Empowering Early Childhood Education Teachers for Implementing Digital and Assistive Technologies for Inclusive Education

Xanthia Aristidou, PhD, is a Senior Project Manager at CARDET and a Research Associate at the European University of Cyprus. Her research interests revolve around identity studies, multi/intercultural education, inclusive education, cultural studies, early childhood education and discursive ethnographic methods. She has worked as a postdoctoral research associate in various projects, including the project ‘Politicization of identities in diaspora: cosmopolitanism and conflict discourses’ (funded by the Excellence Hubs of the European Research Executive Agency), the project ‘Supporting the expansion and strategic development of Early Childhood Education and Care in Cyprus’ (funded by the European Commission in association with UNICEF, CARDET and Cypriot ministries on Early Childhood Education and Care) and the Erasmus+ Project ‘SKATE’, which promotes inclusive early childhood education using digital and assistive technologies. She has also taught various bachelor and master modules in Early Childhood Education and Care.  

Katerina Mavrou, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Inclusive Education and Assistive Technology at the European University Cyprus. She holds a PhD in the area of Technology and Inclusive Education, (University of Birmingham), an M.Ed in Special Needs and Development (University of Manchester) and a B.Ed in Primary Education (University of Cyprus), as well as a professional certificate in Assistive Technology (AT) (CSUN). She worked as a special primary education teacher and as an AT Coordinator at the Ministry of Education and Culture. Her research interests focus on assistive technology for inclusive education, inclusive education policy and practice, and technology & disability policy and practice. She is actively involved in technology and disability associations and networks, such as ENTELIS and EDE (European Disability Expertise), and she has been a President of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE). She participates in European and global initiatives (eg. GAATOand GATE by the WHO), and EU funded projects (eg. SKATE, I'M IN TALES, Dig-i-Ready, Right to Connect Now, ATHENA) of which she is the local coordinator. Her projects focus especially on promoting human rights for disability, accessibility, digital inclusion and assistive technology. Her publication record includes peer reviewed journal papers, book chapters and reports, scientific encyclopaedia entries, policy position papers, and two edited book volumes in English.