Ifigeneia Manitsa BEd, MSc, AFHEA

 
Psychology Researcher at Kingston University London investigating the  social and academic inclusion of adolescents with visual impairments. Seminar tutor, Supervisor and Examiner in Psychology and Research Methods modules. Best New Researcher 2019 in the Faculty of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences at Kingston University London. Academic Grants Holder.

Academic articles
  • Manitsa, Ifigeneia, Barlow-Brown, Fiona and Evanthia Lyons (2019). Self-concept of adolescents with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment.  (E-pub ahead of print)​

Peer-reviewed conference papers
  • 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, UK.
  • 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, UK.
  • 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. & 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 4rd Conference of Postgraduate Students in the field of Education, “New Voices 4”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Academic talks
  • Manitsa, I. (2020). Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education: Students with special educational needs. IYDU (Invited talk via Skype).
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F. & Lyons, E. (2019). The role of social inclusion in the self-esteem of adolescents with visual impairments. Whitefield Academy Trust (Invited talk).
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F. & Lyons, E. (2019). Self-concept in adolescents with visual impairments. Oral presentation at the British Psychological Society (BPS) Postgraduate Meeting, London, UK.
  • Manitsa, I., Barlow-Brown, F. & Lyons, E. (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 session presented 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". Paper presented at the “School Projects about Nazism” Day Conference, Department of Philosophy and Pedagogy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Other publications
​Funding and awards
  • 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).
  • 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).

 Achievements
  • Came first after written and oral examinations, in the field of Special Education at the MSc of Pedagogy in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Praise – 7th European Student Competition on the Ancient Greek Language and Literature

Professional registration and membership
  • Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy)- Associate Fellowship
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Academic working experience
2020- Present
Research Assistant of the project “How do specialist vision rehabilitation services impact the lives of children and adolescents with visual impairments?”, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund & Sight for Surrey.
2018- Present    
Seminar leader, supervisor and examiner in Psychology and Psychology Research Methods modules at Kingston University London (Levels 3, 4 and 5).
2019
Guest lecturer in the Child Psychology MSc (Level 7) at Kingston University London.
2019
Panel Judge, Undergraduate Psychology Posters, Kingston University.
2018                   
 Examiner of MSc and BSc students in “Biological Psychology”, BPP – London Waterloo University.
2018                   
Research Assistant on Maths tasks during Young Scientists Days at Kingston University London.
2017                   
Participation in the organisation of the “Summer School 2017: Doing and Communicating Qualitative Research”,            Kingston University London.

Teaching experience
​2017- Present
Teacher in Year 2 at the Greek Orthodox School of St Barnabas, Wood Green, London.
2012 - Present
Private tutor of various typical and atypical (learning disabilities, autism, mental disorders) individuals, age range from nursery school to higher education and in different subjects, such as English and Greek Language, French, German, Maths, Music and Pedagogy.
2018
Special needs assistant at Hinchley Wood Primary School, Esher, Surrey, United Kingdom.
2018
Supervisor of four Lego Therapy and one Social Stories Social Club at Hinchley Wood Primary School, Esher, Surrey, United Kingdom.
2017 - 2018
Teacher in a class which consists of students who belong to different educational levels at the Greek Orthodox School of St Constantine and Helen, Westow St, London.
2017
Volunteer teaching assistant in Year 1 at St George Greek Orthodox School, Kingston, London.
2017
Volunteer teaching assistant in Year 2 and Year 5 at Epsom Primary School, Epsom, Surrey, London.
2013 
Observation and teaching students with learning disabilities and mental disorders, 80th Primary school, Thessaloniki, Greece
2012
Practitioner (six-month internship) in Year 2 at 81st primary school, Thessaloniki, Greece.​
2006 –  2007
Tutor of the theory of music in primary school students, as prerequisite for obtaining the degree of expert in Harmony of the Music, “Aristotle Conservatory”, Trikala, Greece.

Other professional engagements
2019
Exam invigilator - Kingston University London.
2018
Exam invigilator - Glenthorne High School, London.
2017- Present
Volunteer columnist in the column “Personal Development” of a Greek Online Magazine, www.simplylife,gr, writing non-academic articles about Education and Special Education.​
2014
Voluntary participation in conducting seminars about nutrition to students with and without disabilities, Department of Food Technology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

 Education
October 2017 - Present
Ph.D. research in the Department of Psychology, School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Kingston University of London, United Kingdom.
January 2019 - May 2019 (5 months)
Associate Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy)
October 2013 - April 2016 (2 years and 6 months)
MSc in Pedagogy with specialization in “Special Education”, Department of Philosophy and Pedagogy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Grade: 9.20/10 (Honours Degree 1st)
October 2009 - July 2013 (3 years and 9 months)
Degree  in Pedagogy from the Pedagogical School of Primary Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Grade: 8.02/10 (Honours Degree 2:1)

 Skills
Research: Advanced quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, statistics, performance practice research.
IT: International Diploma in IT Skills Standard – Full Certificate- University of Cambridge International Examinations. Professional: University Research Degrees Committee PGR representative at Kingston University London,  Social Media Director of Postgraduate Creativity Researcher’s Society at Kingston University , Knowledge of writing and reading Braille system (Certificate), Knowledge of Sign Language.
Languages: Greek (mother language), English (C2 - Certificate of Proficiency in English, University of Michigan), French (C2 - Diplôme De Langue Et Littérature Françaises 2eme Degré – Sorbonne C2), German (Level 1).
Artistic: Degree in the Harmony of Music, Piano.

 Career and Skills Development

2020
VIEW Conference 2020, Birmingham.
2019
ERASMUS Exchange Workshop: Flipped classroom and problem-based learning, Kingston University London
​2019
Voice Coaching, Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre, Kingston University London
​2018
"Mobile eye tracking training", Kingston University London
2018
Workshop "Autism in the classroom", Kingston University London
2018                 
UCL ICH: Psychological wellbeing & mental health of children & young people with visual impairment, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London.
2018                 
3 Minute Thesis and media training, Kingston University London.
2018                
Observing the Infant: An interdisciplinary workshop on infancy from 1900 to Today, Kingston University London.
2018                
Interactive Data Skills Modules, UK Data Service.
2018                
 “England Vision Strategy” National Conference 2018, London, UK.
2018               
 Own your own work: how copyright and IPR affect your research – Discover session      resources, Kingston University London.
2018                 
Creating Academic Posters - Discover session resources, Kingston University London.
2017                
Organisation of the “Summer School 2017: Doing and Communicating Qualitative Research”, Kingston University London.
2017                
Children Safeguarding Training, Epsom Primary School, United Kingdom.

Enhanced DBS Disclosure