The ‘Global Connections’ online international conference was held from January 26 to 28 with record participation.
The conference was co-organised by institutions from three continents, showcasing a diverse collaboration that contributed to its success: the Greek Language Institute of the Centre for Research and Innovation “TIMENOS” of the University of Western Macedonia in Greece, the Education Office of the Greek Consulate in Johannesburg, and the Modern Greek Studies Programme of the Department of MCCALL (Media, Communication, Creative Arts, Language and Literature) of the Faculty of Arts of Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
It was held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Macquarie University Foundation for Modern Greek Studies was one of two official sponsors.
During the conference, 130 presentations were made by academics, PhD candidates, and postgraduate students, as well as teachers who teach the Modern Greek language as a second/foreign language abroad, and teachers who teach the Greek language to students from other cultural backgrounds in Greece.
The huge participation in the conference from universities, schools, and educational institutions of all four continents was remarkable. Some of the institutions that participated from Greece were (but not limited to): University of Western Macedonia, the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, the University of Crete, the University of Ioannina, the University of Thessaly, the University of the Aegean, the University of Patras, the University of the Peloponnese, the Hellenic Open University, the Ionian University, University of Piraeus.
From Australia: the Modern Greek Studies Programs of Macquarie University, La Trobe University, Charles Darwin University, and Flinders University.
From Africa: the SAHETI School and the Alexandria University.
From Europe: University of Nicosia, University of Strasbourg, University of Argyrokastro, the State University of Mariupol, National University of Odessa, University of Barcelona, University of Belgrade, University of Granada, University of Tirana, University of York.
From America and Canada: McGill University, University of Chicago, Simon Fraser University.
The official greetings, official speeches, as well as the introductions were broadcast on the YouTube channel and can be watched by anyone interested in the following links:
- [26/01/2024, ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ 1] https://youtube.com/live/kqY6ZcxpLiU
- [27/01/2024, ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ 1] https://youtube.com/live/s7XllqIG0C8
- [27/01/2024, ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ 2] https://youtube.com/live/jG4OHCokUcc
- [28/01/2024, ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ 1] https://youtube.com/live/57EciH4vG10
- [28/01/2024, ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ 2] https://youtube.com/live/stanOZ5Q7GA
