Spotlighting the Cyprus Chapter in the ACM-W Professional Chapter’s Corner
Written By Asegul Hulus
Welcome back, Avid Readers! Hello again, everyone! Ace, your friendly tour guide, is back to continue our worldwide journey of ACM-W Professional Chapters. We’re off to the inspiring Mediterranean island of Cyprus today! The ACM-W Cyprus Chapter is reshaping the computing world through its commitment to innovation, inclusion, and empowering women.
I had the honor of meeting with this chapter’s remarkable leaders: Chair Dr. Josephina Antoniou (who dedicatedly joined us from maternity leave), Vice-Chair Dr. Antigoni Parmaxi, and Treasurer Dr. Andriani Piki. Dora Konstantinou, our fourth leader, was not present, but her recent achievements in organizing the ‘Encouraging Women in Computing (EWiC’24) showcase perfectly illustrate the energetic drive of this chapter.
Having said that, let’s examine the key moments in the history of ACM-W Cyprus.
Chapter History
The ACM-W Cyprus Chapter’s journey is marked by significant milestones. The 2016 WomenPower fair established programs that the Chapter still uses, such as the talk based on “The social obstacles and the glass ceiling: how can we move forward.” The 2018 ACM-W Cyprus’ Women’s Workshop on Educational Robotics pioneered new teaching methods, such as experiments with various types of robots. The 2019 ICPC Cyprus competition showcased a dedication to top-tier competitive programming. Additionally, the womENcourage 2022 event built stronger international ties and highlighted Cyprus’ place in the global computing world. Moving on to 2024-2025, the next section highlights the chapter’s monthly achievements.
Monthly Highlights
The ACM-W Celebration: “Encouraging Women in Computing 2024” (EWiC’24) workshop, a key event for the chapter, attracted more than 100 attendees, all of whom offered highly positive reviews. The event significantly boosted attendees’ confidence in pursuing tech careers, highlighting its success in developing both skills and self-assurance. ACM-W Europe’s blog post celebrated the event and its significant effect.
The event showcased strong collaboration between institutions. ACM-W Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology, and the Cyprus Interaction Lab spearheaded the organization. The University of Central Lancashire Cyprus (UCLan Cyprus), CTL Eurocollege, and Cyprus College took on the role of co-organizers, receiving essential assistance from the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS), CCS-Women, and CUTingedge. The project brought together students from UCLan and two other universities, demonstrating successful inter-institutional collaboration and enriching the learning experience. Dr. Antigoni’s opening remarks established the theme of the event, a compelling panel discussion on “Women in Computing: Breaking Barriers.” A hands-on approach and practical applications set the Creative Coding Workshop apart, earning it significant praise.
In addition to their internal projects, the ACM-W Cyprus Chapter actively participates in external computing events. During our interview, ACM-W Cyprus leaders highlighted their involvement in cybersecurity penetration testing and programming competitions, demonstrating their dedication to diverse technical skills. Our Cyprus Chapter ACM-W leaders will be highlighted in the next section, giving them a platform to share their insights.
Spotlight of the Month: Leadership Corner
“ACM-W Cyprus is more than just an organization; it’s a vibrant community of women supporting women in technology,” declares Dr. Antigoni. “My own journey from the humanities to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has shown me the power of community and mentorship in navigating the tech world. At ACM-W Cyprus, we believe that a background in any field can be a stepping stone to a successful career in technology. We’re here to welcome and support individuals from all disciplines, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can learn, grow, and contribute.”
The leaders proudly discussed their university’s progress in achieving gender equality. Dr. Andriani cited the rector of UCLan Cyprus—a female academic with a computing background—as a particularly inspiring example of women’s increasing presence in leadership, for example. Dr. Josephina highlighted their university’s impressive number of female computing academics. They’ve reached 20% female participation in computing programs, showing progress toward their ambitious goal of 50/50 gender balance.
Reflecting on their journey, Dr. Josephina observed that photos from their earliest events, over a decade ago, showed mostly men with only a couple of women. However, as she noted, “It was nice to power these kinds of events and for the boys to know that it’s for everybody.” Their current success is a direct result of their inclusive approach from the start. The following section describes their distinctive, cross-institutional approach, a key element of their commitment to inclusivity.
Cross-Institutional Impact
The chapters’ influence extends beyond individual institution. In our interview, leaders explained that their events unite students from all of Cyprus’ schools and universities. Dr. Andriani highlighted the robust networking opportunities arising from UCLan students’ regular collaborations with students across multiple higher education institutions. The ACM-W Cyprus Chapter is involved in a range of inter-institutional technical competitions, including specialized events like penetration testing competitions (cybersecurity), programming challenges, and workshops.
“We want to make this something that people are aware of,” Dr. Andriani emphasized during our discussion. “Everything is changing in education, and we’re actively contributing to this change. We’re trying to emphasize that this is an open space, not something that these ACM women have already established in Cyprus. We want to make this a community that is expanding and inclusive, welcoming new members.” ACM-W Cyprus uses this philosophy to build community, creating events that are more than just technical gatherings—they show that everyone can participate in computing. Accordingly, this philosophy informs the following section, a wisdom corner featuring Dr. Antigoni’s insights on the significance of ACM-W Cyprus.
Wisdom Corner
Dr. Antigoni shares her transformative journey: “My path to technology was a winding one. My academic background is actually in the humanities, focusing on classics and philosophy. However, during my PhD research, I became fascinated by the intersection of humans and technology, leading me to delve into the field of HCI. This transition was both exciting and challenging. While I possessed a strong foundation in analytical thinking, I often felt like I was navigating a new world with its own language and conventions.”
“That’s where ACM-W came in,” she continues. “Discovering this community was a revelation. It provided not only invaluable networking opportunities, connecting me with experienced professionals and fellow students, but also a source of inspiration. Seeing other women, especially those from diverse backgrounds, thriving in tech was incredibly empowering. ACM-W offered workshops that helped bridge the gap between my humanities background and the technical skills needed for HCI. It was a supportive and welcoming environment where I felt I belonged.”
This experience prompted Dr. Antigoni to launch two major projects; one is described earlier, in the Chapter History section. First up is the WomenPower initiative, focused on empowering young women with support and self-improvement guidance. Secondly, her innovative Festem project uses new teaching methods to help university students create impactful, shareable exhibits using traditional and digital media, encouraging more women to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Now, as vice-chair of ACM-W Cyprus, Dr. Antigoni is dedicated to making that same transformative experience available to others: “Whether you’re a seasoned tech professional or just beginning to explore your interest in computing, we invite you to join us. Together, we can break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and build a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the exciting world of technology.” This inspiring quote sets the stage for the following section, which is rooted in Dr. Antigoni’s transformative experience and focuses on ACM-W Cyprus’ goals related to education and career pathways.
Education and Career Pathways
The chapter has identified unique patterns in the educational pipeline. In our conversation, Dr. Andriani emphasized an important point—although many girls express interest in computing in high school, this interest wanes considerably in university. “It’s statistically shown that there are a lot of girls interested in computing in their high schools, but then they never actually join any computing degree,” Dr. Josephina explained. ACM-W Cyprus’ focus on early intervention and continuous support stems from this realization.
The Chapter’s approach to these challenges is multifaceted. “We need to educate not just students, but teachers and schools as well,” Dr. Andriani emphasized. She explained their efforts to shift perspectives at every level, pointing out that even graduate program applicants often have parents attending open days. “When parents come, they still ask: is computing a good choice for my daughter?” This reality has shaped the ACM-W Cyprus’ approach to family engagement and support.
Moreover, a fascinating trend has emerged in their community: “There are actually a lot of women in computing now,” Dr. Josephina noted, “but they either are entering the technology field from other fields, or they encounter resistance in professional settings that leads to career changes.” This realization has impacted ACM-W Cyprus’ support systems, especially in assisting women through career changes and work-related challenges.
Dr. Josephina reflected on the cultural evolution she’s witnessed: “When I was much younger, we had some resistance. But now we don’t have this reaction anymore. While it’s still not a very popular career choice, it’s no longer frowned upon.” While progress has been significant with the shift in attitudes, more work is still needed.
ACM-W Cyprus’ Code Cyprus competition, planned for March 2025, shows their commitment to early student engagement. Celebrating its tenth year, the competition offers both technical challenges and mentorship. February’s Science Days will expand educational outreach with hands-on activities that inspire students to pursue computing careers. The next section will cover our call to action, contact information for ACM-W Cyprus leadership (including biographies), and an infographic showcasing their accomplishments.
Call to Action
This chapter and ACM-W specifically urge individuals facing silent struggles to seek support —you do not have to face these challenges by yourself. Achieving this is possible through:
- Connecting with chapter leaders to join the activities they are organizing.
- Building your own ACM-W Professional Chapter; Ace is available to support you in the process.
- Sharing with us your own stories and experiences.
- Finding ways to collaborate with ACM-W, for example, through our Professional Chapters Committee (where Ace is involved).
Everyone can be a source of encouragement and agent of change in their computing community!
To conclude the tour, please accept this souvenir: an infographic summarizing the tour, along with contact information and biographies for the Cyprus Chapter leaders, the ACM-W Cyprus social media page, and contact information for myself, including the ACM-W Chapters Buddy Program.
ACM-W Cyprus Social Media Page
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acmwcyprus
Meet Our Distinguished Leaders
Dr. Josephina Antoniou, Chair: is an Associate Professor in Computing, at UCLan Cyprus. She is an ACM Senior Member, the Chair of the ACM-W Cyprus, and she serves as an evaluator for the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee. She also served as the research lead for the UCLan Cyprus School of Sciences at the university’s Research and Innovation Committee and as the Chair of the Ethics & Integrity subcommittee of the Research & Innovation Committee. She is an expert in the quality of experience in communication systems and responsible emerging technologies; specifically, her research interests span the areas of Communication Networks, Quality of User Experience, and AI Ethics and Responsible Innovation in emerging and socially dominated technologies. She is the author of 4 books, as well as numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and leads various related research projects and tasks.
Email: jantoniou@uclan.ac.uk Academic Portfolio: https://www.uclancyprus.ac.cy/academic/dr-josephina-antoniou/
Dr. Antigoni Parmaxi, Vice-Chair: is the Coordinator of the Learning Development Network (LDN) of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). She is also a Tenured Teaching Personnel at CUT, co-director of the Cyprus Interaction Lab of the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, and senior researcher at CYENS (EDmedia and HCI group). She is an ACM Senior Member, co-founder and vice-chair of the ACM-W Cyprus,Dr. Parmaxi has an h-index of 16, has co-authored more than 50 research publications, and has participated in more than 15 research projects (> 2 M). Her research work is situated at the intersection of digital media, language learning, and social change
Email: antigoni.parmaxi@gmail.com Portfolio: https://antigoniparmaxi.weebly.com/
Dr. Andriani Piki, Treasurer
is an Assistant Professor in Computing, the Course Leader of BSc Computing, Chair of the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Committee, and member of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion committee at UCLan Cyprus. She holds a PhD in Educational Technology, an MSc in Business Information Systems from Royal Holloway University of London, and a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from the University of Cyprus. She is an expert in Educational Technology, Learner Experience Design, and Human-Computer Interaction. She is a lead researcher in EU-funded projects and her research focuses on game-based learning, education for sustainable development, raising cybersecurity awareness, and the application of social technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. She is a member of Cyprus Computer Society (CCS), coordinating member of CCS-Women, professional ACM member, and elected Treasurer for the Cyprus ACM-W Chapter.
Email: apiki@uclan.ac.uk Portfolio: https://www.uclancyprus.ac.cy/academic/dr-andriani-piki/
Dora Konstantinou (PhD Candidate), Member: is a dedicated Computer Scientist with over 13 years of experience in higher education, specializing in integrating Digital Making into formal Computing curricula. She holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science, an MSc in Educational Leadership and Management, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Cyprus University of Technology at the department of Media and Graphic Arts and CIL – Cyprus Interaction Lab, focusing on advancing Digital Making in Higher Education. She is a certified Cisco trainer, delivers hands-on courses that bridge academic learning with industry-standard technologies. She is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and ACM-W, contributing to local events and activities. Her technical expertise spans Cisco and Microsoft technologies, programming, and IoT, complemented by communication, and research skills.
Email: doraconstantinou.cec@gmail.com Portfolio: https://www.cut.ac.cy/faculties/aac/mga/degrees/doctoral.studies/doctoral-students/dok.konstantinou/
Contact Information for Ace and ACM-W Chapters Buddy Program
- Ace (asegulhulus@outlook.com)
- Ace’s LinkedIn: (www.linkedin.com/in/asegulhulus)
- ACM-W Chapters Buddy Program (https://women.acm.org/chapters/buddy-chapters/)
See you on our next Professional Chapter tour! This is Ace, your friendly guide, signing off.