Marianna Efstathiadou

Marianna Efstathiadou is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Department of Education Sciences, European University Cyprus (EUC). She has been employed there since 2008 as Special Teaching Personnel, contributing to both teaching and administrative roles. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Education Sciences (2022, EUC), an M.Sc. in Curriculum & Instruction (2005, SIUC, USA), and a B.Sc. in Early Childhood Education (2001, SIUC, USA).

Her research focuses on inclusive education, assistive technology integration, and innovative teaching methodologies in early childhood settings. Notable projects include the EU-funded I’M IN TALES (2021–2024) and SKATE (2020–2023), which developed technology tools for inclusive storytelling and assistive technology training. Earlier work includes the PLEGMΑ project (2011–2015) designing math and science curricula for Cypriot early education.

Academic service includes roles such as Senate Member (2011–2022), Senate Ad-hoc Committee Member for Faculty Evaluation, and Faculty Ambassador for Early Childhood Education (2021–present). Her recent publications emphasize tangible user interfaces, mobile apps for autism screening, and UDL-based MOOCs.

Her advising and grants include leading EU partnerships and collaborating with international teams on curriculum design and teacher training initiatives. She is actively involved in labs and teams focused on digital innovation in early childhood education, advocating for technology’s role in fostering inclusive learning environments.