General Terms and Conditions

 

  1. Mission and Purpose

With more than 400 Ambassadors from approximately 56 countries worldwide, the Communication Institute of Greece (COMinG) is an international association of academics and researchers from around the world.

The mission and purpose of the Association are to facilitate meaningful communication and to promote education, research, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among its members, academics, researchers, professionals, and individuals from around the world.

Starting with our academic community—our members and Ambassadors—we strongly believe that education can contribute to improving our lives and our societies. We aim to facilitate academic interaction and promote research not only through our academic meetings, but also through our academic journal, JEICOM, and through international collaborations with academic journals and institutions, including JALT, as well as universities and other academic organizations around the world.

Professionals and individuals who share this vision are warmly invited to participate in our activities and to become members and Ambassadors of the COMinG community.

  1. Membership

Membership in the COMinG community of scholars is open to educators, researchers, academics, professionals, and other individuals who share the values and objectives of the Association.

Conference participants may be invited to become Academic Members and/or Ambassadors of COMinG without an additional membership fee, as the conference registration fee may include the applicable membership fee, subject to approval by the COMinG Board.

Membership is subject to the Association’s applicable membership policies and approval procedures.

  1. Research Collaborations

COMinG encourages and facilitates research collaboration among its academic members and participants.

However, COMinG does not assume responsibility for independently initiated research projects, publications, or other collaborative activities undertaken by its members unless COMinG has expressly agreed to participate in or support such activities.

Research collaborations are generally developed directly among members and participants, often through contacts and exchanges established during our academic events.

  1. Events

COMinG organizes a variety of academic and educational events, including international conferences, public debates, public discussions, roundtable discussions, workshops, and other academic activities.

Whenever possible, we aim to maintain relatively small and interactive gatherings—generally involving approximately 50–70 participants—in order to encourage meaningful communication, personal interaction, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.

  1. Fee Waivers and Financial Assistance

COMinG is a non-profit, non-governmental association of academics and researchers.

Due to our limited financial resources, we are generally unable to provide financial assistance to participants, including registration-fee waivers, reductions, scholarships, or reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses.

Participants are therefore encouraged to seek financial support from their universities, institutions, employers, professional organizations, sponsors, or other funding bodies.

  1. Visa Requirements

Participants who are citizens of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Greece are strongly advised to begin the visa application process as early as possible, as visa processing may require considerable time.

It is the sole responsibility of each participant to determine whether a visa is required and to make all necessary arrangements for obtaining one.

If a participant’s proposal (e.g., abstract, poster, or other submission) has been accepted, COMinG may provide an Acceptance Letter for the purpose of supporting the participant’s visa application.

An Acceptance Letter does not constitute confirmation of registration or participation in the conference. A participant is considered officially registered only after the required registration fee has been paid and the registration has been confirmed by COMinG.

COMinG cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa and cannot be held responsible for visa refusals, delays, or related expenses.

  1. Registration Fee

Participants must pay the applicable registration fee prior to attending the conference.

Participants are advised to retain a copy of their payment confirmation or receipt and, if necessary, present it at the registration desk upon arrival.

The registration fee covers costs and services associated with the organization of the conference and is therefore non-refundable, except where otherwise expressly stated in these Terms and Conditions or required by applicable law.

Registration is personal and non-transferable and may not be transferred to another person without the prior written approval of COMinG.

An official receipt for the registration payment is issued upon payment. Participants may request to receive the receipt by email or collect it from the conference registration desk.

  1. Cancellation of an Event by COMinG

COMinG reserves the right to cancel or postpone a conference or other event, including, where necessary, up to one week before the scheduled starting date.

In the event that COMinG cancels an event, participants will be entitled to a refund of the registration fees actually paid directly to COMinG, subject to any applicable legal requirements.

COMinG will not be responsible for expenses paid by participants to third parties, including travel, accommodation, visa fees, insurance, or other related expenses.

To date, COMinG has not cancelled an event due to circumstances within its organizational responsibility.

  1. Force Majeure and Circumstances Beyond COMinG’s Control

COMinG shall not be responsible for any loss, delay, cancellation, interruption, or additional expense arising from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, war, fire, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, power failures, strikes or other labour disputes, epidemics or pandemics, government restrictions, or any other circumstances that may threaten the safety or well-being of participants.

COMinG shall also not be responsible for consequences arising from decisions, regulations, restrictions, or actions taken by foreign governments, universities, public authorities, airlines, embassies, or other third parties.

In such circumstances, COMinG will not be responsible for participants’ travel, accommodation, visa, insurance, transportation, or other expenses.

Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain appropriate travel and cancellation insurance covering their individual expenses and circumstances.

  1. VAT

Unless otherwise stated, all prices are expressed in euros (€).

Where applicable, prices include or are subject to Greek Value Added Tax (VAT) in accordance with the applicable legislation.

  1. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

COMinG’s conferences and activities are organized in accordance with the laws of Greece.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with Greek law. Any dispute arising in connection with the participation in a COMinG event shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Greece, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

  1. Role of the Organizing Committee

Members of a conference’s Organizing Committee are primarily expected to contribute to the promotion and development of the conference within their respective universities, institutions, professional networks, countries, and academic communities.

Members of the Organizing Committee may also participate actively in the conference by proposing topics, contributing to the academic program, chairing sessions, and, where applicable, reviewing papers submitted for publication.

Participation in an Organizing Committee does not automatically imply financial compensation or reimbursement of expenses unless expressly agreed otherwise by COMinG.

  1. Damages, Loss, and Personal Belongings

To the extent permitted by applicable law, COMinG shall not be responsible for loss of or damage to personal belongings, luggage, or other property belonging to delegates or accompanying persons during their participation in an event.

Participants and accompanying persons are responsible for making their own arrangements regarding personal, travel, health, and property insurance.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances, COMinG shall not be responsible for financial losses incurred by participants that are not directly attributable to COMinG.

  1. Healthcare and Personal Safety

Participants are responsible for making their own arrangements regarding healthcare and medical coverage during their participation in COMinG events.

Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance, including appropriate coverage for medical treatment, emergency assistance, and travel-related incidents.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, COMinG shall not be responsible for personal injury, illness, death, loss, or damage to property arising from circumstances beyond its reasonable control or from the participant’s own actions or omissions.

  1. Personal Data and Privacy

COMinG collects and processes participants’ personal information, including names, contact details, email addresses, and other information provided during registration, for purposes related to event administration, communication, membership administration, academic activities, and the provision of services associated with COMinG.

Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties except where this is necessary for the provision of services, the administration of COMinG activities, compliance with legal obligations, or otherwise permitted or required by applicable data-protection legislation.

COMinG processes personal data in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), where applicable.

Participants have the rights provided to them under applicable data-protection legislation, including, where applicable, the right to access, correct, update, or request the deletion of their personal data.

  1. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights relating to COMinG’s conference materials, website, publications, logos, visual identity, promotional materials, photographs, videos, and other content are protected under applicable Greek, European, and international intellectual-property laws.

Unless otherwise expressly stated or authorized in writing, participants may not reproduce, distribute, modify, publish, or commercially use COMinG’s intellectual property or conference materials without prior permission.

Changes to the Terms and Conditions

COMinG reserves the right to amend or update these General Terms and Conditions from time to time.

Any changes will be published or otherwise communicated through the appropriate COMinG channels and will apply from the date specified in the updated Terms and Conditions.

Changes will not affect rights or obligations that cannot lawfully be changed retrospectively, and applicable mandatory legal provisions will always prevail.

COMinG’s administration is responsible for implementing and administering these policies. Academic members, conference participants, and members of Organizing Committees are not responsible for the administrative implementation of these policies unless expressly assigned such responsibilities.

Contact

If you have any questions, suggestions, or require further information, please contact us at info@coming.gr.

                                    Thank you for being part of what our academic community is working to create:

                                    a place for communication, education, cooperation, exchange, knowledge, and action.