Cyprus Interaction Lab

Our lab welcomes Dr. Svitlana Babiichuk, a visiting researcher hosted through the Institute of International Education (IIE) – Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF), a global initiative dedicated to protecting threatened and displaced scholars and safeguarding academic freedom.

Through this international programme, and in collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Dr. Babiichuk joins a global network of researchers whose work contributes to the advancement of knowledge despite challenging circumstances.

Working alongside Prof. Andri Ioannou and Dr Athos Agapiou, Dr. Babiichuk will conduct research on Climate Change Literacy through Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, exploring how satellite imagery, Earth Observation data, and AI-supported educational tools can support climate change education and the development of digital competencies among learners. The project aims to develop innovative pedagogical approaches, hands-on learning activities, and evidence-based recommendations for integrating climate change literacy into educational systems.

Το ΤΕΠΑΚ εντάσσεται στο παγκόσμιο δίκτυο στήριξης απειλούμενων και εκτοπισμένων ακαδημαϊκών Το Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου (ΤΕΠΑΚ) συμμετέχει στο διεθνές δίκτυο υποστήριξης απειλούμενων και εκτοπισμένων ακαδημαϊκών του οργανισμού Institute of International Educati...

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships at Cyprus Interaction Lab

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are prestigious European research grants aimed at supporting excellent researchers in further developing their careers and enhancing their international mobility. The fellowship provides an allowance to cover living, travel, and family costs.

The Cyprus Interaction Lab, based at the Department of Multimedia & Graphic Arts - CUT of the Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου and extended to CYENS Centre of Excellence welcomes expressions of interest from researchers wishing to apply for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The Cyprus Interaction Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab with expertise in Educational Technology, Learning Experience Design (LXD), User Experience, Artificial Intelligence in Education, Extended Reality (XR), Maker Education, Digital Creativity, Participatory Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Learning Sciences.

Our experienced researchers can support the development of competitive MSCA proposals and provide supervision throughout the fellowship. The lab has extensive experience in European-funded research and maintains strong collaborations with academic, industry, and societal partners across Europe and beyond.

Eligibility Criteria
- Competent researchers (of all nationalities) who hold a PhD or have successfully defended their thesis by September 2026.
- Applicants must have a maximum of eight years of research experience (from the date of the award of the PhD degree).
- Mobility is a requirement: the applicant should be able to travel to Europe, to an associated country, or to a country outside of Europe.

Applications are welcome across all research areas that align with the expertise and research themes of the Cyprus Interaction Lab.
As of 2026, resubmission restrictions apply for applications that received a score below 80% the previous year.

For more details on eligibility criteria, applicants should consult the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships documentation.

The Cyprus Interaction Lab welcomes fellowship proposals related to, but not limited to, the following areas:

Learning Experience Design (LXD)
Educational Technology
Artificial Intelligence in Education
Extended Reality (AR/VR/MR) for Learning and Training
STEM and STEAM Education
Maker Education and Digital Fabrication
Technology-Enhanced Learning
Digital Creativity and Innovation
Participatory and Co-Design Methodologies
Human Rights and Civic Education
Digital Wellbeing and Social Impact Technologies
Emerging Technologies for Learning
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Learning Sciences
User Experience

Researchers interested in applying are encouraged to contact the Cyprus Interaction Lab team at an early stage to discuss project ideas and identify suitable supervisors. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary proposals that combine technological innovation with educational, social, and human-centered perspectives.

By joining Cyprus Interaction Lab through an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, researchers will become part of an active international research community committed to advancing knowledge and creating meaningful societal impact through research, innovation, and collaboration.

We're proud to share that our very own co-director, Antigoni Parmaxi, was recently interviewed by ACM-W (ACMW: ACM's Women in Computing), reflecting on her journey and the values that guide her work.

What came through is exactly what we strive for at the Cyprus Interaction Lab: research grounded in social inclusion, human-centred design, and a genuine sense of care for the people and communities our work serves.

The May 2026 edition of ACM-W Connections is here!

As we move into summer, we continue to celebrate the people and stories that shape ACM-W’s global community.

In her Message from the ACM-W Chair, Rukiye Altin reflects on the energy, care, and dedication that ACM-W volunteers bring to our work every day, and on the joy of finally meeting in person and online in Edinburgh for Global Executive Committee and regional communications meetings.

We also celebrate service and leadership, and congratulate Jodi Tims on receiving the ACM Outstanding Service Award.

🎙️ In Voices of ACM-W, we hear from Lynda Hardman. Her journey across hypertext, multimedia, standardisation, and human-centred AI invites us to think about how computing environments shape society and how they should be designed to work for everyone.

🌱 This month’s U-RISE feature introduces Antigoni Parmaxi, whose path from classical studies to human-centred educational technology shows that there is no single route into computing.

🏳️‍🌈 As Pride Month approaches, “We Are More Alike Than We Are Different” offers a thoughtful reflection on gender identity and inclusion. It is a reminder that our community is strongest when people are seen, respected, and supported.

✨ In ACM-W Above and Beyond, we spotlight Dr Charu Kalra, an ACM-W scholar whose journey has taken her through compiler and optimisation research to her current work on next-generation AI-powered logistics technology.

Across these stories, there is a common thread: visibility, service, and community matter. Whether through leadership, scholarship, research, advocacy, or storytelling, ACM-W continues to support, celebrate, and advocate for women in computing around the world.

📖 Read the May 2026 ACM-W Connections Newsletter and explore the full stories.
https://women.acm.org/2026/05/

Today we had the opportunity to share our work at the CYCHI Seminar Series – Humans & XR! 🇨🇾✨

We presented insights from our Augmented Reality storytelling implementation in Cyprus, conducted as part of the EU-funded Children as Creators of Augmented Reality Stories (CARS Project EU).

The presentation focused on how primary school children can become active creators of AR stories inspired by folktales and cultural heritage, moving beyond passive technology consumption to meaningful, creative authorship in the classroom.

A big thank you to CYCHI for the invitation and for bringing together such a curious and passionate community around XR and human-centred design.

Stay tuned for more updates from the CARS project!

CYENS Centre of Excellence

CYENS Centre of Excellence is proud to be part of RAISE-UP, a European project funded under ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-FORWARD-DIGITAL-AI, which aims to support the responsible, ethical, and pedagogically meaningful use of Generative AI in higher and vocational education.

We kicked off RAISE UP as a hybrid event at CYENS on April 16-17!

Bringing together partners from Cyprus, Latvia, Germany, Malta, and the Netherlands, the project responds to a growing need across Europe: helping universities and VET institutions move beyond ad hoc AI adoption toward more strategic, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches. The CYENS (via EdMedia Andri Ioannou, Cyprus Interaction Lab of the Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου) team is leading the work on mapping current practices, institutional readiness, governance challenges, and stakeholder needs across the countries of the consortium.

At the core of RAISE-UP is a shared commitment to:
• Understand how students, educators, leaders, and policymakers are currently using and perceiving Generative AI
• Identify gaps in readiness, policy, governance, and assessment practices
• Develop practical tools/AI sandboxes, guidelines, and recommendations that support responsible AI integration in education
• Strengthen AI literacy and institutional capacity across the higher education sectors

Running from 2026 to 2028, RAISE-UP will generate research-based insights and practical outputs to help educational institutions and systems respond to the opportunities and challenges of Generative AI with confidence, responsibility, and vision.

During the meeting, we were especially honoured and grateful to welcome Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Cyprus, who also leads the national AI Taskforce driving the country’s strategic direction on AI. His presentation brought valuable insight and helped frame our discussions within the broader national AI agenda.

Finally, sincere thank you to all the participants (onside and virtual) for their energy, openness, and collaboration during the kick-off, Rivera, Mezerins, Greitans, Milan, Graage, K.azarjan, Balla, Stergioulas, Camilleri, Keti Mavri, Dremova, Antigoni Parmaxi but also to other colleagues who has contributed to parallel discussions and connections before and during this meeting Chatzichristofis, Chatzis, Petroudi. The quality of discussions and shared commitment made these two days truly productive and set a strong foundation for what lies ahead.

At CYENS Centre of Excellence, we are proud to contribute to a project that places people, pedagogy, and public value at the centre of educational innovation, and we look forward to building on this collaboration.

At the EAPCRETE Conference 2026, research from highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) in primary school language education.

The conference provided an important platform for educators, researchers, and practitioners from across Europe to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovative pedagogical approaches that enhance teaching and learning.

Our presentation showcased the results of a classroom study conducted in Cypriot primary school, demonstrating how AI-augmented storytelling combined with AR can significantly improve language learning experiences. Insights from the study also demonstrated consistently high levels of positive emotional engagement among students, alongside the development of key 21st-century skills. We extend our sincere thanks to the educators, students, and project partners whose contributions made this research and its successful classroom implementation possible.

Call for Papers – CALICO Journal (2027 Special Issue)

Empowering Language Teachers as Co-designers Through AI & Educational Authoring Tools

Guest Editors
Anke Berns, University of Cádiz (Spain)
Antigoni Parmaxi, Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus)
Telmo Zarraonandia, University Carlos III of Madrid (Spain)

We invite submissions exploring how AI is transforming language teaching and positioning educators as designers of digital learning.

🗓 Deadline (EOI): April 15, 2026
📄 Full papers: October 1, 2026

🔗 Learn more:
https://www.cyprusinteractionlab.com/call-for-papers-calico-journal-special-issue-2027/

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) International Science & Technology Initiatives (MISTI) . Thanks to the amazing team of people who made this possible and , The The Fulbright Program - Visiting Scholar Program for mediating these connections of people.