Dr Stavros Nikou
Senior Lecturer
Strathclyde Institute of Education
Personal statement
Stavros Nikou is Senior Lecturer in Digital Education at the Strathclyde Institute of Education, University of Strathclyde. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems focusing on Learning Technologies from the University of Macedonia - Greece, a M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Houston (CL) and a B.Sc. in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Stavros has many years of experience in ICT and Physics education. His research interests include technology-enhanced teaching and learning, smart learning environments (AR/VR/MR and Artificial Intelligence), instructional design, teacher education, computational thinking and STEM education. Stavros is the Course Leader of the Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning (Digital Education), he teaches Learning Technologies and supervises postgraduate students within the Institute of Education. He leads the Critical Instructional Technology and Digital Education subtheme and co-leads the Curriculum and Pedagogy Research theme at the Strathclyde Institute of Education. He is also member of the steering committee of the Strathclyde Socially Progressive Artificial Intelligence Lab (SPAI-Lab).
Stavros has served as UNESCO consultant for the development of the ICT Competency Framework for Teachers and Ambassador for Scientix - The Community for Science Education in Europe by the European Schoolnet. He is also member of the Smart Mobile and Interactive Learning Environments (SMILE) Lab. Stavros is Chair of the IEEE Technical Community on Learning Technology (TCLT) SIG “Augmented Reality and Virtual Worlds in Education and Training (ARVWET)”. He is Associate Editor for the "IEEE Transactions on Education" journal, Section Editor for the "International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM)", and scientific committee member in several top ranking international conferences. He has published in highly cited international journals and refereed conference proceedings and he is included in the Stanford's list of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists.
Stavros is a member of the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA), the European Association of Technology-Enhanced Learning (EATEL), the Association for Smart Learning Ecosystems and Regional Development (ASLERD), the International Association of Smart Learning Environments (IASLE), and the Hellenic Physics Society. He is also Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and Senior member of IEEE (SMIEEE).
Area of Expertise
- Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning
- Smart Learning Environments
- Immersive Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Instructional Design
- Technology Acceptance
- Digital Competency Frameworks
- STEM Education
Prize And Awards
- Stavros Nikou is included in the University of Stanford’s and Elsevier's list with the "World's Top 2%" most-cited scientists for 2025 .
- Recipient
- 2025
- Stavros Nikou is included in the University of Stanford’s and Elsevier's list with the "World's Top 2%" most-cited scientists for 2024.
- Recipient
- 2024
- Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
- Recipient
- 2022
- IEEE Senior Membership
- Recipient
- 2021
- Article nomination for Best Full Paper Award in 21st IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (IEEE ICALT)
- Recipient
- 2021
Publications
- GenAI in Novel Educational Applications : Practices of Integrating GenAI in the K-12 Classroom, Volume 1
- Auer Michael, Nikou Stavros
- (2026)
- Teaching physics with augmented reality supported design-based thinking : From motivation to value
- Nikou Stavros
- Immersive Learning Research Network: 12th International Conference, iLRN 2026 iLRN2026: 12th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (2026)
- GenAI in Novel Educational Applications : Practices of Integrating GenAI in the K-12 Classroom, Volume 2
- Auer Michael, Nikou Stavros
- (2026)
- Motivation as a driver of engagement in augmented-reality learning in primary schools
- Nikou Stavros A
- Tech Trends Vol 70, pp. 398-410 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-025-01157-y
- Using generative AI to teach programming to student teachers
- Nikou Stavros
- SERA Conference (2025)
- Why do primary school pupils engage in Augmented Reality educational activities? : A uses and gratification theory perspective
- Nikou Stavros A
- Immersive Learning Research Network iLRN 2025: 11th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network Communications in Computer and Information Science, pp. 66–79 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98080-0_5
Research Interests
Main research areas: Learning Technologies, Mobile & Ubiquitous Learning, Immersive Learning Environments, Artificial Intelligence, Instructional Design and Technology Integration, Teachers' Digital Competencies, Physics/STEM Education,.
Main area of focus: The role of cognitive, metacognitive, affective, and motivational processes in technology-enhanced teaching and learning.
Professional Activities
- Twenty-first European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning (Event)
- Member
- 14/9/2026
- European Conference on Educational Research (Event)
- Member
- 17/8/2026
- 26th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (IEEE ICALT 2026) - Track 12. Augmented Reality and Virtual Worlds in Education and Training (ARVWET)
- Chair
- 6/7/2026
- iLRN2026: 12th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network
- Chair
- 27/6/2026
- Asia-Pacific Society of Computers in Education (APSCE) Theme-Based International Conference Series (TBICS) 2026 (Event)
- Advisor
- 25/6/2026
- 11th Conference on Smart Learning Ecosystems and Regional Development
- Chair
- 22/6/2026
Projects
- Socially Progressive AI Lab
- Noto La Diega, Guido (Principal Investigator) Miyake, Esperanza (Principal Investigator) Harkens, Adam (Co-investigator) Moncur, Wendy (Co-investigator) Weaver, Beth (Co-investigator) Nikou, Stavros (Co-investigator) Jones, Benedict (Co-investigator) Cunningham, Scott (Co-investigator) Dorfler, Viktor (Co-investigator) Liu, Xi (Co-investigator)
- The Socially Progressive AI Lab (SPAI-Lab) is the University of Strathclyde's hub for impactful research, collaborative bids, engagement and networking—shaping policy, technical design and regulation in Scotland, the UK and internationally. Scotland's AI Strategy 2026-2013 spotlights the Lab as a key example of "world-leading AI research".
Based in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, SPAI-Lab involves colleagues from all the faculties (Engineering, Science, Strathclyde Business School), bridging humanities‑led approaches and tech‑centred methods. The Lab's research and activities are guided by a commitment to socially progressive deployment of AI that advances equity, upholds human rights and serves the public good.
The SPAI-Lab brings together over 90 experts from across the University and is co-led by Dr Esperanza Miyake and Professor Guido Noto La Diega and is supported by a cross-Faculty, cross-departmental steering committee: Professor Wendy Moncur, Professor Beth Weaver,
Dr Stavros Nikou, Professor Ben Jones, Dr Xi Liu, Dr Adam Harkens, Professor Scott Cunningham, Professor Viktor Dorfler. - 26-Jan-2026
- Developing teaching professionals’ knowledge and skills in AI technologies for inclusive and equitable education
- Wang, Yuchen (Principal Investigator) Abel, Andrew (Co-investigator) Jia, Laibing (Co-investigator) Ul Ain, Noor (Researcher) Mevawalla, Zinnia (Co-investigator) Catlin, Jane (Co-investigator) Devasya, Ashwitha (Researcher) Tripathy, Aditi (Researcher) Nikou, Stavros (Co-investigator) Roxburgh, David (Co-investigator) Robinson, Deborah (Co-investigator)
- This project is to co-design a professional learning programme on AI and inclusive education with teachers and student teachers, funded by EPSRC (£9,961).
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
- AI in Early Learning: Building Foundations for AI Literacy in Primary and Early Years Education
- Nikou, Stavros (Principal Investigator) Anderson, Damien (Research Co-investigator) Arnott, Lorna (Co-investigator) Roper, Marc (Academic)
- The project will explore pupils and teachers understanding and experiences with AI aiming to enhance their AI literacy levels and develop AI-focused curriculum resources.
- 30-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2025
- Leveraging Conversational Artificial Intelligence for teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions
- Nikou, Stavros (Principal Investigator) McLeod, Debbie (Fellow) Payne, Orlaith (Fellow)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
- Cultures of Collaborative Research in a Socially Progressive Technological University / R230557-214
- Nikou, Stavros (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
- Self-Regulated Learning in Generative AI supported educational settings
- Nikou, Stavros (Principal Investigator)
- The primary objective of this research project is to explore the influence of generative AI (GenAI) on student help-seeking behaviors, self-regulation, and overall learning experiences in academic contexts.
- 01-Jan-2024
Contact
Dr
Stavros
Nikou
Senior Lecturer
Strathclyde Institute of Education
Email: stavros.nikou@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 8198