International Conference
June 6 & 7 2025
The Role of Academia in Promoting Child Rights
Patras, Greece
Venue: Conference & Cultural Center
of the University of Patras
BACKROUND FOR THE CONFERENCE
Since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 child rights have emerged as a fundamental social norm fostering an increasing activity on education and awareness raising on child rights. The aim of this trend is to cultivate a global cultural universalism on child rights intended to enhance their protection across societies. This approach is explicitly articulated in Art. 42 of the CRC whereby “states should make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known” obliging CRC State Parties to undertake all necessary measures to this end. Consequently, the discussion on effective societal strategies for building awareness about child rights and the CRC has been ongoing in scientific, political, and educational discourse.
Universities, as well-established institutions in modern societies, fulfill critical social functions that extend beyond knowledge transmission. Among these roles, higher education supports social development by fostering values, principles, and norms that uphold democracy, human rights, and active citizenship. Given that universities are key agents in the socialization of individuals, shaping their perceptions, the contribution of academia can have a multiplier effect on the social value and impact of child rights. Thus, universities are ideally positioned to promote the child rights agenda throughout society by engaging in multilevel activities —such as education, training, research, and knowledge generation— that significantly contribute to embedding a culture of child rights in society.
Considering academia’s influential role in advancing child rights, it is evident that there is substantial potential to further explore this relationship. Many human and child rights studies programs have been developed globally over the past 20 years. However the systematic integration of child rights into university teaching and practice of all academic disciplines —such as social sciences, education, business and management, applied sciences, and health sciences— can be further reinforced. A structured reflection and dialogue about the role of academia in promoting child rights could serve as a powerful platform for enhancing social awareness on child rights. This holistic approach not only enriches academic discourse but also prepares students to become informed and compassionate leaders who champion child rights in their respective fields.
Overview and context of the conference
University of Patras established in partnership with UNICEF Greece Country Office the first Child Rights Centre in Greece in October 2023. The Child Rights Centres initiative builds upon the powerful role of Academia to promote and mainstream child rights in society through establishing knowledge hubs within universities that serve this purpose. In the context of this initiative, an international conference on the Role of “Academia in Promoting Child Rights” is co-organized by UNICEF Greece Country Office and University of Patras on June 6th and 7th 2025.
The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of international and national experiences and best practices on how academia can effectively promote and protect child rights, with a focus on diverse international perspectives. It will bring together members of the academic community, representatives from UNICEF and other United Nations agencies, child rights experts, practitioners, policymakers, officials from central and local government, various Civil Society Organizations, as well as children and young people themselves. This broad spectrum of stakeholder participation reflects the belief that every sector of society plays a vital role in upholding and fostering a culture of respect for child rights, which, over time, can drive shifts in social norms to the benefit of children.
Considering that since the adoption of the CRC child rights have emerged as an autonomous interdisciplinary scientific field, the conference is adopting this strategy to promote a comprehensive, integrated, and complementary approach to advancing child rights. For this reason, submissions relevant to the conference topic from various disciplines are encouraged such as law, sociology, philosophy, pedagogy, childhood studies, psychology, social work, political science, humanities, anthropology, health sciences, economics, demography, and information science. In addition, thematic areas of focus relevant to child rights are highly welcome such as environment and climate change, child rights and business, child rights in the digital space, gender, disability, disaster, conflict, and displacement.
KEY OBJECTIVES AND THEMES OF CONFERENCE
They include:
- Highlight the pivotal role of Academia in promoting child rights and how to place them into the academic agenda at international and national level
- Networking on academic experience in the field of child rights and sharing the model of “Child Rights Centres” implemented in Greece;
- Demonstrate the benefits of strengthening the role of Academia in promoting child rights for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
Exchange of international good practices and experience in the areas of:
- engagement and partnerships at local and international level for the promotion of child rights;
- evidence generation with a focus on concrete examples of evidence-based policy making for children;
- integrating child rights in the university curricula; engagement of academia with the private sector and business for the promotion and protection of child rights;
The Conference Speakers
Alexandris Konstantinos
Ampatzidis Georgios
Androutsos Odysseas
AnsariI Esfahani Tara
Azouri Issam
The Conference Schedule
- Day 1 – June 6, 2025
- Day 2 – June 7, 2025
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:45 | Walk to the Children’s Festival
Guided tour and interactions with children
09:45 – 10:00 | Walk back to Conference Venue
10:00 – 10:30 | Welcome Remarks by:
Masters of Ceremony: Thanassis Karalis (University of Patras) & Despina Karamperidou (UNICEF)
- Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, Greece
- Rector of the University of Patras, Greece, Christos Bouras
- H.E. the Ambassador of Georgia to Greece, Mr. Levan Beridze
- Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Sophie Kiladze (video message)
- Regional Governor [TBC]
- Patras, Greece Municipality [TBC]
- Regional Director of Education (West Greece)
- UNICEF Greece Representative, Ghassan Khalil
10:30 – 11:15 | Keynote Speech and Q&A with audience
The Role of Academia in Promoting Child Rights
Dr. Roberta Ruggiero, Children’s Rights European Academic Network (CREAN) Academic Coordinator & Director of the Children’s Rights Academy (University of Geneva)
Chair: Giorgos Simopoulos (UNICEF)
11:15 – 12:45 | Session 1: Promotion of Child Rights in Society
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Maria Poulou (University of Patras)
- Phantina Sholi (Independent Researcher, Germany) – The Role of Schools and Universities in Reducing the Conflict Gap in Children’s Rights Online
- Varunanvelu Vijaya Sureshvely, Pangasami Periyan, Cayatri Menon, (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham & University of Delhi, India) – Advancing Child Rights through Higher Education: A Rights-Based Institutional Model
- Ernestine Wirngo Tani (University of Yaounde1, Cameroon) – The Role of Academia in Advancing Child Rights in Conflict Settings: A Study of Sexual Abuse and Rights Violations among Internally Displaced Children in Cameroon’s Centre, Littoral and West Regions of Cameroon
- Jihad Nammour (Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon) – Engaging for and Engaging with Children on Human Rights: Perspectives from Seven Regional Post-Graduate Programmes
12:45 – 13:00 | Coffee break
13:00 – 14:30 | Session 2: Integrating Child Rights into University Curricula (Theoretical Foundations and Strategies)
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Kiprianos Pandelis (University of Patras)
- Marit Ursin (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway) – A Decolonial Approach to the Promotion of Children’s Rights in Teaching
- Velina Todorova (UNCRC Member) – Dynamic Interpretation of Children’s Rights by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and its Integration in Academic Education
- Mariana Khundzakishvili (Caucasus University, Georgia) – Integrating Child Rights into Pre-service Teacher Education
- Maria Kypriotaki (University of Crete, Greece) – Αttitudes of Preschool Education Students towards Children’s Rights and their Training Needs
14:30 – 15:15 | Lunch Break
15:15 – 16:45 | Session 3a: Country Case Studies on Integrating Child Rights into University Curricula
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Eteri Kirtskhalia (UNICEF)
- Nino Shatberashvili (Tbilisi State University, Georgia) – Child Rights MA Program as a Reference Point for Launching Interaction Among Disciplines
- Ewa Jarosz (University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland), Urszula Markowska-Manista (University of Warsaw, Poland) – Participatory Research and Children’s Rights Approach in the Academic Sphere: A Polish Perspective
- Erlehta Çelmeta-Mato, Konstantinos Giakoumis (LOGOS University College, Albania) – An Overview of Child Rights Curricula & Instruction in Albania since the 1990s
- Georgios Ampatzidis, Kostas Magos (University of Thessaly, Greece) – Investigating the Presence of Children’s Rights in the Curricula of Greek University Education Departments
15:15 – 16:45 | Session 3b: The Right to Education
Room I-10
Chair: Aristea Fyssa (University of Patras)
- Valbona Nathanaili (LOGOS University College, Albania) – Parental Agency and Children’s Rights at the European Court of Human Rights. A Case-Based Inquiry into Legal Culture and Access to Justice
- Deyana Marcheva (New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria) – Revising Child Rights Frameworks in Education: Shifting Focus from Catalogues to Values
- Peggy Manoli, Nektarios Stellakis (University of Patras, Greece) – Multilingual Education: The Role of Academia in Promoting Its Implementation
- Zoe Karanikola, Athanasia Grigoraki, Giorgos Panagiotopoulos (University of Patras, Greece) – Exploring Intercultural Sensitivity and Teacher Effectiveness in Multicultural Schools
- Neli Tchampuridze, Tamila Kekoshvili (Gori State University, Georgia) – Issues of Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality in Teacher Training Educational Programs
16:45 – 18:15 | Session 4a: The Role of Academia in Combating Bullying in Schools
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Peggy Manoli (University of Patras)
- Charikleia Pitsou, Athanasia Balomenou, Nikoletta Theodorou (University of Patras, Regional Education Directorate West Greece, UNICEF, Greece) – Training Educators in Experiential Activities on School Bullying within the Framework of Children’s Rights: A Pilot Implementation with Local Focus and Prospects for Expansion
- Konstantinos Tsioukas, Apostolos Kostas (University of the Aegean, Greece) – Using AI in an Experiential Workshop on Bullying in Schools
- Panagiota Gatsi, Lito Michalopoulou, Kornilia Chatzinikolaou, Giorgos Simopoulos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, UNICEF, Greece) – Empowering School Communities to Combat Violence and Bullying
- Recorded message from students
16:45 – 18:15 | Session 4b: The Role of Business in Promoting and Protecting Child Rights
Room I-10
Chair: Marina Drymalitou (UNICEF)
- Giorgi Katamadze, Lela Tavdgiridze, Maya Bolkvadze (Batumi State University, Georgia) – Perspectives on the Relationship Between Business and Educational Institutions
- CSR HELLAS BoD Member
- Sofia Stamou (Olympia Odos, Greece)
- Venia Rapti (Coffee Island, Greece)
18:15 | End of Day 1 – Reception Ceremony
Τhe Choir of the15th Primary school of Patras, Greece
09:00 – 09:15 | Morning Networking Coffee
09:15 – 10:00 | Keynote Speech and Q&A with audience
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Theoni Koufonikolakou (Greek Deputy Ombudswoman on Children’s Rights) – Child Righs in Academia: The Children’s Ombudsman’s perspective on a long overdue alliance
Chair: Natassa Spagadorou (CNN Greece)
10:00 – 11:30 | Session 5a: Strengthening Quality Inclusive Education
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Dionissios Mantzavinos (University of Patras)
- Sofia Kasola, Anthi Adamopoulou, Natassa Raikou, Thanassis Karalis, Giorgos Simopoulos (University of Patras, UNICEF. Greece) – Impact Assessment of a Teachers’ Professional Development Programme on Inclusive Education
- Konstantina Kydrou, Thomais Rousoulioti, Nektaria Palaiologou (Hellenic Open University, Greece) – Migrant Children’s Right to Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Despina Karakatsani, Dora Katsamori (University of the Peloponnese, University of Patras, Greece) – Academia’s Role in Safeguarding Roma Children’s Rights
- KikiliaTsoukala, Konstantinos Magos (University of Thessaly, Greece) – From School Classroom to the Academic Community and Backwards: STEAM Education as a Pathway for the Promotion of Child Rights in Early Childhood
- Alexandra Androussou, Maria Iakovou, Elina Tsiroga (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) – Children Rights Through Teacher Training: The Teach.In.G. Program and the CRC of NCUA
10:00 – 11:30 | Session 5b: Strengthening Services for Children
Room I-10
Chair: Nektarios Stellakis (University of Patras)
- Maria Kypriotaki, Dionysia Kontogianni (University of Crete, Greece) – Kindergarten Teachers’ Beliefs on Child Rights: The Need for Educational Programmes
- Charikleia Pitsou, Maria Iatrou (University of Patras, Greece) – Do We Feel Ready to Teach Children’s Rights? Exploring the Readiness and Proposals of Future Educators in Higher Education
- Eufimia Karamane, Isaak Papadopoulos (International Hellenic University, Greece) – Children’s Rights: Shaping Future Teachers. A Research on ECEC Students’ Views
- Konstantinos Anastasopoulos, Nikolia Tsokana, Eleni Albani (University of Patras, Greece) – The Experience of the Psychological and Counselling Centre in University of Patras: When the Child Speaks through the Adult
- Eleni Tsatsaroni, Amalia Giannoutsou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Raleios Experimantal Schools of Athens, Greece) – Digital Citizenship and Children’s Rights in an AI Era
11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee Break
11:45 – 13:15 | Session 6a: Promoting Child Participation through Schools and Communities
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Zoe Karanikola (University of Patras)
- Neli Tchampuridze, Marika Sherazadashvili (Gori State University, Georgia) – Main Aspects of Participatory Democracy in School
- Maria Papathanasiou (University of Thessaly CRC, Greece) – Promoting Child Rights Through Philosophical Dialogue: Academia’s Role in Cultivating a Community of Inquiry via a Picture-Based Game
- Claudia Maier-Höfer (Evangelische Hochschule Darmstadt, Deutschland), Urszula Markowska-Manista (University of Warsaw, Poland), Nektarios Stellakis (University of Patras, Greece) – We All Have a Voice… But Do We Really Hear All Voices Around Us?
- Maria Poulou (University of Patras, Greece) – Students’ Voice in Educational Research: The Case of Children with Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties
- Dora Katsamori (National Center for Cientific Research-Demokritos, Greece) – Preparing Active Citizens in the AI Era
11:45 – 13:15 | Session 6b: Law and Child-Friendly Justice
Room: I-10
Chair: Vasilis Fasoulis (UNICEF)
- Konstantinos Panagos (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece) – The Teaching of Juvenile Law in Greek Law Schools: Historical Development and Future Directions
- Sharma Neetu (Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India University, India) – Integrating Child Rights Education in Curricula of Law Universities: Experience and Strategy of Using Clinical Legal Education for Advancing Access to Justice for Children in Conflict with Law
- Paraskeui Zagoura (Panteion University, Greece) – Children’s Rights and Criminal Justice: The Child-friendly Justice Model – Application, Teaching and Policies
13:15 – 14:00 | Keynote Speech and Q&A with audience
Dr. João Costa (Director of the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education) – Role of Academic Research in Overcoming Challenges in the Implementation of Inclusive Education
Chair: Dr Mary Kyriazopoulou (Inclusion Consultant)
14:00 – 14:40 | Lunch Break
14:40 – 16:10 | Session 7a: The Role of Academia in the Promotion of Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Ioannis Tountas (Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine)
- Despina Papadopoulou, Gerakini Douka, Konstantinos Alexandris, Chrysanthi Anagnostou, Anna-Bettina Chaidits, Stavroula Chaloulakou, Michail Chourdakis, Eudoxia Gounari, Ermioni Katartzi, Theopistos Kenanidis, Androniki Papaemmanouil, Evangelia Stergiou, Xenophon Theodoridis, Despoina Tsoumana, Symeon Vlachopoulos, Zoe Tsimtsiou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece ) – The Contribution of the Child Rights Center to the Program “Food for Action”: The Case of AUTH
- Michalis Leotsinidis, Nefeli Schoina (University of Patras, Greece) – National Action to Combat Childhood Obesity – The University of Patras contribution
- Maria Dimopoulou, Georgia Gyftoula, Niki Kokkinopliti (School leaders, Greece) – A Whole School Approach to Fostering a Rights-Based Culture and Preventing Childhood Obesity
- Odysseas Androutsos, Konstantinos Magos, Giorgos Simopoulos (University of Thessaly, UNICEF, Greece) – National Action to Combat Childhood Obesity: Linking University with Schools and the Community
- Aristea Kyriakou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) – Bioeconomy through Outdoor Education in Kindergarten: A Rights-Based Academic Pathway for Sustainable Futures
14:40 – 16:10 | Session 7c: Protection and Child-Friendly Justice (online session)
Room I-11
Chair: Olga Siokou-Siova (UNICEF)
- Lipi Chhaya (Gujarat Educational Services, India) – Theoretical and Conceptual Framework on the Role of University Education in Child Rights Education & Promotion
- Camille Neidhardt (UNICEF, Sri Lanka) – From Pledges to Practice: Academia’s Role in Advancing Child Protection via Sri Lanka’s International Conference on Child Protection 2025
- Issam Azouri (Communication Advisor, Lebanon) – Adding a Communication Dimension to the Academic Approach
- Arthur Templeman-Lilley (Independent consultant, UK) – Exploring Collaborative Research with Academics and Young People
- Gift Gawanani Mauluka (University of Bayreuth, Germany) – Legal and Non-legal Instruments to Tackle Child Labour in Malawi: An Integrated Perspective Approach
- Sergio Ruiz Díaz Arce (University of Minho, Portugal) – The Relevance of Research on Child Rights Jurisprudence
16:10 – 16:25 | Coffee Break
16:25 – 18:00 | Session 8a: Child Rights Centers
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
Chair: Ghassan Khalil (UNICEF Representative)
- Lela Tavdgiridze, Lela Turmanidze, Maia Bolkvadze (Batumi State University, Georgia) – Child Rights and the Importance of Child Rights Knowledge Center in the University Space
- Eleni Griva, Evmorfia Kipouropoulou, Menelaos Tzifopoulos (University of Western Macedonia CRC, Greece) – Children’s Rights through the Lens of UOWM Academic Staff: Framework Development, Strategic Actions, and Professional Identity Considerations
- Fatimata Balandi Kirakoya, Nadine Perrault, Casimira Benge, Albert Legrand Fosso (UNICEF Cameroon) – Strengthening Child Rights through Academic Partnerships: the Experience of UNICEF Cameroon in Establishing Child Rights Centers and Mainstreaming Child Rights Education
- Giorgos Moschos, Matoula Papadimitriou, Elina Tsiroga (Initiative for Article 12, Greek Children’s Ombudsman, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece) –“The Treehouse with the Little Animals of Rights”: Child Rights for Preschool and Early School-Age Children
16:25 – 18:00 | Session 8b: Enhancing Services for Children
Room I-10
Chair: Chryssi Karapanagioti (University of Patras)
- Maria Papadakaki, Stavroula Liolou, Kyriaki Vagionaki, Nikolaos Bitsakos, Sofia Pitsikaki, Vasiliki Kounali, Nektaria Pedioti (Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece) – Mobile Unit for the Diagnosis and Support of Learning Difficulties of the Hellenic Mediterranean University: A University–Local Government Partnership for the Protection of Child Rights
- Eirini Georgiadou (Community Center, Greece) – The Contribution of the Teams for Minors’ Protection in Children Safeguarding: A Case Study
- Dimitris Georgiadis, Maria Papathanasiou, Chrysovalantis Papathanasiou (Panteion University, Aegean College-University of Essex, University of Thessaly, Hellenic Open University, Greece) – Empowering Prevention: The Role of Universities in Addressing Juvenile Delinquency Among Unaccompanied Minors Through a Child Rights Framework
- Eleni Karachontziti (University of Rouen Normandie, France) – Children Municipal Councils: The Case of a French Municipality
16:25 – 18:00 | Session 8c: [Online Session]
Room I-11
Chair: Nikoletta Theodorou (UNICEF)
- Nadine Perrault (UNICEF, Cameroon) – The Role of Academia in Forging Child-Rights Based Legislation
- Levan Darbaidze (Caucasus University, Georgia) – The Role of the Child Rights Center and the Importance of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Legal Education on the Example of Teaching Child Rights and Restorative Justice
- Anuruddhi Edirisinghe, Shobhavi Randeny (University of Kelaniya, Child Protection in Sri Lanka) – Health Sector Response; the Journey – from National Guideline to Standard Operational Procedures and Service Delivery Centers
- Aïda Darouichi (International Institute in Geneva) – Innovative Experiential Learning Approaches for Teaching Child Rights in Governance Studies
- Joyce Taylor (Southern Connecticut State University, USA) – Applying the ABCD Paradigm to Integrate Children’s Rights into University Curricula for Preparing Doctoral Students to Lead Systemic Improvements and Workforce Development for Child Protection
- Valenina Masotto (UNICEF-Italy) – The Friuli Venezia Giulia Child Protection’s MoU
18:00 – 18:30 | Closing Ceremony
Room: I-4 (Auditorium)
- Announcement of the International Master’s Programme on Children’s Rights by the University of Patras and the University of Peloponnese
- Signature of the Letter of Intent
18:30 – 19:45 | Guided Walk to the Health Fair under the National Action Against Childhood Obesity
- Tour and interactive engagement with children and parents
19:45 | End of Day 2
Expected outcomes of the conference
The overarching expected outcome of the conference is to foster greater understanding about the potential that Academia has in promoting child rights to empower and support universities to strengthen the mainstreaming of child rights into their work and activities.
More specifically, the expected outcomes of the conference include:
- The publication of a conference report to be used as point of reference for the most modern “state of the art” about the role of Academia in promoting child rights;
- To provide implementable practices to the universities for integrating child rights as a cross-cutting dimension of teaching in their curricula;
- To enhance the extroversion of universities for promoting child rights through partnerships with social actors in their local environment;
- To support and empower universities to initiate, better plan, contextualize, and disseminate research activities on children that will be actively utilized in policy making;
- To provide state authorities, EU and UN agencies as well as EU University Associations with a better understanding about the role of academia in upholding child rights to channel the required focus and investments accordingly.
Conference Schedule
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Workshop - 01
1st Dec 2019
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Marketing Workshop |
09:30 - 10:30
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Workshop - 02
1st Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
10:30 - 12:00
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Marketing
1st Dec 2019
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Marketing Strategy |
00:30 - 02:00
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Complex
1st Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
00:00 - 01:00
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Digital
2nd Dec 2019
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Digital Marketing Theory |
02:30 - 03:30
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Mass Marketing
2nd Dec 2019
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Mass Marketing |
03:30 - 04:30
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Digital Marketing
2nd Dec 2019
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Digital Marketing Theory |
09:00 - 10:30
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Introduction Business
2nd Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
01:00 - 02:30
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Strategy
3rd Dec 2019
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Marketing Strategy |
11:00 - 00:00
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Theory
3rd Dec 2019
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Digital Marketing Theory |
00:30 - 01:30
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Workshop
4th Dec 2019
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Marketing Workshop |
02:00 - 03:00
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Marketing Workshop
4th Dec 2019
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Marketing Workshop |
12:00 - 02:00
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Introduction
5th Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
00:00 - 01:00
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Business
5th Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
01:30 - 02:30
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Introduction
5th Dec 2019
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Introduction Business |
00:00 - 02:30
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