Maria Georgiou

GENDER EQUALITY AND INCLUSION CONSULTANT – FREELANCE- SELF EMPLOYED

Work Experience

GENDER EQUALITY AND INCLUSION CONSULTANT – FREELANCE- SELF EMPLOYED – 22/01/2026 – Current – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • training and policy support for organizations
  • helping organizations build gender-equal and inclusive workspace
  • training, research and consulting

EU PROJECT PROPOSAL WRITER/ GRANT DEVELOPMENT WRITER – FREELANCE- SELF EMPLOYED – 22/01/2026 – Current – NICOSIA , CYPRUS

  • Prepare research proposals, grant applications, review proposal
  • Conduct research and literature reviews and prepare reports
  • Identify and engage with partners, stakeholders and external organizations to support the partnership-building strategy. Building of the Consortium.
  • Manage proposals related to public and local administration
  • Deep sociopolitical research

EU PROPOSAL WRITER MANAGER – ASPON CONSULTING – 22/09/2025 – 22/01/2026 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Prepare research proposals, grant applications, review proposals
  • Identify funding opportunities and keep record of donor strategies
  • Conduct research and literature reviews and prepare reports
  • Identify and engage with partners, stakeholders and external organisations to support the partnership-building strategy of the group. Building the Consortium.
  • Manage and update an inventory of past and current projects and proposals
  • Manage proposals related to public and local administration
  • Deep sociopolitical research

GRANT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (CARDET) – 11/12/2024 – 12/09/2025 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Prepare research proposals, grant applications, and tender submissions
  • Identify funding opportunities and keep record of donor strategies
  • Conduct research and literature reviews and prepare reports
  • Identify and engage with partners, stakeholders and external organisations to support the partnership-building strategy of the group
  • Prepare and deliver project presentations
  • Manage and update an inventory of past and current projects and proposals
  • Member of the Inclusion Committee

INTERMEDIATE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) EXPERT – EXTERNAL REMUNERATED EXPERT FOR EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR ASYLUM (EUAA) – 15/06/2023 – 10/12/2024 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Conduct Country of Origin Information (COI) research concerning non-complex and complex individual asylum case files in line with the relevant working instructions and EUAA COI methodology and applying a broad range of tools and techniques;
  • Provide assistance to the EUAA personnel deployed in ASTs and/or national authorities in quality control with regards to COI with the aim to support the asylum decision process and contribute to quality processing of applications for international protection of individual asylum cases;
  • Provide guidance to personnel in the field.

JUNIOR ASYLUM SECOND INSTANCE SUPPORT EXPERT (INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION ADMINISTRATIVE COURT) – EXTERNAL REMUNERATED EXPERT FOR EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR ASYLUM (EUAA) – 06/06/2022 – 12/06/2023 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Administrative support to the national authority with the preliminary analysis of individual cases and provision of support to the preparation of hearings;
  • Provide administrative support for the processing of individual cases using checklist or other similar administrative templates;
  • Coordinate the organisation of court calendars and prepare and maintain documents related to the processing of individual cases in paper or electronic filing system;
  • Administrative support to the coordination of the linguistic and interpretation activities for the stakeholders and organise the related operational activities;
  • Prepare preliminary legal research and relevant documents in the area of activity (i.e. appeals procedures);
  • Support the collection and organisation of legal queries related to appeals procedures for the consideration of the responsible official(s), officer(s) or team members;
  • Support the development of evaluation, analytical and statistical reports on the functioning of the activities.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION RESEARCH OFFICER (FOR EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR ASYLUM – EUAA) – MGR HUMAN RESOURCES – 01/11/2020 – 31/05/2022 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Conduct Country of Origin Information (COI) research
  • Research from multiple sources and provide responses to non-complex and complex COI queries
  • Provide assistance to the EASO personnel regarding COI and COI methodology
  • Organizing coaching sessions to personnel

TEACHING ASSISTANT – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/09/2020 – 31/10/2020 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Exam supervision
  • Digitization of course materials
  • Guidance of postgraduate students in conducting individual interviews and focus groups
  • Assistance of postgraduate students who will do research in archives
  • scheduling 2 (or 4) one-hour meetings each week to develop and improve writing teaching skills

TEACHING ASSISTANT – DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS – 01/09/2019 – 30/06/2020 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

TEACHING ASSISTANT – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/09/2018 – 07/04/2019 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

SPECIAL SCIENTIST – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 04/06/2018 – 31/07/2018 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Teaching of undergraduate course : ‘LGBTQ, Education and Youth’

COLLABORATOR – UNESCO CHAIR, UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS – 01/12/2017 – 31/05/2018 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Organising ‘National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2018-2023’

TEACHING ASSISTANT – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/09/2017 – 31/05/2018

TEACHING OF EXPERIENTAL WORKSHOP – CYPRUS PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE – 05/05/2018 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Workshop ‘Introducing Sexuality in Gender Equality Policies’ in collaboration with Dr.Zelia Gregoriou and Despina Michaelidou

SPECIAL SCIENTIST – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 05/06/2017 – 04/08/2017 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Teaching of undergraduate course ‘LGBTQ, Education and Youth’

TEACHING ASSISTANT – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS – 01/09/2016 – 31/05/2017 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

SPECIAL SCIENTIST – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/06/2016 – 31/07/2016 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Teaching of undergraduate course ‘LGBTQ, Education and Youth’

TEACHING ASSISTANT – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/09/2015 – 31/05/2016 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

SPECIAL SCIENTIST – UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – 01/06/2015 – 31/07/2015 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

  • Teaching of undergraduate course ‘LGBTQ, Education and Youth’

TRAINEESHIP – DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES – 02/10/2013 – 01/04/2014 – NICOSIA, CYPRUS

TRAINEESHIP – EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS – 04/04/2011 – 31/07/2011 – PARIS, FRANCE

TRAINEESHIP – PERMANENT DELEGATION OF CYPRUS AT UNESCO – 01/06/2011 – 30/06/2011 – PARIS, FRANCE

Education and Training

01/09/2015 – 04/02/2026 Nicosia, Cyprus

PHD GENDER STUDIES University of Cyprus, Department of Education

  • Supervisor: Dr.Zelia Gregoriou
  • Research political, human rights, socio-economic situation in third countries
  • Postcolonial research in third countries and ex-colonies
  • Gender Equality and Inclusion
  • Successful completion of PhD Defense 13 June 2025
  • 4/2/26 approval by the University Senate

Field of study: Gender Studies Final grade: 9.58 Level in EQF: EQF level 8

Thesis: Patriarchy, Biopolitics and Colonialism. The Social Hygiene in Colonial Cyprus

01/12/2020 – 04/12/2020

TRAINING ON COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION EASO

20-30 hours of online training and virtual face-to-face session from 1 to 4 December 2020

29/05/2018 Nicosia, Cyprus

CESE 2018 CESE (Comparative Education Society in Europe)

Workshop for New Scientists ‘Coloniality, Multiculturalism and Biopolitics’

Presentation ‘Colonialism and biopolitics: Forging identities through colonial programs of social hygiene’

29/08/2016 – 02/09/2016 Utrecht, Netherlands

NOISE- SUMMER SCHOOL Netherlands Research School of Gender Studies, Utrecht University

Feminist Media Studies of Migration: European Discourses and Lived Experiences

03/09/2012 – 18/06/2015 Nicosia, Cyprus

MA GENDER STUDIES University of Cyprus

  • postcolonial research focused on gender issues, politics and biopolitics

Level in EQF EQF: level 7

01/05/2012 – 31/07/2012 Barcelona, Spain

DISTANCE CERTIFICATE ‘DISARMAMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT’ Universitat Oberta de Catalunya- Open University of Catalunya

20/09/2010 – 07/10/2011 Toulouse, France

MA POLITICAL SCIENCES. SPECIALISATION ON COUNCIL, EXPERTISE AND PUBLIC ACTION SciencesPo Toulouse

Level in EQF: EQF level 7

05/10/2009 – 19/07/2010 Vichy, France

DIPLOMA FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CAVILAM

18/10/2005 – 15/11/2009 Athens, Greece

BA HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY. SPECIALIZATION: HISTORY National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Level in EQF: EQF level 6

Languages

Mother tongue(s): GREEK

Other Languages Listening

Spoken production

Spoken production

Spoken interaction

 Writing
English C2 C2 C2 C2 C2
French C1 C1 C1 C1 C1

Levels: A1 and A2: Basic user; B1 and B2: Independent user; C1 and C2: Proficient user

Skills

  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Powerpoint
  • Outlook
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Drive
  • Google
  • Docs

Publications

2020

”Biopolitics in the Classroom. Teaching religion in the Public Schools of Cyprus”

Georgiou, Maria. (2020). “Biopolitics in the Classroom: Teaching Religion in the Public Schools of Cyprus. The Case of the Third Grade of the Lyceum” in Díez Bosch, M., Melloni, A. and Micó, J.L (ed.). Perplexed Religion. Barcelona: Blanquerna Observatory on Media Religion and Culture. ISBN 978-84-947978-5-9

Job Related Skills

  • Excellent research skills in third countries
  • Research skills in issues related to vulnerable groups, human rights, politics, socio-economic situation, biopolitics
  • Experience in Country of Origin information research
  • Professional experience in the asylum context
  • Professional experience in the Academic context
  • Immediate response to complex issues
  • Design and Development of training schemes according to the needs of the organization/ personnel

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

  • Excellent communication skills to audiences with different characters acquired during my experience as a special scientist and teaching assistant.
  • Very good communication skills in different contexts and situations acquired during my traineeships.
  • Excellent collaboration with individuals in a multi-functional and multicultural environment with multi-thematic modules

Organisational Skills

  • Excellent organizational skills gained from my experience as a special scientist and teaching assistant.
  • Management of big audiences during university courses.
  • Immediate response to a pressure program, deadlines and short schedules.
  • Organization of university level courses.

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