In memory of Dimitra Papadopoulou

The Global Campus of Human Rights expresses its deep regret and profound sorrow for the loss of Professor Emerita Dimitra Papadopoulou, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who passed away on Wednesday 21 April 2021.

Dimitra Papadopoulou founded in 1997 the first UNESCO Chair in a Greek academic institution at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as a result of her vision, her scientific vigilance in the academic disciplines of Social Psychology and Peace Education as well and her deep conviction of the necessity to foster a culture of peace in education and society. She worked for the UNESCO Chair tirelessly for two decades with absolute devotion and self-denial, with dynamism and academic integrity, while serving the same goals in her scientific work and activity throughout her academic career, both in Greece and abroad. She highlighted the interdisciplinarity of the UNESCO Chair’s academic field and its importance for the education of students of all disciplines of the university.

As one of the original pioneers of The European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (Global Campus Europe - EMA), she contributed decisively to the advancement of global values and human dignity through inter-university cooperation as well as to the internationalisation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Dimitra was deeply committed to the right to culture and the protection of cultural property. This was one of the main thematic areas in which she and her colleagues from Thessaloniki contributed to the EMA cooperation in the early years, and it was highly appreciated by the students. In the second semester, students always felt welcomed and greatly supported in Thessaloniki, largely thanks to Dimitra’s personal involvement.

Dimitra was one of the original pioneers of the EMA programme. As fellow UNESCO Chairs, she had a close bond with our founder Professor Antonio Papisca and remained a very strong and treasured supporter of the cooperation until her retirement as EMA Director in 2018, and even beyond this.

The legacy that Dimitra leaves to the Global Campus of Human Rights, the UNESCO Chair and to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is and will remain profound. We express our sincere and warm condolences to her family and relatives.