Sydney will host the 12th International Summer University “Greek Language, Culture and Media” from 6 to 11 September 2026, bringing together academics, educators, students and community leaders to explore the past, present and future of the Greek language in Australia and the diaspora.
Held on the University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus, this year’s Summer University carries the theme “The Greek Language in Australia: from memory to the future”, examining how Greek has been preserved across generations and how it can continue to thrive in a modern, multilingual society.
The programme is organised by the University of Ioannina in collaboration with the Programme of Greek Studies at UNSW and Unity in Philia, and is held under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic. Participation is free of charge.
Sessions will take place at UNSW’s Rex Vowels Theatre, a fully accessible venue equipped with advanced hybrid learning technology. The programme will also be streamed online, allowing broader national and international participation.
Over six days, the Summer University will feature lectures, panel discussions and presentations on topics including Greek-language education in Australia, community and church involvement in language preservation, innovative teaching methods, digital and hybrid learning, Greek-language media in the diaspora, and partnerships between universities, communities and institutions.
The programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, doctoral candidates, educators, journalists and professionals with an interest in Greek language and culture, within the framework of lifelong learning. All participants will receive certificates of participation and educational materials.
Speakers will include academics and researchers from Greece and overseas, as well as writers, artists and media professionals from the Greek diaspora.
The International Summer University has been running successfully for more than 11 years and has previously partnered with leading institutions in Europe, Australia and the United States. In recent years, the programme was hosted in Boston, attracting strong international participation.
The Founder and Scientific Director of the programme is Professor Nikoletta Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi, Professor of Linguistics and Greek Language and Dean of the School of Education Sciences at the University of Ioannina. The Australian programme is coordinated by Vasilis Adrahtas, Head of the Programme of Greek Studies at UNSW.
Further information is available at https://summerschool.ac.uoi.gr and https://unityinphilia.gr.
