Expertise
The Square Dot team specialises in the policy fields of social inclusion, migration, VET and skills development. We develop research and provide policy advice with the view to enrich public policy with tailor-made, innovative and socially responsible solutions in the areas of:
Meet the team
Dr. Elissavet Lykogianni
Founding Partner & Managing Director
Elissavet has extensive expertise in the policy domains of Research & Innovation, Digital market and Employment, Skills, Migration, Education and Social affairs. With her research background (PhD in Applied Economics), she has led numerous projects involving large, multi-disciplinary and international research teams of Universities and Research institutes and possesses a very strong network of researchers in the academic sector in Europe.
During the past 15 years she has built considerable expertise in the coordination of policy-related studies and the management of international consortia for a variety of (framework) contracts for DG Research, DG Education, DG Competition, Cedefop, DG Connect, among other, such as the EC Multiple Framework Service Contract for Expert Support with the Production and Analysis of R&D Policy Indicators, Horizon projects and Grants in the areas of Migration and Inclusion, as well as studies in the areas of Employment, Education and Skills, Cultural Heritage, Digital policies, R&D and Innovation policies.
Elissavet speaks fluently English, Dutch and Greek and understand French at intermediate level.
Anna Riga
Project Manager
Anna Riga is an experienced special education teacher with a decade of dedication to empowering students with diverse learning needs. Her expertise in developing inclusive educational strategies has made a significant impact on the lives of many young learners. She holds her Batchelor degree in Linguistics from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and her Master degree in ICTs in Special Education from Dimocritus University of Thrace and the scientific research centre Demokritus. She has attended psychological and educational trainings. Anna speaks Greek as a mother language, English, German and understands French. Driven by a passion for creating equitable learning environments, she recently transitioned into a project management role within the European Union’s educational programs. In her new position, she is leveraging her in-depth knowledge of education and her strong organizational skills to oversee initiatives that promote inclusive education across Europe. Anna is committed to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities, has access to quality education tailored to their unique needs.
Vera Gospodini
Assistant Project Manager
Vera is a passionate Greek teacher with a strong commitment to fostering social inclusion, empowering young people, and promoting intercultural education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Education from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and successfully completed a seminar in Teaching Greek as a Second/ Foreign Language. From an early age, she has actively participated in numerous educational and community development initiatives both voluntarily and professionally, where she organized creative workshops, coordinated events and managed volunteer teams. Vera explored various fields within youth work, environmental education, photography and teaching, which have enriched her ability to adapt to different roles and discover her passion. Driven by her dedication to social impact, she aims to connect her educational background with youth work and project coordination to foster initiatives that promote social integration, international development and sustainability.
Fanis Pantelogiannis
Policy expert
Fanis has extensive experience in the fields of Learning & Development, Regional & local policies, Participation in democratic life, common values & civic engagement, ICT and Digital Transformation, and Inclusion (focusing mainly on access to the labour market, and overcoming geographical barriers).
He has more than 20 years of experience in the delivery/management of EU projects and large EU Framework Contracts in the above fields, as well as in the development of successful proposals and tenders for EU Institutions and International Organisations. Fanis also has a long experience in the building and management of successful cross-national teams and in the development/delivery of trainings on EU policies and procurement processes. He enjoys harvesting global expertise and converting it to services for the EU Institutions and for the citizens of the EU.
Fanis holds a Master in Political Sciences from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and a Master of Advanced European and International Studies from CIFE in Nice. He speaks fluently Greek, English and French and understands German, Romanian, Russian and Italian
Carolina Egusquiza
Project Manager
Her academic background is in Educational Sciences, Language and Intercultural Communication, and Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship.She has 15 years of international experience in Higher Education and Research in Peru, the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands. Working with an interdisciplinary team, she has designed a learning track with a focus on Skills Development Training and Career Guidance for university students of the Rotterdam Business School in the Netherlands. The aim has been to equip students with the right competences and attitudes to adapt to international career contexts in our ever-changing labor force and to boost employability in complex and uncertain times. Carolina continues to have a coordinating role and teaches a variety of skills courses at higher education level in combination with her role at the Square Dot team. Finally, she has co-founded social projects in Peru and Belgium to promote female empowerment and the use of sustainable, innovative materials in the textile and clothing industry. She truly believes in the power of education to change societies. She speaks English, Dutch and Spanish fluently as well as French at beginner’s level.
Galia Galán
Trainee
Galia Galán is a passionate psychologist with a deep commitment to international impact clues and migration, health, and psychological well-being. After earning her Psychology degree from the University of Seville, she continued to expand her knowledge through a Master’s in International Migration. With a strong sense of empathy and a drive to make a difference, she has been actively involved in student representation, conflict resolution, and different research fields in psychology.
Her international background, including time at the University of Bergen in Norway, has given her a broader perspective on cultural and educational contexts. Through various traineeship periods, she has also gained valuable hands-on experience in psychotherapy. Dedicated to lifelong learning, she has attended numerous psychology-related conferences and training programs, focusing on migrant well-being, health psychology, and management of international cooperation projects.
Fluent in Spanish and English and with a working knowledge of French, Galia thrives in diverse environments and is eager to contribute to initiatives that promote mental health and social inclusion. She has recently transitioned to a traineeship at The Square Dot Team in Belgium, where she will work helping with international cooperation on EU-funded projects. With a strong analytical mind and a people-centered approach, she is committed to creating meaningful change in communities around the world.
Work with us
Research analyst The Square Dot team, Leuven
- Educational policies including school education and higher-education programs
- Skills and access to the labour market
- Vocational Education Training (VET) and career counselling policies
- Entrepreneurship and SME support
- Migrant integration and inclusion
- Awareness raising for the environment and climate change
We work in an international environment with a wide range of EU and non-EU partners based in Europe with whom we cooperate in Research and Policy projects. Our team members, therefore, are part of a wide and inspiring network of EU policy advice organizations working for EU-funded research. Our work includes desk research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, reporting, organization of live and online events for project promotion, dissemination activities of project events, coordination and administration of project results and tasks.
Main responsibilities:
- Implementation of several projects co-funded by the European Commission in the areas of education, skills and the labour market, migrant integration, environment and climate change, awareness raising and dissemination activities
- Project planning and budget administration
- Preparation of project reporting
- Coordination with project partners and preparation of project deliverables
- Preparation of meetings and awareness raising events
- Preparation of content material for projects’ social media
Profile:
- University studies in the fields of Economics, Social Sciences, Education Studies, Communication Studies
- 1-2 year experience in management and implementation of European projects - experience with Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ projects will be considered as an additional asset
- Experience in research reporting and data collection
- Capacity to work in a multicultural context with partners and beneficiaries from several Member States;
- Essential IT skills and familiarity with Microsoft office
- Familiarity with social media platforms in a professional environment and website software
Personal qualities:
- Excellent analytical, communication and presentation skills
- Very good organizational skills: ability to plan and prioritise tasks
- Excellent command of English and Dutch or French (written and spoken)
- Willingness to travel in Europe, where required.
We offer:
- A stimulating multicultural European environment with excellent working conditions
- Full-time contracts
- A small dynamic, international team.