Museum objects and resources provide stimulation in the non-formal educational museum environment full of learning opportunities, not only for children, but also for adults. This learning process falls in the intersection of adult education and museum studies opting for developing programmes and approaches to enhance the relationship between museum exhibitions and their adult audiences. Within this context, the online talk entitled “Adult Learning in Greek Museums: from the present to the future” to be held on May 18, 2021 by Dr. Georgios Papaioannou, Academic Coordinator of the MA Programme in “Cultural Policy and Development” of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC), Associate Professor in Museology and Director of the Museology Lab of the Ionian University, and Panagiotis Sarantidis, Researcher of the Museology Lab, will investigate the current situation in museums in Greece regarding non-formal and informal adult learning and museum educational programs, and what motivates adults to visit a museum and learn.
The talk will be given in English on 18:30 EEST, and will be broadcasted live through the OUC eLearning Platform (web link: https://bit.ly/2R0uAhI).
The lecture, to be held on the International Museum Day, is given in the context of the research project “Exploring European Cultural Heritage for fostering academic teaching and social responsibility in Higher Education (EU_CUL)”, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. Dr. Papaioannou and Mr. Sarantidis will showcase their research results that have revealed challenges and issues as well as very positive attitudes and strengths, among which the potential of museums to act as places for transformative learning. Factors facilitating and/or preventing Greek museums from designing and implementing such programs were identified, while the potential of digital technologies and the role of open and distance education were explored.
Dr Georgios Papaioannou is the Academic Coordinator of the Master’s in Cultural Policy and Development of the Open University of Cyprus. He is also an Associate Professor in Museology and Digital Cultural Heritage, and Director of the Museology Lab, at the Ionian University, Greece. His research interests lie on museology, museum education and applications of digital technologies for cultural heritage. He has lectured and led research projects worldwide, and has received teaching and research awards. He is Senior Fellow and Assessor of the Higher Education Academy (UK), the Secretary General of the Hellenic Studies Society of Near East (HSNES), a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Pool of Experts of the European Museum Academy.
Mr Panagiotis Sarantidis is a researcher of the Museology Lab at Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology of the Ionian University (Corfu, Greece). He is a historian and museologist (MA, Leicester, UK), a teacher in Secondary Education and a certified Trainer of Adult Non-Typical Education. As a trainer for the Greek Institute for Adult Lifelong Learning, he has taught in educational programs for the immigrants and refugees. He is also a member of the Artistic Committee of the Corfu Art Gallery, and a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
The aim of the Erasmus+ project EU_CUL (KA203-051104) is to indicate how higher education can use more effectively the resources of European Cultural Heritage, to promote its educational and social value and to implement its own mission of a socially engaged and responsible institution. The project assumes that the presence and influence of universities on the closest social environment should be strengthened. The consortium consists of five universities: University of Lower Silesian - Poland (leader), University of Gothenburg - Sweden, University of Malaga - Spain, Open University of Cyprus - Cyprus, and University of Leiden - the Netherlands. At the OUC, research coordinator is Associate Professor, Maria Gravani, Academic Coordinator of the M.A. Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning and the International Masters in Adult Education for Social Change (Erasmus Mundus).
