Mr Giannis Efthymiou
Lecturer in Education
Gaskell 205
Summary
Giannis Efthymiou is a Lecturer in Education at Brunel’s Primary PGCE Programme, and he is currently leading on the areas of Science Education and Physical Education. Prior to entering Higher Education, Giannis was a primary school teacher and leader in primary schools across London having held a range of leadership posts. His academic interest and research focus on Education for Global Citizenship and how teachers in primary schools go about adopting such approaches. He coordinated a funded European project between four schools in Europe that examined teachers’ approaches to adopting Global Learning as part of their practice. This influenced the case study of his doctoral thesis. His research and wider scholarly activity build on similar initiatives, and Giannis is particularly interested in teachers’ wisdom to adopting practices of Global Learning as part of their wider pedagogical ethos. Giannis reflects on wider critical theories, specifically critical pedagogy and postcolonial theory. He seeks to examine each of these areas through the lens of teaching by actively listening to the voices of the teachers. Giannis continues his close work with schools in London through his wider responsibilities as part of the primary PGCE programme, and overviews the mentorship of primary student teachers. Giannis is keen to continue expanding his collaboration with schools and is always happy to hear from colleagues who are interested in exploring Global Learning as a pedagogical approach.
Prior to joining Brunel University London in September 2021, he taught across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Cumbria and UCL’s Institute of Education. Giannis is currently at the final stages of his doctoral journey, which he undertakes at UCL’s Development Education Research Centre in the field of Global Learning.
Qualifications
- Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) - Advance HE & Brunel University London
- MEd in Psychology of Education - University of Bristol
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) - DfE
- BA (Hons) in Primary Education - University of Patras
Responsibility
Deputy Programme Leader Primary PGCE Programme
Module Lead "ED5618: Education Studies 2" (level 7)
Newest selected publications
Efthymiou, GS. (Accepted) 'Schooling in a democracy: returning education to the public serviceSchooling in a democracy: returning education to the public service, by Richard Riddell, Policy Press, Bristol University Press, 2023, £24.99 (Paperback), ISBN: 978-1447362937'. Journal of Education Policy. pp. 1 - 2. ISSN: 0268-0939
Efthymiou, G. (Accepted) 'Democratic Education', in Winn, MT., Winn, LT., Bourn, D. and Pasha, A. (eds.) The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Social Justice in Education. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. , Global Education.
Efthymiou, G. (2024) 'Book Review: Schooling in a Democracy: returning Education to the Public Service, by Richard Riddell'. Journal of Education Policy. ISSN: 0268-0939
Efthymiou, G. (2023) 'Global learning enabling teacher voices in one Greek primary school: mixed methods including action research and interviews', in Bourn, D. (ed.) Research in Global Learning Methodologies for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development Education. London : UCL Press. pp. 111 - 130. ISBN 10: 1800083092. ISBN 13: 9781800083097.
Efthymiou, G. and de Vries, M. (2022) 'Teachers reflecting on teaching global issues: “Because I’m also part of the problem”'. Sinergias – diálogos educativos para a transformação social, 13. pp. 41 - 57.Open Access Link