What we do
CYENS Centre of Excellence is a leading Research and Innovation hub specializing in Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies. As the only organization in Cyprus dedicated to immersive technologies, it plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and facilitating technology transfer across the region. This Centre is the result of a unique collaboration between three public universities—the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology.
ABOUT
At CYENS, education lies at the heart of innovation. With a specialised focus on Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies, we translate world-class research into practical skills and professional opportunities.
Our mission is to design learning experiences that integrate research, technology, and creativity. In collaboration with educators, researchers, technologists, and industry leaders, we offer trainings that reflect the frontiers of technological progress.
Areas of Expertise
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning
eHealth
Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR/VR)
Game Development & Interactive Media
Robotics
3D Modelling
Smart Cities & IoT
Rapid Prototyping and Digital Fabrication
Green Skills & Sustainability
Entrepreneurship
Education and training are delivered through CYENS Academy, the dedicated training branch of the CYENS Centre of Excellence. The Academy aims to become a regional leader in vocational education and lifelong learning, equipping individuals with the critical skills and technological fluency needed to navigate and shape the evolving digital landscape. Through targeted training and strategic knowledge exchange, we strengthen employability, support business growth, and contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy.
Coordinator: Dr. Ourania Miliou, Education & Training Manager
Training Programs
HRDA Training Programs
We are currently developing new training programs that reflect emerging skills needs. These courses don’t yet have set dates, but we’d love to hear from you if you are interested in joining. If you’d like to express interest in any of these courses, please send us an email academy@cyens.org.cy and request to receive our newsletter. You’ll be among the first to know when dates are announced.
School Programs
CYENS School Programmes invite young minds to explore the frontiers of science, technology, and the arts through immersive, hands-on experiences. Built on CYENS’ expertise in emerging technologies, the programmes are led by researchers and scholars who engage directly with students. Participants gain practical insight into ongoing advances and the questions that drive them, turning learning into an active process of exploration.
Upcoming Courses
Description:
Generative Artificial Intelligence tools are rapidly transforming the way professionals work, communicate, and create content. This training programme is designed to help participants develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively use GenAI tools, including ChatGPT, to enhance productivity in their daily professional activities.
Participants will explore how Generative AI can support a wide range of tasks, such as content creation, communication, idea generation, task automation, information processing, and workflow optimisation. The programme combines theoretical guidance with practical exercises, enabling participants to understand the potential of AI tools and apply them confidently in real work scenarios.
The course is suitable for individuals with no prior experience in using Artificial Intelligence tools, as it provides a comprehensive introduction to GenAI technologies and their practical applications in an evolving digital work environment.
Participants’ profile:
This training programme is addressed to employees and professionals across different sectors, product managers, business professionals, administrative staff, content creators, and individuals interested in improving their productivity through the use of ChatGPT and other Generative AI tools. No prior experience with AI tools is required.
Trainer: Michael Glaros
Total training hours: 14
Type of training: Online via Microsoft Teams
Language of instruction: English
Training Facilities
CYENS is a certified Vocational Training Structure (VTS) and officially hosts HRDA-subsidized training programmes. Its dedicated training rooms are equipped with cutting-edge technology to support high-quality, hands-on learning experiences.
Rooms are available for external bookings, with pricing information provided upon request.
For details or to make a booking, please contact our Events Officer at: info@cyens.org.cy
Our Trainers
- Sophia Koni
- Stella Taousiani
- Andreas Andreou
- Andreas Lernis
- Stratis Pantelides
- Ourania Miliou
- Eleni Dimitriadou
- Panagiotis Kyriakou
Our Collaborators
- Michael Glaros is the Co-Founder and CEO of Artemis Industries, and a recognized leader who spent a decade at Microsoft driving AI and blockchain innovation, where he launched generative AI programs for 300+ enterprise customers and generated millions in cloud revenue through pioneering blockchain solutions. As former Executive Director of Information Security at Sony Pictures Entertainment and at Outerwall, he brings deep expertise in enterprise security, compliance, and operational transformation across global organizations. Michael combines strategic vision with hands-on technical experience to help businesses navigate the intersection of AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Constantinos Syrimis is a professional 3D artist and animator currently working as a freelancer. With a diverse career spanning television spots, commercials, video games, and interactive media, he brings over a decade of expertise to every project. His accolades include winning Best Animated Short Film for Arguing is a Nice Hobby at the Bridges International Film Festival (2011) and a nomination for Best Animated Music Video for Infected Syren’s The Torture Brothers at the Cyprus Music Video Festival (2023). Constantinos’ latest personal project, Savis Vs Punks, is currently being showcased at various festivals. Constantinos holds a Master’s degree in Animation from the University of Glamorgan and a BA in Animation from the University of Wolverhampton. His professional development includes specialized courses in Game Animation (iAnimate, 2024 online), Character Animation (The Animation Workshop, 2019, Denmark), and Creature Animation (Animation Mentor, 2020 online).
- Ellada Evangelou has studied in Cyprus and the United States (BA in English, MFA in Dramaturgy, PhD in Theatre Studies / Cultural Studies). She has worked as a dramaturge, theatre director, workshop facilitator and independent consultant, in collaboration with theatre companies, NGOs and international organizations. She is interested in the relationship between theatre/dramaturgy and identity and works in the intersection of aRtivism and scholarship in post-colonial, post-conflict communities. She is co-founder of Rooftop Theatre, collaborates with the IMPACT Project and Lemesos 2030, and a 2020-21 Global Fellow of the International Society for the Performing Arts. She was the Artistic and Executive Director of the Buffer Fringe Performing Arts Festival 2019-22, and curated the Boundary Crosser Artists Residency at CYENS CoE in 2023-24. She was a Global Faculty in Residence at Gallatin School for Individualized Study, NYU in 2021, she has taught at the University of Cyprus, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), and European University (CY). Latest publications include “Of heroes and Villains: Manifestations of national and colonial identity in Cyprus through Historical Theatre Plays, 1878-1960” in Colonial Cyprus: A Cultural History, 1878-1960, edited by Karyos, A., Hadjiathanasiou, M., Solomou, E., Routledge, 2024, and (co-authored with Nihal Soganci) “Buffer Fringe Performing Arts Festival: Creating and Curating Beyond the Liminal Fragility of Buffer Zones in Cyprus”, in Cultural Crossroads, Vol. 4, 2004.
Featured Projects
Education and Knowledge Exchange Activities
Doctoral Training Programme
The CYENS Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) was a flagship initiative that supported PhD students across the CYENS consortium universities, the University of Cyprus (UCY), Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), and the Open University of Cyprus (OUC).
Through fully funded fellowships, students gained financial support, mentoring from leading academics, and the chance to collaborate with world-class partners including University College London (UCL) and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI).
Over its course, the DTP created a vibrant and collaborative research environment, giving fellows access to cutting-edge projects, specialized training, and global networking opportunities. Students participated in international conferences, workshops, and symposiums, while short-term placements abroad enriched their experience and expanded CYENS’s international reach.
Invited Talks
The CYENS Invited Talks series opens the floor to researchers, collaborators, and guest speakers who share their latest work with the CYENS community and beyond. Hosted regularly and open to the public, the series creates space for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas across disciplines.
Bringing together academics, industry leaders, and creative professionals, each session highlights innovative projects and insights while sparking conversation and diverse perspectives.
Innovation Competitions
CYENS plays a leading role in innovation-focused competitions that bring together young talent, researchers, and industry partners to tackle real-world challenges through technology. These events give participants the chance to explore emerging technologies, develop creative solutions, and gain hands-on experience in collaborative problem-solving.
Drawing on its extensive expertise in research and innovation, CYENS provides mentors and judges who guide teams, share specialist knowledge, and help transform ideas into impactful outcomes. Beyond competition, these activities serve as valuable educational experiences, enabling participants to learn directly from experts, strengthen their skills, and gain insights that prepare them for future roles in the innovation ecosystem.
Impact
- 10 international secondments across 8 countries
- 27 international events attended in 14 countries
- 48 research outputs, including publications in top-tier journals, conference papers, and book chapters.
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