  He is Professor of Canon and Ecclesiastical Law at the University’s School of Theology. He studied Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and completed his postgraduate and doctoral studies at the School of Canon Law of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, supported by a scholarship from the Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration.

  Professor Maghioros has organised and participated in numerous international conferences, research initiatives, and summer schools focusing on Christian dialogue, interreligious communication, religion–state relations, human rights, the interconnection between religion, culture, and sustainable development, and the protection of religious and cultural heritage.

  He has previously served as Head of the School of Theology and as Chairman of the Committee for European Educational Programmes at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Since 2020, he has been Director of the Graduate Programme Religion, Geopolitics and International Security.

  He is a founding member of the International Consortium for Law and Religious Studies and a member of the international expert group “Christian Law Panel of Experts: An Ecumenical Initiative,” the International Association of Canon Law Experts, and the Board of Directors of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches.

  Professor Maghioros has represented the Church of Greece at the Council of European Churches as a member of the Working Group on EU legislation and policy. He also served on the Church of Greece Committee for the Study and Monitoring of the Revision of the Framework of Church–State Relations. He is currently a member of the Synodal Committee on Ecclesiastical Education and Training of the Clergy and of the Supervisory Council for Ecclesiastical Education.

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  Stelios Katranidis Rector of University of Macedonia
  

  Stelios Katranidis

  Rector of University of Macedonia
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  Maria Vamvakaki Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Lifelong Learning, and Research Policy at University of Crete
  

  Maria Vamvakaki

  Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Lifelong Learning, and Research Policy at University of Crete
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  Xenofon Bitsikas Vice Rector of International Relations, Global Engagement and Lifelong Learning - University of Ioannina
  

  Xenofon Bitsikas

  Vice Rector of International Relations, Global Engagement and Lifelong Learning - University of Ioannina

  Xenofon Bitsikas is an artist, Professor at theSchool of Fine Arts University of Ioannina. Studies at the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA). Postgraduate studies and Ph.D. (2000) at the School of Fine Arts, University Complutense of Madrid (UCMadrid) (2001-03).Post doc in the Athens School of Fine Arts. He has been granted with scholarships from the Greek State Foundation for Scholarships, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain and the European Union. His field of research and academic curriculum is centered at questions of systems-mechanisms-tools used for structuring space with a specific side interest on matters of new media and artistic installations in public space.(http://arts.uoi.gr/web/en/our_team/xenofon-bitsikas/ )
  Experience in funded research programs (selection) :
  – 2022: Coordinator of the project “ Research, analysis, development and utilization of local traditional and creative industries
  for the project “Holistic networking of creative industries via hubs” [“Creative@Hubs”], section 2, in the marc of Interreg
  Greece_Italy (CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME INTERREG V-A, GREECE – ITALY (EL-IT) 2014-2020). The project concerns the
  education and use of digital media and equipment for the scanning, 3d modeling, the design and postproduction of objects of cultural heritage. / – 2020 (Dec)-2023(Dec): Member of the research team of the project: “Research Center for the analysis of cultural heritage materials“,co-funded by the EU and Greece (RIS3). The aim of the project is the capitalization and the revalorisation of cultural heritage, and to reinvigorate the creative industry. Bitsika’sroleascoordinatorof the Work package 5.2, focus on: a) interdisciplinary approach and use of 3d scanner and computing equipment for the registration and reconstruction of outstanding value objects of Cultural Heritage, in digital data (CAD and 3D files) and b) their artistic transcription and remake in digital narrative scenarios with overlaying data and images of the past and the present times. https://scienceculture.project.uoi.gr/ / – 2018-2022: Coordinator of the project PALIMPSEST, in the marc of Interreg Greece_Italy (CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME INTERREG V-A, GREECE – ITALY (EL-IT) 2014-2020). Cooperation: RC University of Ioannina, Region of Epirus, University of Bari, Province of Lecce, Municipality of Ioannina. PALIMPSEST approaches the challenge of revalorisation of cultural heritage assets as an opportunity to reinvigorate the urban environment. PALIMPSEST understands cultural heritage as a collective, bottom up resource and it is also innovative in the way that digital tools allow to reuse this recovered raw material, not just in the digital realm, but also by reinserting it in the physical urban realm, creating a hybrid space where, through artistic installations, the past is revived in the present. He has published papers in congress proceedings and reviews and collaborates in research with Greek (DUThrace, ASFA, Hellenic Open University) and European (UCMadrid) universities.
  Artistic activity:http://xbitsikas.wix.com/xenofonbitsikas In his artwork investigates the intermediate space, the in-between; the concept of the limit and interface and its relation to the spectator’s perception. His work was awarded and has been exhibited in Greece and Europe. Works of his have been acquired by the National Gallery, the FundacióYnglada Guillot Real Academia de Bellas Artes San Jordi in Barcelona, the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki, the Spyropoulos Museum, the Vorres Museum, the Frissiras Museum.
  Academic positions:
  2015-2019: Dean School of Fine Arts, UOI.
  2019- : Director of the Postgraduate Program, School of Fine Arts, UOI.
  2022 – : Director of the Laboratory “Painting-3D representations with new technologies”, School of Fine Arts.
  2014 -: Member of the Research Committee, University of Ioannina.

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  Efstathios Efstathopoulos Vice Rector of Research and Innovation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  

  Efstathios Efstathopoulos

  Vice Rector of Research and Innovation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

  Prof. Efstathios (Stathis) P. Efstathopoulos is a distinguished Professor of Medical Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and currently serves as the Vice Rector of Research and Innovation at the same institution. He is an expert in medical radiation physics with extensive experience in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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  Despina Dimelli Vice Rector of Administrative, Technical and Student Affairs, Technical University of Crete
  

  Despina Dimelli

  Vice Rector of Administrative, Technical and Student Affairs, Technical University of Crete

  She has studied Architecture in the Architecture School of N.T.U.A. Postgraduate studies in the programme “Architecture and Spatial Planning: Direction Urban planning” of N.T.U.A (1999-2001), and in the “Environmental Planning of Cities and Buildings” program (2007-2009). She holds a PhD in the Sector of Urban planning (2003-2006) with “Iraklitos” scholarship. She has taught in the undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the School of Architecture of NTUA (2003-2009) and in the Faculty of Urban and Regional planning of the University of Thessaly (2007-2008). During the last two years she has taught in the postgraduate course Urban and traffic planning in the Hellenic Open University. Since 2008 she serves the undergraduate and postgraduate courses of the School of Architecture of Technical University of Crete in the field of Urban and Regional Planning. She participates in Scientific committees of national and international conferences and she is a reviewer in international scientific journals. She has been a consultant of the General Secretariat of Regional Planning and Urban Environment of the Environment and Climatic Change Ministry and has participated in committees for the Regional and Urban planning Reform and for the planning of industrial units in the Inofita area e.t.c. She is the Scientific Supervisor of the University Internship Program “Acquisition of Academic Teaching Experience in Young PhDs Scientists” and in the “Human Resources Development, Education and Life Sciences”. Program. She is the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Review of the Municipality Urban Plan.
  She participates in national and European research programs. Her research work includes chapters in peer-reviewed volumes and publication in international journals and in national and international conferences. She has participated in summer schools and workshops, in international and national student exhibitions and has been distinguished in national architectural competitions

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  Nikiforos Stamatiadis Professor at the University Kentucky
  

  Nikiforos Stamatiadis

  Professor at the University Kentucky

  Nikiforos Stamatiadis is a Professor at the University of Kentucky since 1990. He graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Diploma in Rural Surveying Engineering and holds a Doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University. He has been involved both in teaching and research in the field of transportation engineering and highway design since 1984. His research expertise includes highway design, traffic safety, multimodal transportation, and human factors. Dr. Stamatiadis has been successful in securing research funds in these areas from local, national and international agencies. Over the last 25 years, his work in Context Sensitive Solutions has vaulted Dr. Stamatiadis in national and international prominence and he is considered one of the pioneers in this area. He has been awarded two Fulbright Fellowships (Italy and Greece) and has been twice the recipient of the Greek Diaspora Fellowship. He has been instrumental in developing several cooperative agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with universities in Greece and Italy and was awarded the 2022 UK Global Impact Award- Distinguished Faculty Achievements in International Research & Scholarship. Dr. Stamatiadis has an extensive involvement in international activities engaging in teaching and research activities in several countries. He has served as a long-term advisor to UK’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter, an organization focused on delivering engineering solutions in developing countries, and has led student groups to work on projects in Ecuador, Honduras, Cameroon, Malawi, and Rwanda.