UNESCO Chairs in Cyprus: Bridges of Knowledge for Society and Culture

The Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO announced the organization of a conference titled “UNESCO Chairs in Cyprus: Bridges of Knowledge for Society and Culture.” The event took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the UNESCO Amphitheater of the University of Nicosia.

The conference, organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Chairs Program in Cyprus, aimed to highlight the work of the seven UNESCO Chairs currently hosted at various universities across the island. It also sought to emphasize the social contribution of the UNESCO Chairs Program to stakeholders and the general public.Since 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Program has promoted cooperation and knowledge exchange among universities worldwide on issues directly related to the Organization’s mission: education, natural and social sciences, culture, and communication. The event’s program included the first screening of a short film about UNESCO Chairs, presentations by the Chairs’ holders, and a roundtable discussion on the topic: “UNESCO Chairs and Contemporary Reality: Addressing Present Challenges for a Better Future.”

Participants in the discussion included among others the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Dr. Athina Michaelidou, the Commissioner for Gender Equality, Ms. Tzozie Christodoulou and the President of the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Marina Solomides-Ieronymidou.

Dr Athos Agapiou, the coordinator of the ENGINEER project participate in this event under his capacity as the Deputy Director of UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage. The UNESCO Chair Prof. Marinos Ioannides provided an overview of the activities carried out so far.