The detailed programme for the 12th International Summer University “Greek Language, Culture, and Media” has been announced, with Sydney, Australia, set to become a global meeting point for academics, educators, journalists and organisations representing the Greek diaspora.

This year’s event, held under the central theme “The Greek Language in Australia: From Memory to the Future,” is taking place under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos An. Tasoulas. It is supported by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and forms part of the ministry’s Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora 2024–2027.

The institution has become one of the most significant international initiatives dedicated to the Greek language, culture and journalism, bringing together leading scholars and diaspora representatives in a different part of the world each year. Following the success of previous editions in Boston, the programme now moves to Australia, home to one of the largest and most active Greek communities worldwide.

The Greek language in the diaspora

The programme focuses on the contemporary challenges and prospects of the Greek language in diaspora communities, while also examining the ways in which new technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming education and language teaching.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of Greek-language media abroad in preserving cultural identity, as well as on the connection between university research and journalistic practice.

The sessions will include thematic panels, roundtables, academic presentations, special lectures and cultural activities, with the participation of scholars, educators and professionals from universities and organisations in Greece, Cyprus, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Topics include the past, present and future of the Greek language in Australia; Greek-language education in the country; the role of communities, churches, organisations and associations in preserving the language; innovative approaches to teaching Greek; digital technology and blended learning in Greek-speaking communities; Greek-language press, radio, television and digital media in the diaspora; and collaborations between universities, communities and institutions to strengthen Greek-language education.

The sessions will be held at the Rex Vowels Theatre at the University of New South Wales, a modern, fully accessible auditorium equipped for hybrid events. All sessions will be streamed live online, while participation will be free of charge. Attendees will also receive certificates of participation and educational materials.

International academic collaboration

The 12th International Summer University is organised by the Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Media, and Education of the Department of Early Childhood Education at the University of Ioannina’s School of Educational Sciences, in collaboration with the Greek Studies Program at the University of New South Wales and Unity in Philia.

The programme is organised through the Centre for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning of the University of Ioannina and is supported by numerous universities, academic institutions and Greek diaspora organisations. These include the Foundation for Hellenic Studies UNSW, the University of Chicago’s Center for Hellenic Studies, the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross, AHEPA Sydney & NSW, the Greek Applied Linguistics Association, the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis Sydney Branch, the Southern California Library, Study in Greece and the Australian Hellenic Educators Association.

Around 100 academics, researchers, educators, intellectuals, authors, artists, journalists from Greek diaspora media and representatives of organisations from Greece, Cyprus, Australia, the United States and Europe are expected to take part.

Political, diplomatic and ecclesiastical participation

The programme will also include the participation of state, political and ecclesiastical representatives.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia will deliver the opening address, while ministers from the State of New South Wales and representatives of the opposition are also expected to attend.

Participants and invitees include former President of the Hellenic Republic and academic Prokopis Pavlopoulos; Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos; Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy Maira Myrogianni; and Rector of the University of Ioannina Anna Batistatou.

Stavros Venizelos, Greece’s Ambassador to Australia; Georgios Skemperis, Consul General in Sydney; and Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General in Adelaide, have also been invited.

Universities from three continents

The academic programme features professors and researchers from leading institutions, including the University of Ioannina, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, the University of Chicago, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Patras, the University of Western Macedonia, the University of the Aegean, the University of Nicosia, Democritus University of Thrace, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Charles Darwin University, Swinburne University of Technology, Western Sydney University and the Academy of Athens.

Representatives of research laboratories, educational institutions, cultural bodies and Greek diaspora organisations active in promoting the Greek language internationally will also participate.

Culture, art and Greek creativity

Alongside the academic programme, the International Summer University will include a rich cultural programme.

The Hellenic Club of Sydney will host an exhibition of works by distinguished Greek cartoonists Ilias Makris, Andreas Petroulakis and Stathis Stavropoulos. There will also be a presentation of the proceedings from last year’s event in Boston, titled “Greek-American Media and the Greek Language,” published by Pedio Publications.

The programme also includes an exhibition by Greek-Australian visual artists on the theme “The Greek Spirit,” documentary screenings, musical events featuring traditional Greek music and a series of activities dedicated to Greek culture.

Who can attend

The programme is offered free of charge and is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students, doctoral candidates, educators and journalists. A limited number of professionals with related interests may also be accepted within the framework of lifelong learning.

Participants will receive certificates of participation and educational material.

Academic and organisational responsibility

The founder and academic director of the programme is Nikoleta Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi, Professor of Linguistics and Greek Language at the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina, Dean of the School of Educational Sciences and head of the “Greek Language, Culture, and Media” unit at the Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Media, and Education.

The programme in Australia is organised by Professor Vasilis Adrahtas, Director of the Greek Studies Program at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and Coordinator of the Islamic Studies Program at Western Sydney University.

The 2026 programme will be promoted through television and radio advertisements on public broadcasting, the Parliament Channel and mainstream broadcast media. The television spot features director and actor Akillas Karasavvas, while the proceedings will also be streamed online.

A tradition of international outreach

After 11 years of activity, the programme continues its tradition of building links with major international institutions in education, culture and the media.

In previous years, “Greek Language, Culture, and Media” has been supported by institutions including the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, the Greek Delegation to the European Parliament, the Greek section of the Association of European Journalists, the Orthodox Academy of Crete, the French section of the European Press Club in Paris, the Hellenic Cultural Centre in Paris, the Instituto de Letras at the University of Rio de Janeiro, Macquarie University’s Faculty of Arts, the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation in Sydney, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Study in Greece, the University of Chicago’s Center for Hellenic Studies and the Hellenic Association of Political Scientists.

For the past two years, the programme was held in Boston in collaboration with the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

The event is supported by media sponsors including ERT, ERT2, ERT3, ERT World, First Programme 105.8, The Voice of Greece and the Parliament Channel. Australian media sponsors include The Greek Herald, Neos Kosmos, 2mm Radio, the Greek programmes of SBS in Sydney, Darwin and Wollongong, and Greek City Times.