CITIZEN'S ACADEMY

CITIZEN'S ACADEMY
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Mytilene-Larisa-Volos-Trikala-Karditsa
Greece

sites.google.com/a/aigaion.org/acadimiapoliton

tel.+3022510-54739
academy@aigaion.org

Citizens Academy, a non-profit organization, aiming at the promotion of open and creative lifelong education, was established in 2010 in the city of Mytilene, Lesvos.
It is an institution dedicated to the educational needs of the general public, characterized by academic validity and covering an important range of topics of general interest. Until now, it has been successfully operated in many cities of Greece such as Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Mytilene, with the support of municipalities, prefectures and intellectual institutions as well as with the financial assistance and support of private companies and organizations which believe and share our vision regarding social contribution, education and creation.
Currently, Citizens Academy is expanding in the island of Skiathos thus providing education opportunities for all V. Sporades citizens.  Future plans include the operation of Citizens Academy in Nicosia and Thessaloniki.
Citizens Academy have awarded with ISO 9001 certification, which demonstrates its commitment to quality, commitment to customer satisfaction and desire to continuously increase efficiency.

Aims of the Citizens Academy
The academy aims at the provision of the arts, the study of the new emerging social reality, the discussion of social issues and problems and the introduction of viable recommendations and solutions for them. Moreover, Citizens Academy focus on the deployment of actions in order to improve the teaching experience and the integration of new technologies in contemporary educational procedure and social reality, while at the same time promoting classical education and culture.
More specifically the main goals of the academy are:
Ι. Organizing and implementing programs covering various social, psychological and pedagogical issues, offered to the general public.  
ΙΙ. Organizing and implementing educational and pedagogical training programs related to social welfare, quality of life, vulnerable social groups, social integration and exclusion, counseling, education and psychology.
ΙΙΙ. Taking initiative regarding the outspread of programs related to multiculturalism, culture through the arts, literature and music, aiming to raise societal awareness.
ΙV. Improving the existing informational level regarding educational and psychological issues, thus aiming at offering comprehensive training in pedagogical, educational and psychological areas of interest.
 V. Communicating and promoting Greek language and literature in all its historical forms, thus promoting Greek education and the values ​​which it represents.
VI. Dispersing the use of new technologies in education and society in general, aiming at the integration of technological tools in the service of man.
VΙ. Creating and spreading digital or /and printed educational and informational material.
VΙΙ. Implementing local developmental plans for the benefit of society, cooperating with other domestic or foreign bodies, and spreading those actions in Greece and abroad.
VΙΙΙ.- Taking scientific and technological action by organizing and conducting seminars, conferences, meetings και lectures, by preparing reports and studies, publishing scientific work, and by cooperating with other academic or non-academic bodies in order to achieve all of the above.
ΙΧ.- Participating in international, European and national programs related to humanitarian studies, sociology and education.
Χ.- Offering counseling and psychological services to individuals and groups.
ΧΙ.- Reporting social and psychological tendencies via polls and statistics.

Structure and Management
The main management structure responsible for managing the affairs of the company is the General Assembly of Partners which is solely responsible for any possible amendment of the statute, for the acceptance of a new or the exit of a former partner, for approval of transactions, balance sheet and budget, for the dissolution of the company, etc. More importantly, the general assembly of partners is responsible for electing the Board of Directors.
b) The Board of Directors is composed of five members and is held responsible for the representation of the company and the handling of the company's affairs.
More details regarding the rights and responsibilities of the General Assembly of Partners as well as of the Board of Directors can be found on the detailed company statute.


Lectures offered by Citizens Academy
The main topics of the lectures offered by Citizens Academy for 2012 are Preventive Medicine, Counseling, Psychology and Journalism. Lectures are open for private or state employees, students, unemployed, farmers, freelancers, businessmen etc, and will remain open for every individual who has the urge and desire to continue his education or expand his knowledge.
Currently, the Academy operates in the cities of Mytilene, Larisa, Volos and Trikala, offering lectures by distinguished scholars, educators and professionals from various fields.
Specifically, the issues covered for the 2nd semester of 2012 per Academy are:
Academy of Mytilene: Counseling
Academy of Larisa: Counseling and Journalism
Academy of Volos: Counseling and Preventive Medicine
Academy of Trikala: Psychology

Programs and Seminars offered by Citizens Academy

1. Online Training Programs


A)  Counseling Program
A two-year online counseling program offered in Greece and Cyprus, under the scientific supervision of the Human Rights Laboratory belonging to the Department of Political Science of the University of Crete.

Aims of the program

Counseling is a humanities discipline, which aims to provide assistance, support, empowerment and information to individuals, groups, organizations and companies with problems, dilemmas and difficulties in obtaining good, weighted and making decisions

The main goals of the online counseling program include:

The successful management of individual and social crisis, the achievement of smooth communication and cooperation between individuals and groups, the understanding of individual actions, motives and one’s self, as well as of social, working and family environment.  

Counseling utilizes a wide range of contemporary theoretical, research and bibliographic data, derived mainly from the areas of Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology and Psychometrics. Moreover, counseling is implemented and practiced in many professional fields such as welfare, training and education, mental health, career development, as well as in companies and organizations etc.

Whilst this course does not qualify students to practice counseling, it does meet the needs of new students who wish to complete a ‘taster course’ in order to determine whether counseling is a suitable career, but also provides academic and practical learning of relevance to many others – for instance, those in business or other professions such as educators, people working in mental health etc, where ‘people skills’ are particularly important – who are seeking further knowledge and training in basic counseling theory and skills.



Courses:

The following subjects will be compulsory for all students:

Basic Principles of Counseling
Online Counseling
Person-centered Counseling
Professional Counseling

Specifically, the following subjects will be covered:
1. Basic principles of counseling
2. Online counseling
3. Relationship, marriage and family counseling
4. Vocational counseling
5. Cross-cultural counseling: Acculturation and integration counseling
6. School counseling
7. Self- esteem development: assertiveness and communication
8. Organizational counseling
9. Crisis management and labor low

Due to the individualized nature of the program, registration dates are open throughout the year.



B) Research Methodology and Statistics Program

 This 100 hour program is offered online and is open to social scientists, professors, undergraduate and graduate students as well as Phd candidates.


The course aims in the familiarization with the world of research, in theoretical and practical empowerment, in the promotion and simplification of research in social sciences and in those fields that are connected to gathering, in processing and analyzing scientific data and in gaining basic/core knowledge towards professional and personal development.

Aims of the program

Through the study of research methods and statistics the program aims at   providing a higher educational experience of intrinsic worth to individual participants.
The detailed objectives envisioned by the program are:

-The empowerment of postgraduate students in their research activities.
-The training of professors and teachers in research practices.
-The acquaintance with new research techniques
-The application of research methods and the use of statistics.

The topics covered by the program include: introduction to research methods, research design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, research deontology, data analysis via SPSS software, production of scientific research papers.


2. Annual Training Seminar in Systemic Therapy

Citizens Academy is announcing the opening of the "Annual Training Seminar in Systemic therapy" for 2012. The seminar, entitled "The systemic approach in addressing issues of family, couples and children- theory and practical applications", is open for all senior students or graduates of social sciences, educational studies, humanities, as well as for education professionals and students.
The seminar will cover the following issues:
Historical Development of Family Therapy
 Introduction to Systemic thought and Systemic therapy.
Introduction to the Schools of Systemic therapy
Family diagnostics
The family history
The method of genogram
The structure of the starting Session
Basic therapeutic attitudes
Systemic discussion techniques (circular questioning, reframing)
Intervention techniques
Therapeutic procedure
Definition of couple therapy and basic psychotherapeutic approaches
The systemic approach for couple psychotherapy
The “difficult partners”
“Extramarital relationships” and therapeutic manipulations
The feeling of anger in couple dynamics
Divorce and separation
Children and divorce
Delineation of family subsystems- triangulation
Systemic approach to the school
Applications of the ecosystemic approach to the school class
Experiential processes: For the consolidation of the theoretical principles of the course, almost half of each course will be covered with activities such as role-playing, simulations, presentation of clinical cases, possibly viewing of videotaped sessions, etc.
The duration of the program is 10 hours which is spread in monthly lectures conducted every Saturday / Sunday.

3. Other Seminars and lectures offered by Citizens Academy.
Citizens academy has announced for 2012 the opening of various seminars in the cities of Athens, Trikala, Larisa, Volos and Heraklio.
Α) "Experiential Training Program of Personal and Vocational Development– An everyday leader of my team and myself".
The program focuses on developing personal and social skills and is aimed at individuals who want to improve their leadership skills.

B) " Introduction to Experiential Training via Group Adventurous Techniques".
Counseling via adventure training is an experiential seminar conducted in open or closed facilities, and includes elements of group dynamics and discovery learning.

C) "Couple's Counseling"
The seminar examines the interpersonal relationships of couples, and aims at restoring a better level of functioning in couple who experience relationship distress.

D) "ACTION (instead of moaning) - SOLUTION (instead of a problem)-Business Decisions in time of crisis"
This training seminar is open to all individuals, regardless of age, who find themselves in front of a critical professional dilemma, by setting short-term and long-term goals, evaluating the course towards them, and making corrective actions.

E) "Introduction to Life Coaching"
The seminar aims at helping individuals identify and achieve personal goals. It draws inspiration from disciplines including sociology, psychology, positive adult development, and career counseling.



F) “Seminar on Professional Journalism”

Citizens Academy announces the “Seminar on Professional Journalism” of 100 hours in Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Athens. All interested parties who do not live in these cities can attend the seminar online via distance learning.

The seminar will be tough be prominent journalists of “Απογευματινή” newspaper, local Media journalists and university professors.
80 hours of the seminar will be devoted to theoretical teaching and the rest 20 hours on practice by writing articles the best of which will be published in local and national press.

The seminar will focus on effective writing skills and will be accompanied by proper use of Greek language and techniques of the good writer. The teaching will be supplemented by e-learning material via an online platform.

Lessons will be completed in five weekends.


G) “Seminar on Digital Photo Processing”

"Digital Photo Processing" program takes place in the context of the courses offered by Citizens Academy of Thessaly for spring 2012.
The seminar includes
1. Introduction to photography
2. Use of analogical/ digital cameras and of their lenses
3. Aesthetic approach to photography and photo -  taking techniques
4. Use of photo processing programs with open photo editing internet software.
The seminar will be completed in 12 weekly 90 minute sessions.
Students will be provided with folders with the seminar poster on the cover and seminar CD with free photo processing programs.
Each class will consist of a maximum of 12 persons and each student will have his personal computer to allow for personal practice.
H)  “ Seminar on Finances”

A new seminar on Finances offered by Citizens Academy.  Our current economic standing requires the knowledge and understanding of economic concepts that dominate our lives.
The seminar will cover the following issues:
Basic economic terms
Financial/ Economic terminology
Economic theories
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Distinction between microeconomic and macroeconomic Theory
Μορφές αγοράς
The bank system
Inflation – Unemployment
State finances
Demand for goods
Offer of goods
Prospects– opportunities in the crisis
Society benefits from the “haircut”
The seminar will be completed in 12 weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes, participants will be free to discuss on practical issues. Participants will be provided with notes and exercises for better understanding of concepts.



I)  “ Ancient Greek” Program

Based on the words of Socrates, Citizens Academy attempts to make a the dream of many fellow citizens come in reality.
Βιώνοντας όλοι μας μια κρίσιμη περίοδο, όπου συθέμελα καταρρέουν ιδέες, οράματα, έννοιες όπως ελευθερία λόγου, δικαιοσύνη, ανθρωπισμός, η αναζήτηση των ριζών μας στην αρχαία Αθήνα και η αναβίωση του πολιτισμού μας μέσω των αρχαίων φιλοσόφων αποτελούν μια επιτακτική ανάγκη.
We all currently face a difficult period, in which ideas like “ freedom of speech”, “justice”, “humanity” are falling apart, the search for our roots in ancient Athens and the revival of our culture through the ancient philosophers is imperative.
Area: Larisa and Volos

Additionally, Citizens Academy, taking into account the occasional educational needs of each city, organizes the following seminars:
"My creative self"
"Decoration in everyday life"
"Developing a new relationship with children and adolescents"
"Group analysis and psychodrama"
"Stress Management - The path of meditation"
"We're talking like women"
"Environmental Concerns"
NON PROFIT ORANIZATION

sites.google.com/a/aigaion.org/acadimiapoliton
Mytilene-Volos-Larisa-Trikala-Karditsa
tel. +3022510-54739
academy@aigaion.org


Description

Citizens Academy, a non-profit organization, aiming at the promotion of open and creative lifelong education, was established in 2010 in the city of Mytilene, Lesvos.
It is an institution dedicated to the educational needs of the general public, characterized by academic validity and covering an important range of topics of general interest. Until now, it has been successfully operated in many cities of Greece such as Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Mytilene, with the support of municipalities, prefectures and intellectual institutions as well as with the financial assistance and support of private companies and organizations which believe and share our vision regarding social contribution, education and creation.
Currently, Citizens Academy is expanding in the island of Skiathos thus providing education opportunities for all V. Sporades citizens.  Future plans include the operation of Citizens Academy in Nicosia and Thessaloniki.
Citizens Academy have awarded with ISO 9001 certification, which demonstrates its commitment to quality, commitment to customer satisfaction and desire to continuously increase efficiency.

Aims

The academy aims at the provision of the arts, the study of the new emerging social reality, the discussion of social issues and problems and the introduction of viable recommendations and solutions for them. Moreover, Citizens Academy focus on the deployment of actions in order to improve the teaching experience and the integration of new technologies in contemporary educational procedure and social reality, while at the same time promoting classical education and culture.
More specifically the main goals of the academy are:
Ι. Organizing and implementing programs covering various social, psychological and pedagogical issues, offered to the general public.  
ΙΙ. Organizing and implementing educational and pedagogical training programs related to social welfare, quality of life, vulnerable social groups, social integration and exclusion, counseling, education and psychology.
ΙΙΙ. Taking initiative regarding the outspread of programs related to multiculturalism, culture through the arts, literature and music, aiming to raise societal awareness.
ΙV. Improving the existing informational level regarding educational and psychological issues, thus aiming at offering comprehensive training in pedagogical, educational and psychological areas of interest.
 V. Communicating and promoting Greek language and literature in all its historical forms, thus promoting Greek education and the values ​​which it represents.
VI. Dispersing the use of new technologies in education and society in general, aiming at the integration of technological tools in the service of man.
VΙ. Creating and spreading digital or /and printed educational and informational material.
VΙΙ. Implementing local developmental plans for the benefit of society, cooperating with other domestic or foreign bodies, and spreading those actions in Greece and abroad.
VΙΙΙ.- Taking scientific and technological action by organizing and conducting seminars, conferences, meetings και lectures, by preparing reports and studies, publishing scientific work, and by cooperating with other academic or non-academic bodies in order to achieve all of the above.
ΙΧ.- Participating in international, European and national programs related to humanitarian studies, sociology and education.
Χ.- Offering counseling and psychological services to individuals and groups.
ΧΙ.- Reporting social and psychological tendencies via polls and statistics.

Structure and Management
The main management structure responsible for managing the affairs of the company is the General Assembly of Partners which is solely responsible for any possible amendment of the statute, for the acceptance of a new or the exit of a former partner, for approval of transactions, balance sheet and budget, for the dissolution of the company, etc. More importantly, the general assembly of partners is responsible for electing the Board of Directors.
b) The Board of Directors is composed of five members and is held responsible for the representation of the company and the handling of the company's affairs.
More details regarding the rights and responsibilities of the General Assembly of Partners as well as of the Board of Directors can be found on the detailed company statute.


Lectures offered by Citizens Academy
The main topics of the lectures offered by Citizens Academy for 2012 are Preventive Medicine, Counseling, Psychology and Journalism. Lectures are open for private or state employees, students, unemployed, farmers, freelancers, businessmen etc, and will remain open for every individual who has the urge and desire to continue his education or expand his knowledge.
Currently, the Academy operates in the cities of Mytilene, Larisa, Volos and Trikala, offering lectures by distinguished scholars, educators and professionals from various fields.
Specifically, the issues covered for the 2nd semester of 2012 per Academy are:
Academy of Mytilene: Counseling
Academy of Larisa: Counseling and Journalism
Academy of Volos: Counseling and Preventive Medicine
Academy of Trikala: Psychology

Programs and Seminars offered by Citizens Academy

1. Online Training Programs


A)  Counseling Program
A two-year online counseling program offered in Greece and Cyprus, under the scientific supervision of the Human Rights Laboratory belonging to the Department of Political Science of the University of Crete.

Aims of the program

Counseling is a humanities discipline, which aims to provide assistance, support, empowerment and information to individuals, groups, organizations and companies with problems, dilemmas and difficulties in obtaining good, weighted and making decisions

The main goals of the online counseling program include:

The successful management of individual and social crisis, the achievement of smooth communication and cooperation between individuals and groups, the understanding of individual actions, motives and one’s self, as well as of social, working and family environment.  

Counseling utilizes a wide range of contemporary theoretical, research and bibliographic data, derived mainly from the areas of Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology and Psychometrics. Moreover, counseling is implemented and practiced in many professional fields such as welfare, training and education, mental health, career development, as well as in companies and organizations etc.

Whilst this course does not qualify students to practice counseling, it does meet the needs of new students who wish to complete a ‘taster course’ in order to determine whether counseling is a suitable career, but also provides academic and practical learning of relevance to many others – for instance, those in business or other professions such as educators, people working in mental health etc, where ‘people skills’ are particularly important – who are seeking further knowledge and training in basic counseling theory and skills.



Courses:

The following subjects will be compulsory for all students:

Basic Principles of Counseling
Online Counseling
Person-centered Counseling
Professional Counseling

Specifically, the following subjects will be covered:
1. Basic principles of counseling
2. Online counseling
3. Relationship, marriage and family counseling
4. Vocational counseling
5. Cross-cultural counseling: Acculturation and integration counseling
6. School counseling
7. Self- esteem development: assertiveness and communication
8. Organizational counseling
9. Crisis management and labor low

Due to the individualized nature of the program, registration dates are open throughout the year.



B) Research Methodology and Statistics Program

 This 100 hour program is offered online and is open to social scientists, professors, undergraduate and graduate students as well as Phd candidates.


The course aims in the familiarization with the world of research, in theoretical and practical empowerment, in the promotion and simplification of research in social sciences and in those fields that are connected to gathering, in processing and analyzing scientific data and in gaining basic/core knowledge towards professional and personal development.

Aims of the program

Through the study of research methods and statistics the program aims at   providing a higher educational experience of intrinsic worth to individual participants.
The detailed objectives envisioned by the program are:

-The empowerment of postgraduate students in their research activities.
-The training of professors and teachers in research practices.
-The acquaintance with new research techniques
-The application of research methods and the use of statistics.

The topics covered by the program include: introduction to research methods, research design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, research deontology, data analysis via SPSS software, production of scientific research papers.


2. Annual Training Seminar in Systemic Therapy

Citizens Academy is announcing the opening of the "Annual Training Seminar in Systemic therapy" for 2012. The seminar, entitled "The systemic approach in addressing issues of family, couples and children- theory and practical applications", is open for all senior students or graduates of social sciences, educational studies, humanities, as well as for education professionals and students.
The seminar will cover the following issues:
Historical Development of Family Therapy
 Introduction to Systemic thought and Systemic therapy.
Introduction to the Schools of Systemic therapy
Family diagnostics
The family history
The method of genogram
The structure of the starting Session
Basic therapeutic attitudes
Systemic discussion techniques (circular questioning, reframing)
Intervention techniques
Therapeutic procedure
Definition of couple therapy and basic psychotherapeutic approaches
The systemic approach for couple psychotherapy
The “difficult partners”
“Extramarital relationships” and therapeutic manipulations
The feeling of anger in couple dynamics
Divorce and separation
Children and divorce
Delineation of family subsystems- triangulation
Systemic approach to the school
Applications of the ecosystemic approach to the school class
Experiential processes: For the consolidation of the theoretical principles of the course, almost half of each course will be covered with activities such as role-playing, simulations, presentation of clinical cases, possibly viewing of videotaped sessions, etc.
The duration of the program is 10 hours which is spread in monthly lectures conducted every Saturday / Sunday.

3. Other Seminars and lectures offered by Citizens Academy.
Citizens academy has announced for 2012 the opening of various seminars in the cities of Athens, Trikala, Larisa, Volos and Heraklio.
Α) "Experiential Training Program of Personal and Vocational Development– An everyday leader of my team and myself".
The program focuses on developing personal and social skills and is aimed at individuals who want to improve their leadership skills.

B) " Introduction to Experiential Training via Group Adventurous Techniques".
Counseling via adventure training is an experiential seminar conducted in open or closed facilities, and includes elements of group dynamics and discovery learning.

C) "Couple's Counseling"
The seminar examines the interpersonal relationships of couples, and aims at restoring a better level of functioning in couple who experience relationship distress.

D) "ACTION (instead of moaning) - SOLUTION (instead of a problem)-Business Decisions in time of crisis"
This training seminar is open to all individuals, regardless of age, who find themselves in front of a critical professional dilemma, by setting short-term and long-term goals, evaluating the course towards them, and making corrective actions.

E) "Introduction to Life Coaching"
The seminar aims at helping individuals identify and achieve personal goals. It draws inspiration from disciplines including sociology, psychology, positive adult development, and career counseling.



F) “Seminar on Professional Journalism”

Citizens Academy announces the “Seminar on Professional Journalism” of 100 hours in Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Athens. All interested parties who do not live in these cities can attend the seminar online via distance learning.

The seminar will be tough be prominent journalists of “Απογευματινή” newspaper, local Media journalists and university professors.
80 hours of the seminar will be devoted to theoretical teaching and the rest 20 hours on practice by writing articles the best of which will be published in local and national press.

The seminar will focus on effective writing skills and will be accompanied by proper use of Greek language and techniques of the good writer. The teaching will be supplemented by e-learning material via an online platform.

Lessons will be completed in five weekends.


G) “Seminar on Digital Photo Processing”

"Digital Photo Processing" program takes place in the context of the courses offered by Citizens Academy of Thessaly for spring 2012.
The seminar includes
1. Introduction to photography
2. Use of analogical/ digital cameras and of their lenses
3. Aesthetic approach to photography and photo -  taking techniques
4. Use of photo processing programs with open photo editing internet software.
The seminar will be completed in 12 weekly 90 minute sessions.
Students will be provided with folders with the seminar poster on the cover and seminar CD with free photo processing programs.
Each class will consist of a maximum of 12 persons and each student will have his personal computer to allow for personal practice.
H)  “ Seminar on Finances”

A new seminar on Finances offered by Citizens Academy.  Our current economic standing requires the knowledge and understanding of economic concepts that dominate our lives.
The seminar will cover the following issues:
Basic economic terms
Financial/ Economic terminology
Economic theories
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Distinction between microeconomic and macroeconomic Theory
Μορφές αγοράς
The bank system
Inflation – Unemployment
State finances
Demand for goods
Offer of goods
Prospects– opportunities in the crisis
Society benefits from the “haircut”
The seminar will be completed in 12 weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes, participants will be free to discuss on practical issues. Participants will be provided with notes and exercises for better understanding of concepts.



I)  “ Ancient Greek” Program

Based on the words of Socrates, Citizens Academy attempts to make a the dream of many fellow citizens come in reality.
Βιώνοντας όλοι μας μια κρίσιμη περίοδο, όπου συθέμελα καταρρέουν ιδέες, οράματα, έννοιες όπως ελευθερία λόγου, δικαιοσύνη, ανθρωπισμός, η αναζήτηση των ριζών μας στην αρχαία Αθήνα και η αναβίωση του πολιτισμού μας μέσω των αρχαίων φιλοσόφων αποτελούν μια επιτακτική ανάγκη.
We all currently face a difficult period, in which ideas like “ freedom of speech”, “justice”, “humanity” are falling apart, the search for our roots in ancient Athens and the revival of our culture through the ancient philosophers is imperative.
Area: Larisa and Volos

Additionally, Citizens Academy, taking into account the occasional educational needs of each city, organizes the following seminars:
"My creative self"
"Decoration in everyday life"
"Developing a new relationship with children and adolescents"
"Group analysis and psychodrama"
"Stress Management - The path of meditation"
"We're talking like women"
"Environmental Concerns"