IMMA at the “Local History” Scientific and Educational Conference

On Monday, 4 May 2026, a one-day conference entitled “Local History – Part II” was held at the Tower of the School of Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (#AUTH). The conference was organised by Ms Lina P. Valsamidou, Education Advisor for the 3rd PE60 District of the Directorate of Primary Education of Eastern Thessaloniki, in collaboration with Ms Ifigeneia Vamvakidou, Professor at the School of Early Childhood Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The event highlighted creative ways through which children can learn about their local area.

The conference was attended by practising kindergarten teachers from the 3rd PE60 District of the Directorate of Primary Education of Eastern Thessaloniki, as well as undergraduate students from the School of Early Childhood Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Through original presentations, experiential approaches and contemporary educational proposals, the conference highlighted the educational value of creatively engaging with Local History as a bridge between the past and the present, the school and the community, knowledge and empathy.

IMMA participated in the conference with a presentation by Mr Vangelis Kansizoglou, historian and researcher at the Foundation, entitled “Local History and Museums: Macedonia in the Early 20th Century through the Educational Programmes of the Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia”.

The presentation introduced the interactive educational programme “Macedonia 1922: The New Homeland”, which has been successfully running since 2022, as well as the new history and architecture educational programme “The Architectural Heritage of Ernst Ziller in Thessaloniki”. The programme centres on an experiential educational walk around the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle’s emblematic neoclassical building.