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.
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.