The Library and Information Centre (LIC) of NKUA took an active part in the 20-member delegation representing the University at this year's CIVIS Days, led by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion and CIVIS Scientific Coordinator at NKUA, Professor of Latin Philology Sofia Papaioannou.
This year's event, which brought together more than 250 members of the Alliance's universities from Europe and Africa, took place on 11–13 June 2025 in Rome, hosted by Sapienza University, under the theme "Inclusion and Diversity in Higher Education." NKUA's LIC was represented by Ms. Kyriaki Papadopoulou (Library of the School of Philosophy) and Ms. Maria Katsea (Library of Law), as members of the BIP Team established by the LIC's Directorate.
As part of their participation, Ms. Papadopoulou and Ms. Katsea attended the following sessions:
Fishbowl session: When diversity becomes strength
In the first session, "Libraries and Inclusion," the fishbowl method was used for a participatory dialogue between students and librarians. The central question concerned how libraries can function as safe spaces for addressing discrimination and promoting diversity. Specific initiatives were highlighted, such as multilingual resources, inclusive services, and staff training.
Blended Intensive Programme: The future of library education
The second session focused on the creation of the first Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) for CIVIS library staff, scheduled for June 2026. Representatives from four universities took part (Aix-Marseille, NKUA, Sapienza Roma, Paris Lodron Salzburg). The programme covers four strands: User Experience Design, Open Science, Information Literacy and Artificial Intelligence, and Cultural Action. The experience NKUA librarians had gained from previous Staff Weeks (Rome 2022, Marseille 2024) proved valuable in preparing for this participation.
Monthly CIVIS Zoom meetings: Strengthening a successful institution
The third session was dedicated to strengthening the monthly thematic CIVIS Zoom meetings, an initiative launched in September 2022 and now enriched by the participation of African university libraries since September 2024. Future collaborations were discussed, the BIP was presented, an innovative idea for an Open Educational Resources (OER) platform was developed, and the 2025–2026 meeting schedule was set.
Beyond libraries: Inspiring encounters
NKUA's LIC representatives also attended two additional sessions that opened up new avenues of thought.
SUCTI@CIVIS: The intercultural challenge — The session on SUCTI (Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation) raised the question of what genuine internationalisation really means. The representatives recognised that NKUA's libraries are already multicultural spaces and can become pioneers in intercultural staff training.
CASCADE Network: Where knowledge meets action — The CASCADE Network session examined participatory research as a core element of academic activity. A proposal emerged to create "interdisciplinary coffee corners" in NKUA's libraries, where researchers from different fields could meet.
A New Chapter for European Libraries
The Libraries' participation in CIVIS Days 2025 marks the transition from passive guardians of knowledge to active catalysts of social change and academic innovation. Through its representatives, NKUA's LIC reinforced the University's position as a leader in education and research, promoting inclusion, equity, and international cooperation.
Useful Links
CIVIS Days 2025 | CIVIS Days 2025 Programme | Staff Week Rome 2022 | Staff Week Marseille 2024 | SUCTI Project | CASCADE Network