6th LitConCY

On February 24–25, 2026, Nicosia became a living laboratory of ideas. The 6th International Conference Literacies and Contemporary Society: From Skills to Practices brought together 269 academics, researchers, students, and practitioners at the Filoxenia Conference Center, a dedicated venue built for professional meetings and events.

 

Hosted by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth, and co-funded by the European Union, the conference expanded the conversation beyond narrow definitions of literacy. Conference Chair Prof. Spyros Sofocleous expressed his appreciation to participants, stating:

The conference opened with a musical prelude by the Nicosia Music School – Pancyprian Gymnasium, followed by welcome addresses from Dr Elena Hadjikakou, Director of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, Dr Tasos Christofides, Rector of the University of Cyprus, and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Nikos Christodoulides. A video message from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture reinforced the European dimension of the event.

 

Across two intensive days, participants engaged with nine thematic tracks, including Literacies, Language Arts Teaching and School Education; Emergent Literacy and Literacy in the Early Years; Inclusive Literacy Practices; Digital Literacies, Artificial Intelligence, and New Literacies; Literacy and Literature; Education Policy and Teachers’ Professional Learning; Multiple and Alternative Literacies; Bilingualism and Intercultural Education; and Literacies, Citizenship, Sustainability, and Democratic Societies.

 

Workshops launched the first morning with topics ranging from computational thinking in early literacy to AI “fails” turned into educational breakthroughs. Sessions examined digital competence frameworks, VR and AR in classrooms, multilingual storytelling, critical literacy for peace, and the ethics of AI integration.

 

Symposia addressed teacher professional learning, anti-racist policy implementation, inclusive pedagogies, STEAM and data literacy, multilingual education, and literacy in constrained contexts such as prisons and migration settings.

 

Keynote speakers elevated the discussion to a global scale: Prof. Elizabeth Birr Moje (University of Michigan) explored disciplinary literacies across life, work, and learning. Prof. Panayiota (Pani) Kendeou (University of Minnesota) emphasized the imperative of AI literacy in education, bridging theory, policy, and practice. Prof. Uta Papen (Lancaster University) questioned dominant discourses in adult literacy and their policy implications. Dr. Stan van Alphen, Head of Sector at the European Commission, situated literacy within the broader “Union of Skills” and the European Education Area.

 

The diversity of sessions, as outlined in detail throughout the programme 6thLitConCY – Program, reflected a field in motion. From early childhood classrooms to higher education, from refugee education to digital citizenship, from gender literacy to financial literacy.

 

And in between sessions, conversations continued. Old colleagues reunited. New collaborations sparked.

 

Technical support for the conference was provided by Easyconferences through its Abstract Submission Platform and dedicated Conference Application, ensuring a seamless participant experience and digital accessibility.

 

 

The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute serves as the official in-service training body for teachers in Cyprus, supporting professional development, research, and innovation in education. The Department of Education at the University of Cyprus advances research and academic excellence in educational sciences, preparing future educators and contributing to international scholarship. The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth shapes national education policy, promotes inclusive and high-quality education, and supports youth and sport initiatives across the Republic of Cyprus.