Program


“AI, Learning, and Cultural Heritage”

This course has been created by the program committee and organizing team from The Learning Ideas Conference and the University of Ioannina.


Tuesday, July 8th | Wednesday, July 9th | Thursday, July 10th


Thursday, July 10th, 2025

All times are in 24-hour times in Greece, GMT+3


9:30 - Doors Open


10:00 - 10:45

Culture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Alexandros Alexakis, Ph.D.
Professor, Department Chair of Philology
University of Ioannina
Ioannina, Greece

About Dr. Alexandros Alexakis


Dr. Alexakis is a professor of Byzantine Literature in the Department of Philology at the University of Ioannina in Greece.


10:45 - 11:30

Panel Discussion - “Systemic Approaches and AI”

Panelista:

 

Peter Groumpos, Ph.D. 
Professor Emeritus
University of Patras
Patras, Greece

About Dr. Peter Groumpos


Dr. Groumpos is a full Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 1989. He is also the Director of the Laboratory for Automation and Robotics, which he created and developed since 1992. He served as a chairman of the Department of ECE in the period 1993 – 2003 and Division Director of Systems and Controls. (2000-2004).

Dr. Groumpos was born in 1950, in Xilokastro, Korinthias Greece, where he stayed till the end of his high school years and then he went to USA for his undergraduate and graduate studies. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree of Electrical Engineering in 1974 and a Master of Science Degree in 1976 from the state university of N.Y. at Buffalo (SUNYAB). He also received his PhD in 1978, from the same University with his Thesis title “A Structural Approach to Dynamical Hierarchical Systems”. While studying at the undergraduate and Master level he had to work at the same time to earn his living. He joined Cleveland State University in 1979 and stayed till 1989 on it, till be returned permantly to his homeland in 1990. He joined the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, of the University of Patras. While in Cleveland State University he created and directed a new Energy Research Centre and a Communications Research Laboratory at Cleveland State University. While in CSU, he was awarded a 1-year Fulbright scholarship and visited the University of Patras in which he taught and perform research in the area of Systems and Control. While in Cleveland State University he lectured at Case Western Reserve University and served as an Assistant Director of the newly founded Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Center (1985 – 1988). In this position he had the responsibility of generating new proposals in applied research on manufacturing and he had visited a good number of industries. He came to realize for first time the existing gap between theory and practice and at the same time he appreciated the power and possible long impact of basic research.

Dr. Groumpos has taught for more than 30 years (10 years in the USA and 22 in Greece). He has teaching experience in broad scientific areas such as: Systems Control, Signals and Systems, Automatic Control, Probability Theory, Communications, Information Technologies, Hierarchical Systems, Intelligent Systems, Fuzzy Logic, Large Complex Systems, Photovoltaic Systems, Energy and Power Systems and Software Computing.

Dr. Groumpos has a vast experience as a Principal investigator in a number of EU and Greek PRD projects. His main research interests are: Modelling and Controlling Complex Systems, Intelligent Control, Soft-computing techniques for Complex Systems, Robotics, Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM), Innovation Management, Simulation and Application of Informatics in the areas: Health, Agriculture, Industry, Transport, Energy and Environment. He has participated in more over 75 educational and PRD project funded by public as well as private funds. He has participated in many PRD projects funded by the EC. He has been the Principal investigator on more than 20 PRD projects. The total funding for the PRD projects that prof. Groumpos has participated either as a PI and/or as a partner has exceeded the amount of 10 million Euros. Prof. Groumpos also was the PI in more than 10 PRD projects in USA, when he was a Faculty member at the Cleveland State University USA with a total funding exceeding the amount of 1.5. Million dollars (period 1980-1989)

Dr. Groumpos has also served and/or still serving on a number of distinguished positions. He has been the Greek representative to the EC committees ESPRIT 1990-94 IMS 1991-94, ICT 2004-9 and to EUREKA Program High Level Group 1990-94 and 2004-10. He was one of the founders of the Mediterranean Control Association 20 years ago and he is serving on it as a Vice-President today.

He has also been a project evaluator in many EC programs. COPERNICUS, ICT and others.

Nikitas Assimakopoulos, Ph.D. 
Professor Emeritus
University of Piraeus 
Piraeus, Greece

About Dr. Nikitas Assimakopoulos


Dr. Assimakopoulos is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Piraeus in Piraeus, Greece.

 

Dimitrios S. Varsos
Board of Directors 
Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS)
Greece

About Dimitrios S. Varsos 


Dimitrios Varsos is Managing Director of the MSI Hellas Consulting Group and a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS).


11:30 - 12:30 - Coffee Break / Networking & Student Poster Presentations

Undergraduate and Graduate Students
University of Ioannina
Ioannina, Greece


12:30 - 13:15

Group Discussions


13:15 - 16:00 - Lunch Break


16: 00 - 17:00

Summer Course Closing

David Guralnick, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Kaleidoscope Learning
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University
New York, New York, USA

About Dr. David Guralnick


David Guralnick envisions a new approach to education and workplace learning. His vision integrates progressive learning theory, advanced technology, and creative, entertaining storytelling to create learning experiences that help people learn to think critically, reflect, and make thoughtful decisions. David holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, where his work synthesized concepts from the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. Over the past 30 years, he has designed and evaluated a variety of simulation-based training applications, performance support systems, online courses, mobile applications, and authoring tools for corporate, non-profit, and university audiences.

David holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Northwestern University, where his work synthesized concepts from the fields of computer science/artificial intelligence, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. Over the course of his thirty years in online learning, he has designed and developed simulation-based training applications, electronic performance-support systems, and specialized authoring tools which allow non-technical people, such as writers and trainers, to build e-learning sites.

Among David’s most notable achievements are the creation of the first learn-by-doing simulation for corporate training purposes and the first authoring tool for a non-technical audience that was specific to e-learning. He has been the recipient of over 200 e-learning design awards, and his work has been featured in Wired magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and Training magazine (as an Editor's Choice). He has been a regular speaker at both industry and academic events since 1991. He is also the author of the recent book How Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning.

David is the current President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association; founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference; Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Advanced Corporate Learning; Chair of the International E-Learning Awards; and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.

Jenny Pange, Ph.D. 
Professor and Former Dean of the School of Education
University of Ioannina
Ioannina, Greece

About Dr. Jenny Pange


Jenny (Polyxeni) Pange is a Professor at the University of Ioannina, in the field of Information Technology and Applied Mathematics with an emphasis on educational programs. She is also the former Dean of the university's School of Education and the Director of its Laboratory of “New Technologies and Distance Learning”, at the School of Education. Dr. Pange is a Legal Representative of Greece, on the Board of Advisors of the UNIADRION (Universities of Adriatic and Ionian Basin Association), and is the representative of the University of Ioannina in EUCEN (European Universities Continuing Education Network).

She holds a diploma in Mathematics, an M.Sc. in Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Biometry. Dr. Pange is currently teaching classes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Greece and abroad. Her scientific research includes books and more than 170 publications in journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Pange is a Scientific Coordinator and member of scientific committees of many EEC-funded programs. She has participated in several conferences nationally and internationally, as a keynote or invited speaker, and she has organized national and international conferences and summer schools.

Summer Course Closing

David Guralnick, and Ph.D., Jenny Pange, Ph.D.


Dr. Guralnick and Dr. Pange wrap up the course.


17:00 - End of Day 3