Dr. Effrosyni Kostara is a Researcher and Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work of the University of Patras, and Head of Educational Programmes at the Museum of Education of the same Department.

She holds a BA in Greek Philology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, an MA in Ancient Greek Theatre from the Department of Theatre Studies, University of Patras, and a PhD in Modern Greek Philology and Theatre Studies, awarded with a biennial scholarship from the MELINA MERKOURI Foundation.

She has also conducted postdoctoral research in the field of Creative Writing entitled “Investigating the Contribution and Pedagogical Effectiveness of Creative Writing in the Production and Analysis of Jewish Women’s Life Narratives”, within the framework of the European research project IMAGINE – From Memory to Action: Stories of Jewish Women (Grant Agreement No. 101196755, University of Patras Research Committee), funded by the European Commission through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme. She is currently extending this line of research through the European project “Mapping Jewish Memory” (Grant Agreement No. 101298313, University of Patras Research Committee), funded by the European Commission, with a research entitled “Creative Writing and Storytelling as a Methodology for Memory Mapping: Microhistory and Digital Narrative Practices in the Public History of the Holocaust.”

She specializes in Teaching Methodology and Museum Pedagogy, with a particular focus on Creative Writing and Storytelling in education and museum pedagogical programs, which constitute her primary research interests. She has also been certified from the Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) and worked in Counseling and Vocational Orientation of students.

Dr. Kostara is a certified Adult Educator and she has been included in the Main Teaching Staff Register of: i) the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) of the Greek Ministry of Education, ii) the National Center for Public Administration and Self-Government (EKDDA), iii) the Lifelong Learning Center (KEDIVIM) of the Hellenic Open University (EAP) and iv) the Lifelong Learning Center (KEDIVIM) of the University of Thessaly. She has extensive experience as a trainer in various teacher training programs, having accumulated hundreds of teaching hours in programs organized by the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) and other educational institutions and Universities.

Her teaching experience spans from 1994 in Secondary Education, where she taught language courses in Middle and High Schools, as well as in a Second Chance School (Language Literacy). In Higher Education, she has taught courses including Teaching Methodology, Laboratory Courses in Practical Teaching Exercises, Language Teaching, History Teaching, Museum Pedagogy, Creative Writing, and Storytelling – Project Method & Intersectionality. She has taught at the Department of Educational Sciences, at the Department of Theater Studies of the University of Patras, in seminars at the “Laboratory of Modern Greek and Comparative Philology” of the Department of Philology of the University of Patras and for postgraduate students at the Open University of Cyprus. Additionally, she served for three years as Supervisor of Teaching Practices at the Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE).

Dr. Kostara also has extensive experience in the field of school administration. From 2014 to 2016, she served as Head Director of the Patras Second Chance School and was appointed by the Ministry of Education as Head Coordinator for the “Greek Language for foreigners Certification Exams” in Achaia. From 2016 to 2020 she was Head of Cultural Affairs in the Secondary Education Directorate of Achaia, organizing and coordinating 24 “school networks” in Achaia. During this time, she coordinated numerous cultural events, student festivals, and educational activities in collaboration with the University of Patras, the Achaia’s Antiquities Ephorate, the Cultural Organization of the City of Patras (Patras International Festival) and other institutions. From 2020 to 2023, she served as Coordinator/Counselor of Philologists at the Regional Center for Educational Planning of Western Greece.

She has participated in many Research – Scientific Programs, including Erasmus Teacher Academies (SPICE), Erasmus+ e-Prep, ERASMUS+ KA3 CHOICE, Erasmus KA2 -Adult Education- EDGE, European Project LIAISON, European Program Leonardo da Vinci: “Pratique de l’ orientation” in France, HBSC/WHO panhellenic scientific research on adolescent student health conducted by the University Research Institute of Mental Health (EPIPSY), European Program ΙΜΑGINΕ, MJM etc. She has also contributed to a research program on the electronic documentation of the Ancient Theater under the direction of the Professor G. Sifakis (Universities of Thessaloniki and New York) and has participated in educational activities within the European Network ALDA- European Association for Local Democracy, the International Network InterCultutral Cities-ICC of the Council of Europe and the Transnational European project “URBACT III/ ARRIVAL CITIES”.

Regarding her scholarly work, Dr. Kostara has published numerous studies and articles in Greek and international peer-reviewed journals, as well as in the proceedings of national and international scientific conferences. She is the author of the book Educational Teaching Scenarios Using ICT: Proposals for the Teaching of Philological Subjects. She has also presented her research at scientific conferences, symposia, and academic workshops. In addition, she has authored educational material for the Skills Workshops initiative of the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) and has served as a member of the authoring team for the new Language and Literature textbooks for Lower and Upper Secondary Education, approved by the Greek Ministry of Education and introduced into Greek schools in April 2026.

Her research interests focus on Teaching Methodology, Creative Writing, and Museum Pedagogy. More specifically, her work explores the teaching of Language, Literature, and History, the educational applications of multiliteracies, Creative Writing, and digital technologies in language education, as well as the integration of Creative Writing into museum education and educational museum programmes.

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0009-0008-1083-7820