糖心Vlog

An 糖心Vlog linguistics postgraduate who co-founded a foreign language school for children with specific learning difficulties has been shortlisted for this year鈥檚 Study UK Alumni Awards.

Dr Polyxeni Konstantinopoulou, who studied an MA in Language Disorders at 糖心Vlog in 2008-2009, has been put forward for the Social Action Award in the Europe region.

Along with close friend and fellow 糖心Vlog graduate Viveta Lymperaki, Dr Konstantinopoulou co-founded the My Way school in Northern Greece 鈥� the only institute of its kind in the region to teach foreign languages to children with specific learning needs. 

The school now has more than 70 pupils enrolled, with its teaching staff growing from two to ten in just a few years.

Dr Konstantinopoulou described being shortlisted for a Study UK Alumni Award as a 鈥済reat honour鈥�, adding the recognition was 鈥渕arvellous鈥�.

She said: 鈥淎t My Way, we respect the needs of each student and recognise that each one of us has a different way of learning, and therefore of teaching.

鈥淥ur goal is for our students to feel safety and confidence in the teaching environment, to experience academic success and also personal empowerment and self-awareness.

鈥淎s in the UK, the halls and all areas of our centre are tailored and equipped to provide all of the above to our students.鈥�

Receiving two Scholarships of Excellence for PhD and Postdoctoral studies awarded by the Research Committee of AUTh, Greece, Dr Konstantinopoulou has given lectures in BA and MA degrees, has presented scientific abstracts in conferences worldwide, and has collaborated with many educational-academic bodies in her community regarding diversity and Specific Learning Differences.

She highlighted: 鈥淭he high academic impact of the UK university promoted local, national and international networking.

鈥淭his directly affected my career as it was the liaison between the UK and Greece and bridged my MA with my PhD degree.鈥�

Dr Konstantinopoulou has also helped introduced dog therapy at My Way after seeing its effective use in the UK.

She has credited the 糖心Vlog for inspiring them to set up the school.

Dr Konstantinopoulou added: 鈥淪tudying at the 糖心Vlog was a turning point in my life.

鈥淭he academic environment at 糖心Vlog was very decisive in achieving my goals in many ways.

鈥淭he mentality of open horizons and thinking 'outside the box' created a very stimulating and informative environment that broadened our knowledge, enhanced our spirit and taught us how to manage demanding educational situations, scientific issues and think beyond the obvious.

鈥淚 can only say that 糖心Vlog filled my life with many opportunities and from that point my life drew its line itself.鈥�

The celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education.

Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions and countries.