ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
COURSE LEADER OF BSC (HONS) SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport

Qualifications

Ph.D., Sport and Social Sciences – Doctoral School of Sport Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest (Now: Hungarian University of Sports Science, 2012)

M.Ed., Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Sports and Exercise Sciences (Now: Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, 2005)

Coaching degree in Swimming (HUSS, IOC and Olympic Solidarity, Budapest, 2005)

Coaching degree in Recreation (HUSS, IOC and Olympic Solidarity, Budapest, 2005)

EQF Level 4 Certification in Personal Training, International Wellness Institute (Budapest, 2005)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Advance HE (UCLan, 2021)

Fulbright Scholar, Ithaca, New York, USA, (2021)

Specialization

Sport Sciences and Physical Education

Employment Track

Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences, UCLan Cyprus (2024 – Present)

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, UCLan Cyprus (2017 -2024)

Special Teaching Staff, UCLan Cyprus, Sport and Exercise Science (2016 – 2017)

Research Associate, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Education (2015 – 2017)

Physical Education and Health Teacher, Kungsholmens Gymnasium Stockholm, Sweden, (2014 – 2015)

Associate Lecturer, University of Nicosia, Physical Education and Sports Science (2008 – 2012)

Memberships (Academic/Professional)

• Member of the Fédération Internationale d’Education Physique et Sportive (FIEPS)
• Member of Global Physical Literacy Action Framework (GloPL)

• Member of the International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA)
• Member of the Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d’Éducation Physique (AIESEP)
• Member of the Cyprus Association of Physical Education and Sports Science (ΠΑΣΥΠΕΦΑΑ)

Research Interests

Physical literacy; Physical Education; Digital Technologies in Physical Education; Sport and Society; Physical Activity and Quality of Life; Sport in Emergencies.

Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)

Teaching and Course Leadership (UCLan Cyprus)

• Course Leader in BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (2020 – Present)
• Deputy Course Leader in MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences (2021 – 2022)
• Deputy Course Leader in BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (2017 – 2020)
• Module Leadership/Delivery:
  • XS1004 Pedagogy and Sociology Issues in Physical Education
  • XS1205 Planning and Instructing Exercises for Health and Fitness
  • XS2006 Applied Principles and Techniques in Sports 1
  • XS3006 Applied Principles and Techniques in Sports 2
  • XS2206 Advanced Principles of Exercise and Training
  • XS3900 Double Research Project

Administrative Roles

• Member of the University Research & Innovation Committee (RIC) (2021 –2024)
• Member of the University Student Experience and Engagement Committee (SEEC) (2020 – 2021)
• Member of the University Erasmus Committee (2018 – 2020)

Past Teaching

• Module Leadership/Delivery:
  • SD1207 Coaching Process
  • TL2130 Health and Fitness
  • XS1106 Introduction to Gym Instruction
  • TL3150 Careers in Sport
  • TL3153 Advances in Fitness Training
  • XS2912 Sports Science Support: Issues and Practices
  • XS2004 Professional Work Experience 1

Selective Publications

Book Chapters

Christodoulides, E., Konstantinidou, E., Antoniadou, E., Sprake, A., and Grecic, D. (in Press) Teaching Beyond the Coach’s Whistle: Contemporary Challenges and Innovations in Physical Education in Cyprus. In [FIEPS] Book 2025: “Bridging Theory and Practice in Physical Education: Researches, Curriculum and Teacher Training”.

Christodoulides, E., Tsivitanidou, O., Adamakis, M., & Grecic, D. (in Press). Exploring the interplay of physical activity, physical literacy, and mental health in primary school children in Cyprus. In CEREPS Book series.

Christodoulides, E., Thomson, A., Grecic, D & Tsivitanidou, O. (2024). Health and Wellbeing of Cypriot pupils. The need for change and Physical Education teachers to embrace Physical Literacy in the curriculum. In [FIEPS] Balint, G., Antala, B., Novak, D., Olaru, B.S. (Eds.), Quality Physical Education in Active School and its Perspectives: Researches – Best Practices – Situation (p. 357-366). Alma Mater Publishing House of Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau. ISBN 978-606-527-720-5

Christodoulides, E., Tsivitanidou, O., and Hadjimatheou, A., 2022. ‘Sport didactics in Cyprus: learning from the past, in the present and for the future’ in the Book Sports Didactics in Europe: History, Current Trends and Future Developments. Waxmann.ISBN 978-3-8309-4167-5, pp. 333 – 352.

Christodoulides, E. And Tsivitanidou, 2021. ‘O Φυσικός γραμματισμός (Physical Literacy): ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης, της οικογένειας και της κοινωνίας ευρύτερα’ in the Συλλογικός Τόμος Εβδομάδα Ευαισθητοποίησης “ΠΑΙΔΙ ΚΑΙ ΒΙΟΗΘΙΚΗ” – Collective Volume – Child and Bioethics by the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee, pp. 197 – 221.

Christodoulides E. 2006, “Impact of Social and Demographic Characteristics on Sport for All Participation in Cyprus” in the Book Movement Recreation for All, ISBN 83-89829-21-5, pp.67 – 82.

Journal Publications

Amoroso, J. P., Tsivitanidou, O., Sarens, M., Christodoulides, E., Antoniou, K., Silva, D., Coelho, L., & Cools, W. (2025). Exploratory physical education teachers’ perspectives and intentions to use VR in the classroom context: A cross-sectional qualitative study. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2025.1628684

Christodoulides, E., Grecic, D., Tsivitanidou, O., & Sprake, A. (2025). Can Cypriot physical education teachers fully embrace physical literacy? An initial exploratory sequential study. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1615773

Carl, J., Goss, H., Lundvall, S., Pavlova, I., Algurén, B., Antala, B., … Salin, K. (2025). Compatibility of physical education curricula with physical literacy across 40 European countries. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2025.2523436

Christodoulides, E., Tsivitanidou, O., Grecic, D., Adamakis, M., & Green, N. (2025). University students’ perceptions and understanding of physical literacy: An exploratory study in Cyprus. Research in Physical Education, Sport and Health, 14(1), 39–46. https://www.pesh.mk

Amoroso, J.P., Coelho, L.P., González-Toro, C.M., de Almeida, L., Christodoulides, E., Cools, W., Dudley, D., Cheng, M.Y. and Calmeiro, L.., (in Press). The Benefits of Ultimate and Disc Sports for Physical and Social Development in Portuguese Schools. Motricidade.

Antoniou, K., Antoniou, S., Georgiou, G., Zare, R., Rohani Bidgoli, R., Heinrich, K. M., & Christodoulides, E. (in Press). Effects of acute taurine supplementation on physical performance metrics of tennis: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. In Nutrire

Christodoulides, E. (2024). Reimagining physical education – Holistic inquiry into physical education: Unravelling perspectives, shaping physical literacy, cultivating environments, measuring outcomes, and guiding behavioural change. Research in Kinesiology, 52(1), 94–96.

Grecic, D., Sprake, A., Christodoulides, E., & Klincarov, I. (2024). Promoting and supporting teacher change: A vital step in enabling holistic pupil development. Research in Kinesiology, 52(1), 92–108.

Grecic, D., Sprake, A., Thomson, A., Christodoulides, E., & Palmer, C. (2024). The epistemic judgement framework: a reflexive tool for physical education teachers’ professional development to support Quality Physical Education. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 9, p. 1480690). Frontiers Media SA.

Intziegianni, K., Sarens, M., Tsivitanidou, O., Nisiotis, L., Kovacs, K., Nagy, E., & Christodoulides, E., (2024). Investigation of neuromuscular activation in older female adults during a dynamic and challenging virtual reality activity: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9(3), 143.

Georgiou, G.D., Antoniou, K., Antoniou, S., Michelekaki, E.A., Zare, R., Redha, A.A., Prokopidis, K., Christodoulides, E. and Clifford, T., (2024). Effect of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Maximal Intensity Exercise in Trained Young Male Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 1(aop), 1-16.

Amoroso JP, Coelho L, Boulton RA, González, Toro CM, Costa F, Christodoulides E, Cools W, Dudley D, Moore JE Jr, Furtado GE, Cheng M-Y and Calmeiro L., (2024). Assessing ethical behavior and self-control in elite ultimate championships: a cross-sectional study using the spirit of the game scoring system. Front. Sports Act. Living 6:1297821.

Grecic, D., Simões, P., Žlibinaitė, L.,  Piščalkienė, V., Mattila, M., Tuuva-Hongisto, S., Amoroso, J.,P., & Christodoulides, E., (2023). Establishing and delivering sport and physical activity to rural youth communities across Europe: practical learning through ‘fire soul’ stories. Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 17, (1), 187, ISBN 978-0-9955744-9-6.

Christodoulides, E., Tsivitanidou, O., Sofokleous, G., Grecic, D., Sinclair, J.K., Dana, A. and Ghorbani, S., (2023). Does Physical Activity Mediate the Associations between Physical Literacy and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Post-Quarantine Era among Adolescents in Cyprus? Youth, 3(3), pp.823-834.

Tsivitanidou, O., Christodoulides, E., & Petrou, M., (2023). High-School Athletes’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions on Doping: The Cyprus Sport-School Study. Youth, 3(2), 596-622.

Amoroso, J.P., Coelho, L., Papp, H., Costa, F., Christodoulides, E., Cools, W., Erdősi, Z., Moore, Jr. J.E., Furtado, G.E., 2023. Self-Refereeing System in Ultimate during the Joint Junior Ultimate Championship in Three Different Divisions—A Different Way to Promote Fair-Play? Youth, 3(1), pp. 414-427.

Parpa, K., Paludo, A.C., Christodoulides, E., Kobus, M. and Michaelides, M., 2023. Physical Literacy in Female Youth: A Pilot Study Examining Its Association with Physical Activity, Sports Participation, and Physical Fitness. Youth, 3(1), pp.392-400.

Carl, J., Bryant, A.S., Edwards, L.C., Bartle, G., Birch, J.E., Christodoulides, E., Emeljanovas, A., Fröberg, A., Gandrieau, J., Gilic, B. and van Hilvoorde, I., 2023. Physical literacy in Europe: The current state of implementation in research, practice, and policy. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 21(1), pp.165-176.

Dana, A., Christodoulides, E., Baniasadi, T., & Ghorbani, S. 2022. Effects of Family-Related Activities on Adolescent Smoking in the United States: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study. International Journal of Pediatrics, 10(3), pp. 15535-15546.

Hänggi, J.M., Spinnler, S., Christodoulides, E., Gramespacher, E., Taube, W. and Doherty, A., 2020. Sedentary behavior in children by wearable cameras: development of an annotation protocol. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(6), pp.880-886.

Dana, A. and Christodoulides, E., 2020. The effects of a period of selected physical activity on improving manipulative and locomotors skills of children with neuropsychological learning disabilities. Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research, 7(1), pp.25-30.

Ghorbani, S., Dana, A. and Christodoulides, E., 2020. Effects of external focus of attention on learning static balance among girls with ADHD. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 12(1), pp.69-74.

Nicolaou, S. and Christodoulides, E., 2019. The effects of rheumatoid arthritis on Cypriot recreational athletes = A reumatoid artritisz hatása a ciprusi szabadidős sportolókra. TESTNEVELÉS, SPORT, TUDOMÁNY, 4(3-4), pp.23-41.

Dana, A., Hamzeh Sabzi, A. and Christodoulides, E., 2019. The effect of virtual reality exercises on dynamic balance of children with developmental coordination disorder. Journal of Humanities Insights, 3(03), pp.123-128.

Janani, H., Christodoulides, E. and Soleymani Tape Sari, B., 2019. The Relationship between the Activities in Social Media with Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and Shyness of National Team Athletes. Sport Psychology Studies (ie, mutaleat ravanshenasi varzeshi), 8(29), pp.75-87.

Christodoulides, E., 2012. Impact of socializing factors on three Cypriot generations’ sporting activity and sport consumption (Szocializációs tényezôk hatása három ciprusi generáció sporttevékenységére és sportfogyasztására). Hungarian Review of Sport Sciences (Magyar Sporttudományi Szemle), 49(1), pp. 11 -17.

Christodoulides, E., 2012. Generational differences in the motivational factors that drive Cypriots to participate in sporting activities. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 4, p.54.

Christodoulides, E., Derri, V., Tsivitanidou, O. and Kioumourtzoglou, E., 2012. Differences in social skills of Cypriot students in the physical education class. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 12(3), p.371.

Christodoulides, E., 2012. The Impact of Advancements in Science and Technology on Cypriots’ Physical Activities over Time. Physical Culture and Sport, 55, p.56.

Christodoulides, E., 2009. Changes in Society, Changes in Sport: The Case of Cyprus. International Quarterly of Sport Sciences, pp.1-4.

Selected Conference and Seminar Presentations 

• 2025, WHO Europe, 16th conference of HEPA Europe, Taking Steps Towards Sustainability, September 17th – 19th , Kaunas, Lithuania.
• 2025, European Physical Education Association (EUPEA) Forum 2025, March 28th  -29th,Budapest, Hungary.
• 2025, Academic Exchange Report of the International Joint Research and Exchange Centre for Higher Physical Education, 3rd – 9th March, Changsha, China.
• 2025, “Fit for Life in Emergencies: UNESCO Chairs in Sport & Physical Activity.” February 10th –13th, United Nations (UN) Headquarters in Doha, Qatar.
• 2024, International Academic Forum on School Sport and Physical Education Promotion of Health and Wellbeing and inauguration of the “International Joint Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre for University Physical Education and Sports Training (CUPEST), 22nd – 29th November, Changsha, Hunan, China.
• 2024, Chair of the Scientific Committee at 2^nd National Scientific Conference in Physical Education and Sports Sciences
• 2024   AIESEP International Conference “Past meets the Future”: University of Jyväskylä 13.5.2024-17.5.2024, Jyväskylä (Finland)
• 2024   FIEPS Europe Congress 18th FIEPS European Congress & 6th Scientific Conference – RPESH Ohrid 2024 – Holistic approach in Physical education and Modern trends in sport sciences (North Macedonia)
• 2024   UNESCO – CIGEPS; Athletes Game On for Peace; Policy Roundtable on Gender-based Violence Prevention in Sport, 2024, Paris (France)
• 2023   5th International Conference Literacy and Contemporary Society: Creativity, Equity, Social Action (Cyprus)
• 2023   Inspiring Change, Empowering Future The 2023 World Physical Education Alliance (WPEA) International Conference, Shanghai, (China)
• 2023   CEREPS Conference, Enhancement of Sports, Physical Activity and Health in Educational Settings, Basel, 2023, (Switzerland)
• 2023   7th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VII), Baku, 2023, (Azerbaijan)
• 2022   UNESCO celebration of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, 2022, Paris, (France)
• 2022, Member of the Scientific Committee at 1o Εθνικό Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο Αθλητικής Επιστήμης και Φυσικής Αγωγής
• 2022, Invited speaker at a conference – Αποτελεσματικές και Αποδοτικές Τοποθετήσεις σε ένα Σύγχρονο Περιβάλλον Εργασίας: η συμβολή του Γραφείου Διασύνδεσης του Πανεπιστημίου UCLan Cyprus
• 2022, Invited speaker at a conference/exhibition: ΄Villages on Move Go’. University College Leuven-Limburg. Belgium. Presentation title: ‘The Concept of Firesouls in Sports’. (European Commission – Erasmus+ Sports)’.
• 2022, Invited speaker at a seminar: ΄’Rural Cyprus 2040 – Volume I: Νέοι και Αγροτικές περιοχές΄’. Oxygono. Cyprus. Presentation title: ‘Kαλλιέργεια φυσικού γραμματισμού (Physical Literacy) και το παράδειγμα του Villages on Move Go (Erasmus+ Sports)’.
• 2022, Invited speaker at a seminar: ΄’Stelios Kyriakides, a timeless symbol of our sports history΄’. The District Office of Secondary Education of Paphos. Cyprus. Presentation title: ‘Social Importance and key socializing agents in sports – the paradigm of Stelios Kyriakides’.
• 2022, Invited speaker at the Cyprus Pro Fitness Convention. Roundtable discussions: ‘Exercise is Medicine’ and ‘Continuing Education’.
• 2021, Invited speaker at a conference ‘Sports Tourism – Development, Sustainability and Service Innovation’. Conference, Cyprus Sports Organization. Presentation title: ‘Sports Tourism and European Collaborations’.
• 2021, Invited speaker at a conference ‘Physical literacy: Cultural Connection Around the World’. IPLA International Conference. Presentation title: ‘Physical Literacy as an investment into a cultivation process’
• 2019, Invited speaker at a conference ‘ΠΑΙΔΙ ΚΑΙ ΒΙΟΗΘΙΚΗ’. Conference, Cyprus National Bioethics Committee. Presentation title: ‘Physical literacy and lifestyle’
• 2019, Organiser of the ‘1^st Sports Sociology Symposium’ UCLan Cyprus. Presentation title: ‘Physical Literacy and Culture’

Selected Research Funding/ Grant Capture

• ‘Reimagining Physical Education – Holistic Inquiry into Physical Education: Unravelling Perspectives, Shaping Physical Literacy, Cultivating Environments, Measuring Outcomes, and Guiding Behavioral Change’. National PI. (2024 – ongoing)
• ‘Virtual reality sports as tool to increase Interaction Between European Schools – ‘VIBES’ –  Erasmus+ Sport Cooperation Partnerships. €400,000 – Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. (2023 – 2026)
• Virtual Health and Wellbeing Living Lab Infrastructure ‘VITALISE’ – Horizon 2020. Funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. Transnational Access Researcher. (2023)
• Promoting Physical Literacy and Healthy Lifestyles through Digital Materials for University students – ‘ePhyLi’ – Erasmus+ Sport Collaborative partnerships. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, €400000, 2022 – 2025
• Physical Activity and Mental Health of Children and Youth in Cyprus:  Post-COVID-19 Era – ‘PAMeCy’ – Research Centre for Applied Sport Physical Activity and Performance, UCLan UK, €4500, 2022 Fédération Internationale d’Education Physique et Sportive (FIEPS)

• Collaborative project – European perspective on physical literacy EUROPLIT – Department of Sport Science and Sport Division Exercise and Health, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2022
• Cultivating physical literacy (PL)_ Examining approaches promoting PL in physical education (PE) courses at higher education in the USA’ – Fulbright Scholarship, IIE, 2021
• Erasmus+ Sport Collaborative partnerships, Villages on the Move Go (VOMGO), Researcher, €397,390, 2020 – 2022
• Erasmus+ Sport Collaborative partnerships, Basketball for Life Skills (BASKI), Researcher, €396,410, 2020 – 2022
• Centre for Teacher Education & Centre for Sports Science and University Sports University of Vienna, Sports Didactics in Europe – History, Current Trends and Future Developments, Principal Investigator in Cyprus, 2019 – 2020
• Swiss Federal Office for Sport (Bundesamt für Sport BASPO) & FHNW, Sport – Media – Children, Associate Researcher, 2013 – 2016
• Cyprus Anti-Doping Authority (CyADA), Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of Cypriot students, teachers and coaches on doping, Researcher, 2014

Supervision of Projects/PhDs

• E.A (PhD) ‘Exploring how Physical Literacy can be better understood and embedded in Cypriot teachers’ practice to improve Secondary School students’ physical education experience and physical activity’ 1st Supervisor, 2025 
• S.K (PhD) ‘The Psychological and Sociological factors affecting football players in Cyprus’ 2^nd Supervisor, 2020

Scholarships/Awards

• UNESCO Co-Chair ‘Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport’ 2022, UCLan Cyprus
• IPLA Country Lead – Cyprus 2022, International Physical Literacy Association, UK
• Fulbright Visiting Scholar – New York, USA 2021, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, US Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 2021, Advance HE, UK

Other Scholarly and Outreach Activities

• National Representative at the Global Physical Literacy Action Framework (GloPL)
• National Delegate in the Fédération Internationale d’Education Physique et Sportive (FIEPS)
• Country Lead for International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA)
• National Representative at the Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE)
• National Educator – Cyprus Anti-Doping Authority CyADA
• 2024, Chair of the Scientific Committee at 2^nd National Scientific Conference in Physical Education and Sports Sciences
• 2023, HE Erasmus+ Training Mobility at Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
• 2022, HE Erasmus+ Training Mobility at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium