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Press Release


The 1st Panhellenic Scientific Conference with International Participation “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals in Education – Teaching, Lifelong Learning, Inclusion and Innovation for the Green and Digital Economy” was successfully completed.
Transition”, organized in Kastoria, from 29/09 to 01/10/2023,  at the premises of the University of Western Macedonia and the Centre for Education for Environment and Sustainability (CEPEA) of Kastoria.

During the Conference, 5 Invited Talks by distinguished researchers and academics and 89 oral presentations were presented, structured in nine thematic sections, which were attended in person by about 190 participants and many more online. Seven experiential workshops were also implemented.
The Conference was welcomed online by the Secretary General for Primary Education,
Secondary Education and Special Education of the Ministry of Education,
Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Ioannis Katsaros. In addition, a welcome address was given by
the Regional Director of Primary and Secondary Education West Macedonia, Mrs. Despina Papadopoulou, the Deputy Mayor of Tourism, Culture & Sports of Kastoria, Mr. Athanasios Rimos, the representative of the Rector of the University of Kastoria, Mr. of the University of Western Macedonia, Mrs. Androniki Katarahia, the President of the University of Western Macedonia, Mrs. Androniki Katarahia, the President of the President of the Department of Special Education of the University of Thessaly, Mrs. Katifenia
Botsoglou,the Director of the Interdepartmental Programme of Postgraduate Studies
“Education for Sustainability and Environment” of the University of Thessaly, Ms.
Stergiani Matsyori (online), the Regional Director of Primary and
Mrs. Marina Besi and the Head of the Centre for Primary and Secondary Education of Epirus, Mrs. Marina Besi
Education Centre for Environment and Sustainability (K.E.P.E.A.) of Kastoria, Mrs. Magdalini
Magdalena Grigoriou, the Managing Director of the Municipality of Maldonis, and Ms. Magdalena Grigoriou.

Wishes for the success of the Conference were expressed by
Vice-Regional Governor of Castoria, Mrs. Despina Kozatsani and the Mayor of Kastoria,
Mr. Ioannis Korentsidis
The Conference was attended by Mr. Georgios Stamoulis, member of the Council
Mr. Georgios Stamakis, member of the Board of Administration of the University of Thessaly and Mr. Panagiotis Tzionas, Vice Rector of the University of Thessaly,
of the International Hellenic University.

In the framework of the international participation,
Dr. Aravella Zachariou, Head of the Education Unit for Environment and Environment.
Sustainable Development Education of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of Cyprus,
Chairperson of the UNECE Committee on Education for Sustainable Development (ESC)
and Chairman of the Committee of the Mediterranean Strategy for E.A.E., and Mr.
Konstantinos Korfiatis, Professor at the Department of Education of the University of Athens, Greece.
He is also a member of the University of Cyprus’ Department of Education Sciences. In addition, guest speakers included Ms.
Domna Michael, Professor of Social Anthropology at the Department of Communication and Education, University of Cyprus, Professor of Social Anthropology at the Department of Communication and Education Professor of the Department of Special Education and former Professor of the Department of Special Education at the University of Thessaloniki.
Dr. Katerina Plakitsi, Professor of Pedagogy and former Vice Rector of the University of Thessaly and Dr. Stefan Stefan Stefanopoulos, Professor of Pedagogy and former Vice Rector of the University of Thessaly and Dr. Katerina Plakitsi, Professor of Education ,Director of the Interdepartmental Programme, Dr. Katerina Plakitsi, Professor of Natural Sciences Teacher, Director of the Interdepartmental Program
Postgraduate Studies “Environmental Sciences and Education for
Sustainability” and Member of the Board of Management of the University of Ioannina.

The 1st Panhellenic Scientific Conference with International Participation “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Development Goals in Education – Teaching, Lifelong Learning, Inclusion and
Innovation for the Green and Digital Transition” was an essential opportunity
an essential opportunity to bring together educators, academics, researchers, practitioners and active
The event was an important step in the development of a new generation of citizens from universities, schools, educators, social, cultural and civil society.
local governments and civil society organizations from many regions of our country. During the event, an exchange took place between local and regional authorities, civil society organizations, NGOs from many different regions of the country and from many different regions of Europe.
The exchange of views and ideas, innovative practices and research efforts were analyzed and presented educational and learning approaches and tools for sustainability in education.

As expressed by many delegates, the Conference served as a forum for
meeting, discussion and mutual learning in terms of the scientific approach to

17 Sustainable Development Goals in Education, but also as an opportunity to get to know
beautiful autumnal Kastoria.
Among the conclusions of the Conference is the desire to establish the Conference as a
The desire to establish it as an institution and the formation of the conditions for direct cooperation with the Pedagogical
Institute of Cyprus, with the aim of charting a common course on issues related to the education of children.
to establish a common approach to the issues related to the integration of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in Education.
The Organizing and Scientific Committees of the Conference would like to thank the participants who participated in its work, as well as the University of Western Macedonia. The President of the University of Western Macedonia and the Centre for Education for Environment and Sustainability of Kastoria for their hospitality on their premises. They would also like to thank the Municipality of Kastoria, the the Vice-Region of Kastoria, the Association of Hoteliers of Kastoria and the HERKAT Association Kastoria for their contribution to the implementation of the Conference and the parallel events activities.

Special thanks also to the IEEE Student Branch team,
University of Western Macedonia, Kastoria for the excellent and functional technical and secretarial support
support and technical assistance during the conference.
For the Organizing Committee of the Conference
Dr. Theodoros M.Ed.