Dr. Pitsikalis is a Lecturer at the Department of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design of the University of the Aegean, Greece, where he teaches and conducts research on educational innovation, artificial intelligence, extended reality (XR), instructional design, and lifelong learning. Alongside his academic work, he has extensive experience in educational policy, curriculum development, and skills governance. Before joining the University of the Aegean, he served in key positions within the Greek Ministry of Education and the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), contributing to national initiatives related to vocational education and training, lifelong learning, apprenticeships, digital transformation, and quality assurance in education. These experiences provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of educational research, policy, and practice.

As a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Illinois, he will investigate how Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality (AI-XR) can be integrated to support adaptive, immersive, and inclusive learning experiences in higher education, vocational education, and adult learning. His goal is to develop evidence-based educational frameworks that connect technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness and workforce readiness. Through this opportunity, he looks forward to collaborating with leading scholars, exchanging international perspectives on educational innovation and policy, and strengthening long-term partnerships between Greece and the United States.