Thermi Thessaloniki, Greece: International Hellenic University (IHU)
The International Hellenic University (IHU) has its headquarters in Thessaloniki. It was re-established by Law 4610/2019 (Government Gazette 70/Α’/07-05-2019), following the merger of the International Hellenic University with the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (TEI of Thessaloniki), the Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia (TEI of Central Macedonia) and the Technological Educational Institute of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (TEI of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace).
The Department of Library Science, Archives and Information Systems focuses on the fields of research, collection, processing, organization, management and dissemination of information, as well as on the means for recording knowledge with an emphasis on the use of information technology. The syllabus also covers organization and administration methods and information services for both the private and public sector. Furthermore, the Department offers interested bodies
consulting services on Library organization and administration issues. One of the main focuses of the Department both in graduate and post graduate (masters) studies is teaching information literacy courses. One of the most successful courses is the Lifelong Learning and Digital Literacies course of the Master’s Program. Every year the Department organizes the Greek Media Literacy week as part of UNESCO Global Media Literacy week. In May 2023, the Department co-organizes with the Association of Greek Librarians & Scientists of Information (EEVEP) several events during the 19th Thessaloniki International Book Fair, along with experts, publishers in the context of current technological trends issues. Among them is media and information literacy, critical thinking skills, artificial intelligence issues in the libraries etc. In April 2023, the Department in collaboration with the Europe Direct (EU), the Perrotis College, the American Farm School, the EEVEP, the Cypriot Library Association and the University of Nicosia will organize a Digital Skill Masterclass focusing on skills, media literacy, vocational education and training.
Dr. Emmanouel Garoufallou is an Associate Professor and Director of Doctoral Studies at the Department of Library Science, Archives, and Information Systems, School of Social Sciences, International Hellenic University. His expertise spans metadata, digital libraries, linked and open data, and digital/media information literacy. From 2016 to 2023, Dr. Garoufallou served as a member of the General Libraries Council at the Ministry of Education, Greece, and as Vice-Chairman of the HEAL-Link (2016-2019), the Hellenic Academic Libraries Link and Consortium. He has held numerous leadership roles, including Head, Deputy Head and Division Leader of his department and Institutional Coordinator & Project Manager for the ATEITh Libraries at the Alexander Technological Educational Institute (ATEI) of Thessaloniki (now IHU). He also served as the Director and Deputy Director of the Master’s Program “Information Management in the Digital Environment” and led the program “Open Source Digital Library Services” as Project Manager. Dr. Garoufallou has extensive experience in international project management. He was Project Manager of the Erasmus+ “Teach for Future” initiative and contributed as a Project Manager and Research Associate to multiple European Commission projects at the award-winning Veria Central Public Library, recognized with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award. His project contributions include amongst others the AccessIT Plus, Light, Entitle, and EuropeanaLocal. Dr. Garoufallou currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the “International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies” (IJMSO) www.inderscience.com/ijmso published by Inderscience and as Editor for the journal “Data Technologies and Applications” https://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/dta published by Emerald. He is the General Chair of the International Metadata and Semantics Research Conference (MTSR) http://www.mtsr-conf.org/home, which is hosted by institutions worldwide, and has chaired the conference’s “Digital Libraries, Information Retrieval, Big, Linked, Social & Open Data” track since 2013. Dr. Garoufallou is also a member of the MTSR Steering Committee and has edited 11 MTSR book series published by Springer, collectively downloaded over 200,000 times. He has published over 120 papers and presentations and delivered more than 12 invited talks. His research interests focus on media literacy, metadata, ontologies, linked and open data, digital libraries, museums, and archives, as well as the societal impact of these institutions. His work also examines information-seeking behaviors, digital humanities, and the interaction between people and digital content. Dr. Garoufallou holds a PhD in Digital Libraries from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), UK, and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Management from Northumbria University, UK. He also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Management from Northumbria University. Previously, he was a researcher and academic at the Department of Information and Communication at MMU and worked with the Multimedia Resource Laboratory and the Central Library at MMU. Dr. Garoufallou is a researcher on the MELOS project at the University of Macedonia, focusing on developing techniques and applications for enhanced aerial fireworks visualization (Digital Fireworks). His career reflects a commitment to advancing library and information science, bridging research and practice, and fostering the role of libraries, museums, and archives in societal development.
Dr Georgia Zafeiriou holds a Ph.D. in Information Studies from the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, UK, a master’s degree in Librarianship from the same Department and a degree in Literature from the University of Crete. She has been a Scientific Associate in the Department of Library, Archival & Information Studies of the International Hellenic University since 2001.
Dr Zafeiriou has a 15-year experience as a researcher, responsible for documenting the research methodology, in a variety of funded European research projects and domestic (national programs and studies) concerning IT systems, e -learning and research methodology in social sciences.
She has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Sheffield, University of Thessaly, International Hellenic University, University of Macedonia, Hellenic Open University as well as Greek colleges providing higher education in collaboration with international institutions such as City College, American College of Thessaloniki and Mediterranean College.
Dr Zafeiriou main research interests focus on the fields of social science research and analysis of qualitative data, educational informatics, information systems analysis and on-line education. She has published articles in scientific journals and international conference proceedings. She is a reviewer in scientific journals.
Alexander Z. Spyropoulos holds a PhD in Physics of Complex Systems from
Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). His academic journey includes studies in Information Systems at the International Hellenic University (IHU), Forensic Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Informatics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). His research interests focus on the study of complex systems, network analysis, the development and study of the semantic web, and information management. His work has been published in international scientific journals and conferences. Currently, he works as a researcher at two Research Laboratories: Computational and Applied Mathematics at DUTH and Information and Metadata Management at IHU.
Anthi Baliou is a Doctoral Candidate at the Department of Journalism and Mass Media Communication (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). She holds a Master’s Degree in “Management of Cultural Units” (Hellenic Open University). Since 2000, she is working as a Reference Librarian at the Library of the University of Macedonia. Since 2021, she works as Scientific Associate at the Department of Library Science, Archives and Information Systems (International Hellenic University). She has participated in various research projects as a Researcher and a Project Manager (EUFactCheck, JRP, Refugees Fact-checking, DCN Global) in the field of news fact-checking, disinformation and media literacy. Her research interests include: Information, News and Media Literacy, Disinformation, Propaganda and Fake News, Social Influence of Media and Social Media.
Dr Ilias Nitsos serves as a lecturer in the Department of Library, Archival & Information Studies at the International Hellenic University. He earned his degree in Applied Informatics from the University of Macedonia and completed his Ph.D. in the same department, focusing on his doctoral thesis titled: “Free Text Information Retrieval Systems: Indexes and Compression Codes.” Dr. Nitsos has contributed to scientific journals and conferences with papers on topics such as “Informatics for Libraries,” “Information Retrieval,” and “Information Literacy.” His research interests encompass the Semantic Web, information retrieval, the SPARQL query language, information literacy, and information organization for use in information systems. With several years of experience as a software engineer, Dr. Nitsos has developed multiple web platforms, including online information literacy programs and various other information systems.
Chrysanthi I. Theodoridou works as Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Library, Archives and Information Systems (School of Social Sciences, International Hellenic University) in the fields of development, management and promotion of collection and services of Libraries and Archives as well as Libraries, Archives and Cultural Organisations management. She holds a Master’s Degree in “Library Science” (University of Sheffield, UK). Also, she has worked for 13 years, as a Reference Librarian at the Library of the Alexandrian Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Thessaloniki. She has experience in organizing various Information Literacy Programs and Management of Library Projects through her participation in various EU Programs during her work at the Library.
Despina Tsoktouridou works as Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Library, Archival and Information Systems (School of Social Sciences, International Hellenic University) in the fields of library organization and administration. She holds a Master’s Degree in “Management of Cultural Units ” (Hellenic Open Univercity,). Also, she has worked for 25 years, as a Librarian at the Library of the Alexandrian Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Thessaloniki. She has experience in organizing Information Literacy Programs during her work at the Library.
Eleni Singou is the Senior Collection Management & Development Librarian at the University of Nicosia Library, where she has been employed since 2011. She is responsible for the administration of Alma, the Library Services Platform recently implemented by the library, and served as Project Manager for its implementation. Throughout her tenure, she has contributed to various departments, including circulation, distance learning services, user instruction, cataloguing, and systems support.
Eleni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science and Information Systems from the International Hellenic University (formerly ATEITh), a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Nicosia, and a certificate in Library Instruction from the Library Juice Academy. Her primary focus has been Information Literacy, where she has designed and taught credit-bearing courses, delivered tailored instructions, created guides and tutorials, and participated in relevant actions and committees. She is a current member of the IFLA Information Literacy Section Standing Committee.