Loizos Symeou

European University Cyprus · Department of Education Sciences

Findings of ESIPP project - post-project poster outlining the project, its findings and impact.

Purpose In this paper, we focus on a professional development programme in Cyprus aiming to enhance teachers’ intercultural understanding, awareness, and competencies. The paper focuses on trainers’ and teacher trainees’ reflections upon a teacher professional development programme in the primary school in Cyprus with the largest number of Roma ch...

This poster was designed for the INSAR 2018 conference in Rotterdam, May 2018, and describes the ESIPP project and findings to date.

Research has shown that consistent family support improves higher education (HE) students’ chances for adjustment and graduation but family over-involvement negatively affects students’ well-being. We theoretically bridge three largely disjointed bodies of literature (namely, family ‘support’, ‘involvement’ and ‘over-involvement’) and show that fam...

Families have been getting more and more involved in their children’s education. This paper presents findings of a study investigating family involvement in their members’ undergraduate studies attending a state (non-fee-paying) and a private (fee-paying) university in Cyprus. The data presented in the paper were collected via online logs completed...

General description: Autism challenges traditional parenting styles, and can make parents feel deskilled and disempowered, especially if little information or support is available to them. Giving accurate information about autism to parents, and teaching them to adapt their parenting using good autism practice has been shown to be effective in impr...

The contribution of Action Research (AR) to school improvement is well-documented. This study records the accounts of two primary school leaders, involved in AR projects that focused on the development of students’ oral communication skills. Drawing data from diaries with fieldnotes and systematic reflections, the study presents leaders’ experience...

Parent training has been shown to be an important means of supporting families living with autism – but such services are not universally accessible. A multinational project funded by the European Commission has been developed in order to establish such parent training in three south-eastern European countries. To ensure that the training was...

The education of Roma children presents many challenges throughout the world because of poverty, issues of isolation and discrimination. In many countries where Roma reside, laws exist that prohibit discrimination against this minority group. A variety of conflicting issues exist for Roma children. On one hand, the Roma communities practice cultura...

Η εκπαίδευση των οικογενειών με μέλος/η με αυτισμό θεωρείται σημαντικό μέσο για την υποστήριξη των ίδιων των οικογενειών. Παρόλα αυτά σχετικές δομές και προγράμματα δεν είναι ιδιαιτέρως διαθέσιμα ούτε στην Κύπρο ούτε και αλλού. Η εργασία αυτή έχει σκοπό να παρουσιάσει τα ευρήματα έρευνας επισκόπησης μέσω ερωτηματολογίου των σχετικών αναγκών οικογεν...

ESIPP – parent education in autism Jasmina Troshanska1, David Preece2, Loizos Symeou3, Katerina Mavrou3, Eleni Teodorou3, Jasmina Stošić4, Jasmina Fray Škrinjar4, Ron Fortuna5, Nefi Charambalos Darden6, Aurelie Baranger7, Sanja Blažević8, Julia Hardcastle9& Vladimir Trajkovski1 1Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism, 2University of Northampton;...

Autism can challenge traditional parenting styles, causing parents to feel deskilled and disempowered, especially when little information or support is available to them. The provision of accurate information about autism and teaching parents how to adapt their parenting using good autism practice has been shown to be effective in improving persona...

Autism can challenge traditional parenting styles, causing parents to feel deskilled and disempowered, especially when little information or support is available to them (Dunn et al., 2001) and impacting on parental well-being and quality of life (Benjak, 2011; Benjak et al., 2009; Mouzourou et al., 2011). The provision of accurate information abou...

This article uses critical discourse analysis in order to discuss the equity and social justice implications of an envisaged education reform agenda in Cyprus, as articulated by two consultation reports commissioned by the World Bank. The reports highlight, inter alia, the imperative to improve teaching and enhance accountability regimes with regar...

Studies point to the educational marginalization of Roma children and the failure of most European education systems to include local Roma minorities. This paper presents findings from a study in seven European countries which aimed at investigating Roma children’s school exclusion from the perspective of their families. The study’s findings raise...

Η παρούσα εργασία κινείται στο ίδιο πλαίσιο με την ακριβώς προηγούμενη του παρόντος τόμου. Είναι σαν η μία να αποτελεί προέκταση της άλλης και σαν η μία να αρχίζει περίπου εκεί όπου τελειώνει η άλλη κατά τρόπο ώστε να συμπληρώνονται αμοιβαία. Το κύριο θέμα που συζητείται εδώ είναι τα προβλήματα και οι αμφισβητήσεις που διατυπώνονται σε βάρος της πο...

Action research aims to improve practice and enhance its understanding by the practitioners (Carr & Kemmis, 1986; Kemmis & McTaggart, 1990); it is monitored over time by a variety of data gathering mechanisms (McNiff, 1993; 1997). This particular study records the accounts of two primary school leaders in Cyprus, involved in the implementation of a...

Θέσεις και απόψεις μελών του ακαδημαϊκού προσωπικού της Σχολής Τεχνών και Επιστημών της Αγωγής του Ευρωπαϊκού Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου για τις τρέχουσες συζητήσεις για την αξιολόγηση, διορισμό και επαγγελματική μάθηση των εκπαιδευτικών http://paideia-news.com/index.php?id=109&hid=16690

Περίληψη εργαστηρίου: Στο εργαστήριο αυτό οι συμμετέχοντες/ουσες εργάστηκαν για τη διερεύνηση των παραστάσεων και προσδοκιών τους σε σχέση με το ποιοι είναι οι γονείς και ποιο το σχολείο και οι στόχοι του σήμερα. Στη συνέχεια παρουσιάστηκαν συγκεκριμένες πρακτικές για τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα μπορούσε σε μια σχολική μονάδα να οργανωθεί η συνεργασ...

H εργασία αυτή συζητά την ένταξη των Ρομά στο ελληνοκυπριακό εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα στη βάση των ευρημάτων του ευρωπαϊκού προγράμματος INSETRom. Τα ερευνητικά δεδομένα του προγράμματος προέκυψαν από συνεντεύξεις από παιδιά και γονείς Ρομά και εκπαιδευτικούς, καθώς και ερωτηματολόγια εκπαιδευτικών πριν και μετά σχετική επιμορφωτική δράση. Τα ευρήματα...

This paper explores the social and educational inclusion of Roma in Cyprus, and discusses these findings in the light of the respective findings of the rest of the partner countries constituting the “School Education for Roma Integration” (SEDRIN) consortium. The two-year SEDRIN project involved eight institutions (among which five Roma-led organis...

Η κατ’ οίκον εργασία, αυτό που εδώ στην Κύπρο γονείς και εκπαιδευτικοί ονομάζουμε ‘τα μαθήματα’ που πρέπει τα παιδιά να ‘κάνουν’ στο σπίτι, είναι μια συνήθης και καθιερωμένη πρακτική των σχολείων τόσο στην Κύπρο όσο και στο εξωτερικό. Αποτελεί ένα άτυπο ‘κοινωνικό συμβόλαιο’ στο οποίο η οικογένεια με το που στέλνει το παιδί της στο σχολείο ‘δεσμεύε...

Οι Ρομά αριθμούν περίπου τα 10-12 εκατομμύρια, και είναι σκορπισμένοι σε πάρα πολλές χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και της υπόλοιπης Ευρώπης. Έχει τεκμηριωθεί σήμερα ότι είναι η πλέον περιθωριοποιημένη εθνοπολιτισμική ομάδα στην Ευρώπη και η ομάδα που η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση στοχεύει -όσο καμίας άλλης- την κοινωνική της ένταξη. Περισσότερο από οποιανδήποτε...

SYMEOU, L. (2001). Family-school liaisons in Cyprus: an investigation of families’ perspectives and needs. In Smit, F., van der Wolf, K., & Sleegers, P. (Eds.) A Bridge to the future. Collaboration between parents, schools and communities (pp. 33-43). Netherlands: Institute for Applied Social Sciences, University of Nijmegen. ABSTRACT This paper...

This paper examines the experiences of minority students from two different cultural groups, immigrant children of Pontian background and indigenous minority children of Roma descent, in the Greek-Cypriot educational system. Through a joint re-examination of results from two different qualitative studies, this paper delineates similarities and diff...

This paper presents a comparison of family circumstances, aspirations and school involvement of parents in Cyprus whose children were at risk of dropping out of high school and parents whose children were not at risk. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey constructed within the framework of the European project Drop- Out Open Door....

This paper examines the experiences of minority students from two different cultural groups, immigrant children of Pontian background and indigenous minority children of Roma descent, in the Greek-Cypriot educational system. Through a joint re-examination of results from two different qualitative studies, this paper delineates similarities and diff...

This paper presents a comparison of family circumstances, aspirations and school involvement of parents in Cyprus whose children were at risk of dropping out of high school and parents whose children were not at risk. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey constructed within the framework of the European project Drop- Out Open Door....

This paper describes a teacher in-service training program on teacher–parent communication in Cyprus and its impact on teacher trainees. Data were gathered through questionnaires completed by teachers prior to their training and after having tried, in real school settings, the communication skills and approaches taught during the course. The analys...

This paper describes a teacher in-service training program on teacher-parent communication in Cyprus and its impact on teacher trainees. Data were gathered through a questionnaire completed by teachers prior to their training and after having tried out the communication skills and approaches taught during the course in real school settings. The ana...

This comparative study discusses two teacher training programmes implemented at the Greek-Cypriot and the Greek educational systems. Both programmes were provided within the framework of the European funded project INSETRom, which aimed towards more inclusive Roma education through teacher professional development. Training modules, designed on the...

This comparative study discusses two teacher training programmes implemented at the Greek-Cypriot and the Greek educational systems. Both programmes were provided within the framework of the European funded project INSETRom, which aimed towards more inclusive Roma education through teacher professional development. Training modules, designed on the...

Το άρθρο αυτό παρουσιάζει και συζητά τα εμπειρικά ευρήματα τα οποία προέκυψαν από την εφαρμογή στην Κύπρο του ευρωπαϊκού προγράμματος INSETRom (134018-2007-CY-COMENIUS-CMP http://www.iaie.org/insetrom) για την ένταξη των Ρομά στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων την Άνοιξη του 2008 περιέλαβε συνεντεύξεις από παιδιά και γονείς Ρομά κα...

This monograph describes a study of teacher-family communication in state primary schools in Cyprus which drew on the notions of Bourdieu's cultural capital and Coleman's 'social capital'.

In this paper, the authors report on the results of the implementation of the IN‐SErvice Training for Roma Inclusion (INSETRom) project in Cyprus and discuss conclusions relating to the school inclusion of Roma in the Greek Cypriot educational system. After presenting country‐specific information on Roma and the education of Roma in the Greek Cypri...

This paper presents and discusses the theoretical and pedagogical reasons behind the IN-SErvice Training for Roma Inclusion (INSETRom) project, and results from interviews with teachers, Roma families and children. The focus here is on teaching, learning and communicative experiences in Turin multicultural classrooms attended by Roma pupils, all of...

Roma school enrolment, attendance, attainment and dropout rates emerged as ‘hot’ issues in the Greek-Cypriot educational system after travel restrictions across the demarcation line were eased in April 2003 and Turkish-speaking Roma resided in the south. This study reports on a research study undertaken within the framework of the INSETRom project....

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At a time when mathematics and science provide essential knowledge tools and the foundations for lifelong learning skills, cross-national studies of student achievement (e.g. TIMSS, PISA) indicate lack of mathematical and scientific competence for a considerable proportion of the student population across Europe. Acknowledging the...

SMASH: Helping Parents to Help their Children Excel in Mathematics and Science Pedagogic al Framework Report SMASH Consortium consisting of: • European University Cyprus, CY • University of Cadiz, ES • Charles University, CZ • University of Cyprus, CY • Greek Academic Network (GUnet), GR • University of Dundee, UK • Pancyprian School for Parents, C...

This paper presents the findings of a survey study conducted in Cyprus primary state schools, which aimed at outlining principals' perspectives concerning parental involvement in school life. The research involved a representative sample of principals of the schools concerned. The analysis and interpretation of the data indicated that current home-...

Despite the considerable consensus among schools and families on the importance and purposes of homework, research findings about the effects of homework on pupils’ educational success are inconclusive. The data reported in this chapter was gathered from parents of Greek-Cypriot primary school pupils and investigates their views on their children’s...

Παρά την ευρύτερη συμφωνία ανάμεσα στα σχολεία και τους γονείς για τη σημασία και σκοπό που επιτελεί ο θεσμός της κατ’ οίκον εργασίας, τα ερευνητικά ευρήματα για την επίδραση της κατ’ οίκον εργασίας στην ακαδημαϊκή επιτυχία των παιδιών διίστανται. Η εργασία αυτή επισκοπεί διεθνή ερευνητικά ευρήματα και ερευνητικά δεδομένα σε σχέση με το θεσμό της κ...

This article reports on a study investigating the role of the local community in achieving the objectives of Education for Sustainable Development in Cyprus. The data presented was collected from 21 teachers who participated in a nationwide, exploratory research program aiming at offering them training in implementing environmental projects based i...

This paper focuses on family involvement in the education of teenagers at risk of dropping out from compulsory secondary school. A questionnaire was completed by 131 Spanish and Cypriot families with children at six schools – three in each country. The questionnaire investigated: (1) parental perceptions of their children’s activities in their free...

This article reports on a needs assessment study which investigated Greek Cypriot teachers' in‐service training needs in the context of local demands for educational reform and the drive to reformulate teachers' professional development. Data presented in the article were collected through open‐ended questionnaires in addition to individual and foc...

This paper reports on a multiple case study that explored teachers’ and families’ collaboration in two urban and four rural state elementary schools in Cyprus. The analysis of the data showed that teachers’ approaches to their collaboration with families may not only be traced to differences among teachers but also in the ideological approach of th...

Η εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζει τα αποτελέσματα και συμπεράσματα ενός παρεμβατικού προγράμματος που εφαρμόστηκε σε τέσσερα σχολεία στην Κύπρο με βασικό στόχο την προώθηση των σχέσεων σχολείου, οικογένειας και κοινότητας στο πλαίσιο των αρχών της διαπολιτισμικής εκπαίδευσης. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων κατά την εφαρμογή της παρέμβασης έγινε μέσα από συνεντεύ...

This paper focuses on parents’ participation in environmental education programs implemented in 16 pre-primary and primary schools during 2003-2004 in Cyprus. The programs targeted the participation of parents and the local community in action community projects. The paper reports on the attitudes and opinions of the participating parents about the...

In this paper, I present the findings of a study which explored teacher‐family collaboration in state primary schools in Cyprus. The research strategy was one of multiple case study, with a sample of seven teachers, their pupils and the pupils' parents. The research approach was ethnographic and the data set reported in this paper includes the data...

Needs‐identification studies should be systematically conducted to bring clarity to the decisions about the expectations from particular in‐service training schemes. This article aims to present the results of a research study diagnosing teachers' in‐service training needs in Cyprus. For the purposes of the study, questionnaires were distributed to...

English) This study reports on the evaluation of an in-service teacher training on Roma education and inclusion undertaken in the framework of the European Commission funded INSETRom project. The data presented was collected through pre and post training questionnaires and reflective interviews of the Greek-Cypriot teachers who participated in the...

Η εργασία αυτή περιγράφει τα αποτελέσματα εθνογραφικής έρευνας για τις σχέσεις εκπαιδευτικών-γονέων στην Κύπρο. Η έρευνα είχε τη μορφή μελέτης πολλαπλών περιπτώσεων εκπαιδευτικών πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης με στόχο τη διερεύνηση των σχέσεων τους με τους γονείς των μαθητών τους. Μελετήθηκαν 7 περιπτώσεις εκπαιδευτικών και οι οικογένειες των μαθητών το...

This paper aims to present the findings of a research study diagnosing teachers’ in-service training needs in the particular educational system. The surge for examination of this issue results from the need of the educational system to respond to the challenges of the European educational area, as well as to a recently announced government initiati...

European Commission1. The present paper presents only part of the questionnaire data collected for the particular project. The surge for examination of the issue resulted from the fact that the educational system of Cyprus has been criticised for lacking explicit connections between teacher capabilities, curriculum and national priorities, and the...

This article focuses on in‐service teacher training in Cyprus and points to the necessity for reorganisation of existing practices and reformulation of national policies within the framework of continuous professional development. Examination of this issue results from the need of the educational system to respond to the challenges of the European...

This article examines the collaboration of 2 teachers with the families of their pupils. The data were collected during an ethnographic study conducted in a rural school in Cyprus. The data set includes indi-vidual interviews, focus groups, observations, and the researcher's jour-nal. These 2 teachers, with different perspectives on parental involv...

The growing evidence indicating the considerable influence of the family on children’s scholastic development suggested the need for a more careful theoretical investigation and explanation of how the home and the school influence children’s schooling. Both psychological and sociological models were proposed to this end. Their common assumptions ar...

Instructional designers are expected to be familiar with the epistemological underpinnings of several theories and their consequences on the process of instruction. Constructivism is the dominant theory of the last decade and supports construction of knowledge by the individual. This paper discusses the basic principles underlying constructivism, p...

The concept of ‘social capital’ has been employed to explain the impact of the school and the home on children’s schooling and to demonstrate the importance of active school-family relationships. In this paper, this concept is used to explore teacher-family relationships in primary schools in Cyprus. The research conducted was an ethnographic multi...

In this paper, I present part of the findings of a research which investigated familyschool communication. More particularly, I explore the information schools and families exchange during teacher-parent briefings and I critically discuss how parents make use of this communication. The research was a multi-case study conducted in six state primary...

The relationship between school and its environment in general, and the pupils’ families in particular, is considered to be a significant determinant of the quality of the education provided and an important influence on a child’s educational achievement. An immediate result of this acknowledgement has been the recognition that parents have the rig...

This paper presents the findings of a nation-wide survey study, which was investigating family-school liaisons in primary state schools in Cyprus. The data of the study was collected through a three-part questionnaire and an open question attempting to identify families’ accounts of current practices in family involvement in schools, their attitude...

This paper describes the findings of a comparative study of rural and urban communities in Cyprus concerning the perceptions of primary school teachers and community stakeholders as regards school–community relations. The data were collected via a semi-structured interviewing technique amongst primary school teachers and community stakeholders. The...

Pasado y presente del concepto de colaboración centro docente-familia. En este articulo se analiza la noción de colaboración escuela-familia y su interés para los teóricos, investigadores y profesionales de la educación. Se describe en primer lugar cómo los movimientos históricos y políticos llevaron al establecimiento y afianzamiento de la colabor...

En: Aula Abierta Oviedo 2005, n. 85, junio; p. 165-184 Análisis de la noción de colaboración escuela-familia y su interés para los teóricos, investigadores y profesionales de la educación. Se describe en primer lugar cómo los movimientos históricos y políticos llevaron al establecimiento y afianzamiento de la colaboración entre los centros escolare...