Ifigeneia Manitsa BEd, MSc, AFHEA

Career Summary
Psychology Researcher at Kingston University London interested in improving the academic and social outcomes of students with and without special educational needs and translating research into practice. Academic Grants Holder, currently investigating the benefits of social inclusion on the academic learning and socioemotional development of adolescents with and without visual impairments, as well as the impact of rehabilitation services on the daily lives of students with visual impairments. Lecturer (Hourly Paid) and Seminar Leader in various Psychology and Research Methods modules (Levels 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) with blended teaching expertise. Best New Researcher 2019 in the Faculty of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences at Kingston University London. Latest achievement was the decision of the Prime Minister of Greece to include youth entrepreneurship as a subject in all schools in the country, after the suggestions discussed in the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship at School” event, where I presented my ideas on employment and entrepreneurship of students with special educational needs.

 ​Funding and awards
  • Manitsa, I. £200 GRS Activity Support Fund award, Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I. £10,000 PhD studentship, The National Lottery Community Fund & Sight for Surrey. “How do specialist vision rehabilitation services impact the lives of children and adolescents with visual impairments?” (2020-2021).
  • Montague, A., Manitsa, I. & Barlow-Brown, F. £600 Kingston University funding for the research project "Factors which explain alcohol and cigarette consumption among young adults aged 18-25 years during the COVID-19 outbreak" (2020).
  • Manitsa, I. £1,000 PhD research grant, Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust (2019).
  • 1st prize for the Best New Researcher in the 10th Annual Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Conference in Kingston University for the paper: Manitsa Ifigeneia, Fiona Barlow-Brown, Evanthia Lyons: "Self-concept in adolescents with visual impairments" (2019).

Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
  • Manitsa, I. & Doikou, M. (2020). Social support for students with visual impairments in educational institutions: An integrative literature review. British Journal of Visual Impairment. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0264619620941885​
  • Montague, A., Manitsa, I. & Barlow-Brown, F. (2020). Factors which explain alcohol and cigarette consumption among young adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Manuscripts Under Review
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F., & Lyons, E. (2019). Self-concept of adolescents with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 38(2), 160-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619619883900
Manuscripts Under Preparation
  • Manitsa, I. & Barlow-Brown, F. (2021). The role of vision habilitation services in the daily lives of children and adolescents with visual impairments: Findings from a case study approach. 
Peer-reviewed conference papers
  • Manitsa, I. & Doikou, M. (2021). Providing social support for students with visual impairments in educational settings: Findings from an integrative literature review. Oral presentation at the Inclusive and Supportive Education Conference (ISEC), UCL Institute of Education (IOE), London.
  • Montague, A. & Manitsa, I. (June 2021). A qualitative insight into factors pertaining to alcohol and cigarette consumption among young adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Oral presentation at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference 2021 (virtual conference), The British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Manitsa, I. (2020). Social inclusion of adolescents with visual impairments: From research to practice. Oral presentation at the 3rd PhD meeting between Kingston University and University of Gothenburg, Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F. & Lyons, E. (2019).  Self-concept in adolescents with visual impairments. Paper presented at the 10th Annual Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Conference, Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I., (2018).  The importance of social inclusion in general schools to the self-concept of adolescents with visual impairment and their differences with sighted children. Paper presented at Kingston University Postgraduate Research Conference, Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I. (2018). The importance of social relationships with sighted peers to the self-concept of adolescents with visual impairment and the differences between both groups. Oral and poster session presented at "Listen to me" Multi-sensory Impairment Conference, Seashell trust Organisation, Manchester Conference Centre, UK.
  • Manitsa, I., (2018).  The importance of social inclusion in general schools to the self-concept of adolescents with visual impairment and their differences with sighted children. Paper presented at Kingston University Postgraduate Research Conference, Kingston University London. ​
  • Manitsa, I. & Doikou, M. (2017). The academic experiences of studies in higher education from the perspective of visual impaired students. Paper presented at the 4th Pan-Hellenic Conference in Special Education with International Participation, “Modern Trends and Proposals in Special Education", The Company of Special Education in Greece, Harokopio University, Greece (published).
  • Manitsa, I. (2016). The experiences of studies in higher education from the perspective of students with visual impairment. Paper presented at the 4th Conference of Postgraduate Students in the field of Education, “New Voices 4”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Invited talks
  • Manitsa, I. (2020). Doing research with vulnerable populations. Oral presentation at the First Annual PhD Autumn Symposium, Department of Psychology, Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I. (2020). Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education: Students with special educational needs. Oral remote presentation at the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” event, IYDU (International Young Democrat Union).
  • Manitsa, I. (2019). The role of social inclusion in the self-esteem of adolescents with visual impairments. Whitefield Academy Trust, London.
  • Manitsa, I. (2019). Self-concept in adolescents with visual impairments. Oral presentation at the British Psychological Society (BPS) Postgraduate Meeting, London, UK.
  • Manitsa, I. (2018). Social inclusion and the differences in self-concept between adolescents with visual impairments and their sighted peers. Poster presentation at "Sensing Nature: Wellbeing with nature and sight impairment" Exhibition, London, UK.
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F. & Lyons, E. (2018). The role of friendship and the importance of social relationships on students with visual impairments and their sighted peers. Poster presentation at the Open Lecture “Children, Tablets and iPads: Concerns and New Possibilities” with Prof. David Messer. Kingston University London.
  • Manitsa, I. (2014). The Interdisciplinary school project " Nazism: The black pages of the History". Oral presentation at the “School Projects about Nazism” Day Conference, Department of Philosophy and Pedagogy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
​Media Appearance
  • Interview on Emotional Abuse in the working and school environment. “PolitikoLOGOS” Live Radio, Greece (10/02/21).
 
...Contact me for a full CV!