Michael Frederickou
Awards

• The Michael Frederickou Excellence in Teaching Award

Professor Rita Panaoura, Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences, Professor of Mathematics Education.

Prof. Panaoura inspires a love for learning, promotes participation in the classroom, and creates a vibrant and inspiring learning environment by utilizing digital tools and interdisciplinary approaches.

As her students characteristically note:
“Dr. Panaoura is a model of academic leadership and teaching excellence, with a consistent and multifaceted contribution to the field of Mathematics Education and Educational Research. She combines deep scientific expertise with vision, innovation, and dedication to her students.”

• Academic Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Academic Administration”

Dr. Olga Lyra, Assistant Professor of Special and Inclusive Education, School of Education and Social Sciences.

Dr. Lyra coordinates the University’s largest distance learning program, that of Special Education, demonstrating exceptional leadership and organizational skills, along with a strong sense of academic responsibility toward students and quality assurance at all levels of the program. Her major achievement is the development of a high-standard educational framework in which students become agents of change for inclusive education.

• BEST THESIS

School of Education and Social Sciences: Styliana Pileidi Konizou
Her doctoral dissertation in the Education PhD Program, supervised by Dr. Petros Gougoulakis, was titled: “Didactics or Didactics of Adults: Exploring the pedagogical and teaching training of adult educators in Cyprus.”

School of Engineering: Nikolas Afxentiou
His doctoral dissertation in the Mechanical Engineering PhD Program, supervised by Dr. Paris Fokaides, was titled: “Enhancing Building Intelligence in Europe through the Implementation and Optimization of the Smart Readiness Indicator.”

School of Health Sciences: Michael Mavrikios
His postgraduate dissertation in the Advanced Health Care program, supervised by Dr. Georgios Charalambous, was titled: “The effectiveness of double defibrillation (sequential–simultaneous) in the treatment of persistent ventricular fibrillation (VF) in cardiac arrest patients.”

School of Law & Business Administration: Dario Jr A. Sacabon
His postgraduate dissertation in the program “International Trade and Shipping Management,” supervised by Dr. Anna Cheimonidou, was titled: “Managing Challenges: A Crewing Manager’s Approach to Developing Leadership Skills of Filipino Merchant Marine Officers.”

• The Michael Frederickou Excellence in Research and Innovation Award
  

Category: “Overall Impactful Research Activity”

Dr. Paris Fokaides, Associate Professor, School of Engineering

For the third year, Dr. Fokaides receives this award for his research work. He leads the Sustainable Energy Research Group and, in 2024, had the highest number of scientific publications in Scopus-indexed journals.

In the previous year, he also had the highest number of citations and has attracted over €1.5 million in funding, mainly from European programs, for the implementation of six new research and innovation projects.

Since 2020, he has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for his research in Energy and Buildings/Construction, according to Stanford University’s researcher ranking system.

His Sustainable Energy Research Group employs more than 15 young researchers.

Category: “Significantly Increasing Research Activity”

Dr. Fotos Vryonides and Dr. Panagiotis Theodosis Nobelos

Dr. Vryonides, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering, doubled his number of scientific publications in Scopus-indexed journals in 2024.

He has also secured two new research projects from the Research and Innovation Foundation as coordinator, with a total budget of €300,000. He also participates in additional projects of the RIF and the European Space Agency as an active member of the Antennas & Microwaves Research Group.

Dr. Nobelos focuses on Pharmaceutical Chemistry, particularly the study of multidimensional compounds with activity in cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

In 2024, he increased his number of scientific publications in Scopus-indexed journals by 50% compared to the previous year. The impact of his publications also rose significantly, as reflected by more than double the number of citations.

He is also co-leader of the research group on synthesis, standardization, and evaluation of pharmaceutical products.

Category: “Entrepreneurial Initiatives”

Professor Yiannis Parpottas

Dr. Parpottas leads the Cyprus Nuclear Physics research group and has demonstrated significant and consistent research activity, with 119 scientific publications in Scopus-indexed journals on various aspects of nuclear physics.

Additionally, over the past year, he intensified efforts toward the commercialization of an advanced medical phantom developed by his team.

His proposal for the M Cube Phantom has been selected among five supported by the Cyprus Seeds program for the commercial exploitation of research results.

The M Cube Phantom simulates various thoracic conditions and chest movements, enabling improved evaluation of diagnoses from CT scans and nuclear medicine imaging equipment. It contributes significantly to accurate clinical decision-making and appropriate treatment selection for patients.

Category: “Distinguished Young Researcher”
Dr. Paul Krishnendu Sekhar

Since 2021, Dr. Paul has been working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group of the University. In just four years, he has demonstrated outstanding research output, with 15 publications in Scopus-indexed journals.

He is currently coordinating, through the Frederick Research Center, a project on plasma instabilities in the Earth’s ionosphere, funded under the Excellence Hubs programme of the Research and Innovation Foundation.

• The Michael Frederickou Awards for Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals

Jointly awarded to

1. European Project EMMERA

EMMERA is an innovative project aiming to address marine pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean through improved cooperation, data exchange, and rapid response.

It develops: A modern risk assessment methodology and a digital platform for data collection, analysis, KPI monitoring, and real-time pollution alerts

The project was conceived and coordinated by Dr. Angelos Menelaou. Key partners include the University of Piraeus, University of Haifa, Cyprus Ports Authority, and Elefsina Port Authority.

The EMMERA platform has been approved by the Cypriot Government as the unified digital tool for data aggregation and analysis and will be managed by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping starting January 1, 2026.

2. Architecture students Yasemi Eleftheraki, Alexandra Karamerou, and Niki Theodorakopoulou

They presented a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the abandoned village of Fasli in Akamas, considering the area’s environmental sensitivity.

Guided by their professors, they collaborated with public authorities to propose a sustainable, human-centered settlement respecting local heritage and modern needs.

3. Evrykleia Karagiannidou

A postgraduate graduate in Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Historic Structures, awarded for her innovative contribution to designing educational programs that bridge the archaeological past with the present using interdisciplinary methods.

She also creates children’s books combining poetry, imagination, and values.

4. Konstantinos Michail

His doctoral research led to the development of an innovative tool for assessing residual thyroid tissue after thyroid removal, contributing to improved clinical decision-making and patient care.

He currently works as a Senior Medical Physicist at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre.

• The Michael Frederickou Student/Graduate Award: Positive Impact on Society 2024–2025

Awarded to Georgia Michael, graduate of the Department of Arts and Communication.

Through her thesis, she documented and illustrated the experiences of women and girls who lived through the 1974 Turkish invasion. Her work evolved into an exhibition titled “The War Through Her Eyes”, featuring audio testimonies and artwork.

The project honors women’s experiences of war, bringing forward perspectives long absent from public discourse.

• The Michael Frederickou Teaching Excellence Awards

To Dr. Manos Pavlakis, Coordinator of the MA in Educational Administration and Leadership

Dr. Pavlakis' courses encourage independent, critical, and original thinking and teamwork, where students are invited to question and analyze different perspectives and develop their own ideas in an inclusive learning environment.

• The Michael Frederickou Excellence Awards in Research & Innovation
  

To Dr. Paris Fokaides, Associate Professor of the Engineering School and lead researcher of the Sustainable Energy Research Group.

Dr. Fokaides was awarded in the "Overall Impactful Research Activity" category, for his significant international research work in the field of energy and building energy efficiency.

To Dr. Marios Lestas, Associate Professor of the Engineering School and lead researcher of the INTRA lab - Intelligent Networks and Transportation Systems Laboratory, and Dr. Christina Economou, a key member of the CyIRG research group, a reference group in Cyprus and the wider region for the study of space weather. The two researchers stood out in the category "Significant improvement in research activity”, in terms of academic publications and/or attracting international collaborations and funding, as in the previous year, they showed significant increases in the key indicators of research output monitored by the University.

To the Mobile Devices Laboratory (MDL), which received the award in the category "Entrepreneurial Initiatives" for the significant activities of its members in promoting innovation, transferring know-how, and collaborating with the business sector. The award was received by the Director of the Mobile Devices Laboratory, Dr. Andreas Constantinides, Researcher and Associate Professor at the Engineering School of the University.

• Sustainable Development Goals Awards

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are fully aligned with the core values of Frederick University and have been integrated into its mission. As a testament to the importance the University places on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, four related awards were presented to:

Dr. Nicolas-Georgios Eliadis, a member of the research team of the University's Nature Conservation Unit, who, through the implementation of significant basic and applied research programs, has made decisive contributions to understanding and protecting ecological processes in natural ecosystems. Dr. Eliadis was the Project Manager of the internationally awarded LIFE-KEDROS project, under which management and resilience enhancement measures were designed and implemented for the habitat of the Cyprus Cedar.

Dr. Anna Louise Merry, Assistant Professor in the Department of Arts and Communication and lead researcher of the Spatial Design and Artefact Research Unit who, through research, design, and educational initiatives, focuses on sustainable and inclusive design. Additionally, through her work, she promotes innovative approaches such as integrating the New European Bauhaus into art and design education, giving her students the opportunity to engage in ongoing projects related to the principles of sustainable design.

Dr. Chrysanthi Kadji-Beltran, Associate Professor and President of the Department of Education Sciences, and Ms. Victoria Leonidou, a member of the teaching staff of the Department of Arts and Communication, for applying pedagogical approaches in their courses that promote and enhance sustainability skills in their students. During the academic year 2023-24, they collaborated with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research to develop and design a series of educational board games about the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus.

Mr. George Koutsikas, a student in the Business Administration Program, for promoting sustainability, actively working to improve the quality of life in his community, and empowering young people. Mr. Koutsikas participated with a scholarship in Princeton University's Law and Public Administration research program, and his team secured funding from the European Culture Foundation to implement their proposal to encourage youth participation in public affairs. Additionally, this year he was recognized by the Global Peace organization as a future Leader and received a full scholarship to participate in the Leadership program at Cambridge University.

• The Michael Frederickou Award for an Outstanding Student or Graduate
  

George Xekalakis, a doctoral student in the Civil Engineering program supervised by Dr. Petros Christou. His research focuses on evaluating risks in buildings from natural disasters. In his dissertation submitted in May, he developed a tool for assessing the seismic risk of buildings in Cyprus and abroad, which is ready to be utilized by relevant authorities.

Dimitris Yiannakou, a first-year Civil Engineering student, was honored with a special award for his heroic actions. When a driver lost consciousness inside a locked vehicle, Dimitris quickly intervened - breaking the car window, pulling the driver to safety, and providing assistance until emergency services arrived. The driver, Mr Raphael Aletras, later contacted our University personally to report and commend Dimitris's bravery.

• The Michael Frederickou Best Thesis Award
  

The awards were given to the best postgraduate or doctoral thesis in the University's five Schools:

School of Education and Social Sciences: Kyriaki Erotokritou, Doctoral Program in Social Work, Social Policy and Administration
Engineering School: George Xekalakis, Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering
School of Health Sciences: Maria Panagi, Doctoral Program in Health Sciences
School of Arts, Communication & Cultural Studies: Marios Paschalidis, Master's Program in Visual Arts
School of Business & Law: Victoria Heinzel, Doctoral Program in Management

The MF Excellence in Teaching Award

To Dr Anthi Xenophontos, Assistant Professor at the Department of Education, Physical Education and Sports Science program of study. Dr. Xenophontos' methodology is based on student-centred teaching combining participatory, collaborative, experiential and self-regulated learning, building students' confidence to enable them to perform to their full potential.

The Michael Frederickou Excellence Awards in Research

To Professor Symeon Nicolaou for his overall impactful research activity in terms of academic publications, impact factor and attraction of international collaborations & funding. Last year he stood out with his participation in 19 scientific publications. In addition, his scientific work enjoys significant international recognition as he has been peer-reviewed by other researchers in 2022 in 296 cases according to Scopus. At the same time, Prof. Nikolaou has secured high levels of research project funding over the past year, with the total new funding for the group he leads, "Antennas & Microwaves Research Group", amounting to half a million euros.

To Dr Maria Pantelidou, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Dr Alexander Argyriadis, Head of the Department of Nursing for the significant improvement in research activity. Dr Pantelidou secured funding last year in the highly competitive Research and Innovation Foundation's Islands of Excellence programme. Her research focuses on the study of  pharmaceutical properties of compounds, drug delivery and human disease genetics. Dr. Argyriadis has seen a significant increase in the number of citations of his work. His research focuses on Public and Community Health with an emphasis on mental health and cross-cultural health related issues.

Sustainable Development Goals Awards

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are fully aligned with Frederick University's core values and are embedded in its mission. Indicative of the importance the University places on the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, are the four related awards presented:

- To Frederick University Living Lab (FULL), a pedagogical approach that combines participatory and experiential learning through projects implemented on the basis of collaboration and connection with the community and businesses. Students come into contact with real working conditions and use their knowledge and skills to provide solutions to real problems. Many of FULL's projects are linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The award was received by the members of the ad hoc committee that worked on developing the FULL framework and pedagogical materials: Associate Professor Chrysanthi Katzi, Department of Education, Professor Costas Mantzalos, Department of Arts and Communication, Associate Professor Byron Ioannou, Department of Architecture, Associate Professor Andreas Konstantinidis - Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics, Assistant Professor Alexandros Argyriadis, Department of Nursing and Lecturer Nasia Tziortzi, Department of Business Administration.

- To the longterm campaign 'To all women and girls. Join the Journey in Engineering and Technology". As part of the campaign, activities such as STEM Day for girls aged 9-12 and STEM Camp for girls aged 13-16 take place and the University offers 50% scholarships to girls who choose to study on undergraduate Programs in the University's School of Engineering. The award was received by the Coordinator of STEM Day and STEM Camp activities, Ms. Irini Agastinioti.

- To Aristos Dimosthenous, a graduate of the Diploma in Architecture - Integrated Master, who was awarded for his thesis entitled "Conversion of Industrial Buildings into Student Residences". In this project, the graduate adopts sustainability practices to achieve the protection of Cyprus' architectural heritage and minimize the waste of building materials and energy.

- To Panayiota Koutsofta, a graduate of the University's Postgraduate Program in Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development, and Director of the "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" Project, which promotes new ways to reduce and reuse waste, which create jobs and promote the circular economy in Cyprus. More than 500 thousand residents and visitors in Cyprus have been positively impacted by the project and two "Plastic Free Beaches" have been created. At the same time, Ms Koutsofta is an external collaborator of the Pedagogical Institute and implements Environmental Education Programmes for parents and children.

The Michael Frederickou Award for an Outstanding Student or Graduate

An award celebrating an outstanding achievement of a student or graduate with emphasis on its impact on the community.

- To Phoebe-Zoe Georgalis, a PhD student of the Mechanical Engineering program supervised by Dr. Paris Fokaidis and a member of the Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) of the University where she is actively involved in research projects focused on the evaluation of the sustainability of the built environment. Her research has been published in 11 peer-reviewed journals and book chapters listed in Scopus and has led to the development of advanced tools for digitizing the sustainability assessment of buildings.

- To Robert Ponsian, a PhD student in the Civil Engineering PhD Program, supervised by Dr. Dimitris Nicolaides. Robert is in the final stage of his PhD thesis, which involves the use of construction waste to develop innovative fireproofing and thermal insulation materials using the innovative geopolymerisation technology. This technology has a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to existing technologies for developing new materials, and the advantage of being able to utilise waste. Robert has been instrumental in the implementation of two research projects with budgets in excess of one million, and his research work to date has resulted in 7 major publications and is expected to produce 5 more in the coming months.

The Michael Frederickou Best Thesis Award

- School of Engineering: Athanasios-Rafael Pritsas, Postgraduate Program in Conservation and Restoration of Historical Structures and Monuments 
- School of Education and Social Sciences: Emilia Stavrou, PhD in Education
- School of Law and Business Administration: Ermis Ioannides, Postgraduate Program in Marine Engineering and Management
- School of Health Sciences: Athena Papageorgiou, PhD in Health Sciences

The Michael Frederickou Teaching Excellence Award

Winner:

• Dr Panagiotis Theodosis Nobelos, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy

The students of the bachelor in Pharmacy, who nominated Dr Nobelos for this award made remarkable comments about him: "He was an excellent role model both in terms of his knowledge and his ethics, dignity, kindness and interest towards us. He has the ability to distinguish the potential of each student and encourage them, believe in them and generously provide them help and motivation, even if he was not asked".

The Michael Frederickou Research Excellence Awards 

Winners:

• Dr Haris Charalambous, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
• Dr Dimitris Nikolaides, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
• The Research Unit for Historical Constructional Systems: the unit consists of Professor Panagiotis Touliatos, Associate Professor Nasso Chrysochou, Associate Professor Marios Pelekanos and Assistant Professor Nikos Georgiou, faculty members of the Department of Architecture. The Unit has become a point of reference in the field of analysis and evaluation of historical monuments in Cyprus and enjoys international aclaim.

The Michael Frederickou Outstanding Student or Graduate Awards

Winners:

• Marios Pafitis, student of the Master's Program in Intelligent Systems and Internet Systems. Marios Pafitis combines the subject of his studies and his social responsibility to promote actions and research in issues related to health and IT, such as the detection of Alzheimer's in MRI images, in environmental issues, as well as in other social issues.
• Konstantinos Christou, student of the Bachelor's Program in Physical Education and Sports Science. Konstantinos Christou has been working with the wheelchair basketball team 'Hefaistos' for the last two years with the aim of promoting the Paralympics, the socialization of people with disabilities through sports, but also the promotion and empowerment of people with disabilities so that they can continue to be source of inspiration. He has also contributed to the creation of the Non-Profit Center for Education and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities 'YPARCHO'.

The Sustainable Development Goals Actions Awards

The 2021-22 Awards were presented in memory of the late Minister of Labor and Social Insurance, Zeta Emilianidou, for her commitment to the promotion of social justice, for her social sensitivity, and for her deep love and concern for the welfare of her fellow citizens. 

Winners:

• The Blue Limassol project, in which members of the Department of Shipping and Commerce and the Department of Architecture and Engineering of Frederick University participated. The project included conducting, on behalf of the Municipality of Limassol, the first comprehensive Environmental Study that identifies and evaluates, overall and combined, the environmental risks in the coastal area of ​​Limassol. The award was received on behalf of the team by the Assistant Professor and President of the Department of Shipping and Commerce, Dr. Angelos Menelaou.
• The CARE project "Visual arts education in new times: Connecting Art with REal life issues", which aimed to strengthen the visual arts in the field of education by integrating elements of sustainable development. The award was received by the Lead Researcher and Coordinator of the project CARE, Dr Victoria Pavlou, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Sciences.
• The Forest School, the first of its kind in Cyprus, which promotes the multifaceted development of the child through experiential learning in nature and freedom. The award was accepted on behalf of the team by the head of the program, Dr. Nikoletta Christodoulou, Associate Professor at the University's Department of Educational Sciences.
  
• The Nature Conservation Unit, the University's longest-running research unit, and the largest nature conservation research body in Cyprus, with funding of over one million in recent years and substantial contribution to the development of environmental protection policies. The LIFE-KEDROS project, in which the Unit participated, was recently awarded as one of the three best in Europe - an important distinction for Cyprus and its forests. The award was received by the head of the unit, Dr. Konstantinos Kounnamas, and Dr. Chrysanthi Katzi, a member of the team.

Best Thesis Awards

For the best Master's or Doctoral thesis in each of the University's five Faculties. The students who were awarded in this category received an award from the Ioannidis-Dimitriou Law Office:

• School of Engineering: Michael Chrysostomou
• School of Education and Social Sciences: Stavros Stavrou
• School of Business and Law: Chrysanthi Yachanatzi
• School of Arts, Communication and Cultural Studies: Chrysos Kyriakou
• School of Health Sciences: Vasso Stylianou

The Michael Frederickou Teaching Excellence Award

Winners

• The Teaching Excellence Award for conventional programs was awarded to Dr. Byron Ioannou, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture.
• The Teaching Excellence Award for distance learning programs was awarded to Dr. Nikleia Eteokleous, Associate Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences.

The Michael Frederickou Research Excellence Awards 

Winners:

• Best Researcher Award: Presented to Dr. Paris Fokaides, Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering who was recently named among the world's leading researchers. Dr. Fokaides leads the Sustainable Energy Research Group, one of the University’s most fast-growing and promising research groups. Since 2019, Dr. Fokaides has published 37 scientific articles with almost 1200 citations.
• Most Active Research Group Award:
  Presented to the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group headed by Dr. Haris Haralambous, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics. The group, which has a leading role in Cyprus in its field, has in recent years achieved funding for seven research projects with a budget of over 650,000, has organized international conferences and the educational exhibition "The Sun and Us".

Co-Curricular Activities Award

The Co-Curricular Activities have a key role in Frederick University’s innovative educational methods which is why they are recognised and awarded. The award was presented to three activities as follows:

• The Formula Racing Team where University students work together to develop a racing car and successfully take part in international competitions. The award was received by the team coordinator, Dr Antonis Lontos.
• FredMun (Frederick University Model UN) where students from different countries simulate the United Nations processes and committees within the University premises. The award was received by the team coordinator, Dr Konstantinos Kouroupis.
• Mobile Devices Lab where students participate in the development of innovative mobile device applications in various areas of social interest. The award was received by the MDL Director, Dr Andreas Constantinides.

The Sustainable Development Goals Actions Awards

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are fully aligned with Frederick University's core values and have been integrated into its strategy. To demonstrate the importance the University attributes to the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, three relevant awards were presented:

• Protecting our Planet Award: To the Nature Conservation Unit which specialises on biodiversity conservation, environmental education and natural resources management in Cyprus. The award was received by the Unit’s head, Dr Constantinos Kounnamas.
• Local Impact Award: To the Nursing Department’s students who offered their services to the state during the pandemic, before even finishing their studies. The award was received by Fotini Grammatikopoulou, Aspasia Andreou and Hashim Hind on behalf of their fellow students.
• Sustainable Community Award: To the members of EnAF (Equality and Awareness at Frederick), a Frederick University Center on Gender Issues, Diversity and Equality, aiming to foster gender equality in and outside the organisation and to ensure equal opportunities for all. The award was presented by EnAF members Dr Vasiliki Karagouni whom along with Dr. Petroula Mavrikiou developed the code to prevent and deal with harassment and sexual harassment at the University.

The Michael Frederickou Outstanding Contribution Award

This award relates to actions that supported the university and managed to address a significant challenge faced over the past year. This year, the award was granted in relation to the COVID-19 response. It was received by Mr. Stephanos Tsorakis, Director of the Operations & Infrastructure Service, Ms Andrea Athanasiou, Director of the Studies and Student Welfare Service and Dr Nikleia Eteokleous, President of the Distance Learning Committee for successfully tackling the challenges which occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Michael Frederickou Award for an Outstanding Student or Graduate

The award was received by Ms Pavlina Platonos, an Architecture graduate who transformed her community in Lympia through actions implemented by the “Koinon Olympion” initiative.

Best Thesis Awards

For the best Master's or Doctoral thesis in each of the University's five Faculties. The students who were awarded in this category received an award from the Ioannidis-Dimitriou Law Office:

• School of Engineering: Taqwa Salaheldin Khairy Saeed
• School of Education and Social Sciences: Rafaella Neofytou
• School of Business and Law: Demetrios Kamperis and Spyridon Apostolou
• School of Arts, Communication and Cultural Studies: Adonis Papadopoulos
• School of Health Sciences: Elena Alexandrou Panayiotopoulou