Yannis didactic philosophy is best summarised as being research-driven and evidence-based and packaged in a great deal of enthusiasm. He favours an interactive teaching style, allowing students to be active participants in their learning. In terms of supervision, his approach is based on teamwork, cutting edge technology with particular emphasis on research impact where each team member feels empowered that their individual contribution is essential towards a common goal. His supervisory approach is “hands on”, thus allowing him to get to know each student well so that he can assist in their holistic development in a manner that can best be summarised as “bringing up children with different interests but having only three years at best to do it”. This approach has served Yannis well in the past as reflected by numerous student awards (e.g. best presentation at Young Physiologists Symposium, Coventry, September, 2003; Young Investigator Award, 14th European Congress on Obesity, Athens, June, 2005; 2013 Bar-Or International Scholar Award of the American College of Sports Medicine; 2013 Charles M. Tipton National Student Research Award of the American College of Sports Medicine; Prof Tom Reilly Doctoral Dissertation of the Year Award 2014; 2016 Aspetar Young Investigator Award at the World Congress of Sports Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia; First Prize, Brighton Festival of Postgraduate Research 2019; 2021 Aspetar Young Investigator Award at the World Congress of Sports Medicine, Athens, Greece) and the success of his students (e.g., numerous academic positions including Professors at institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge and a Director General of a European Olympic Committee).
Yannis has taught numerous sport and exercise science modules at all levels. In the last decade, he has taught mainly at the final year undergraduate degree and at postgraduate Masters level (i.e., lectures, tutorials and practical/laboratory experience). Lecture topics/modules have included research methods, philosophy of science, ethics, statistics, structure and function, genetics, physiology/exercise physiology, biochemistry of exercise, sports nutrition, technology, anti-doping, training, extreme environments (i.e., hot, cold, altitude), gender and sport, and factors affecting sports performance.
In terms of indicators of esteem relating to his teaching, students have sought Yannis out as their mentor and supervisor from as far afield as Italy, Greece, Jamaica, China, South Korea, Japan, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and the USA. Many of his past students are from all continents and especially Africa where students have secured leading positions at local universities (e.g., Kenyatta University, Kenya; Moi University Medical School, Kenya; Medical Physiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia). Yannis has in the past taught/supervised a number of 3rd and 4th year medical students (e.g., Elective and Intercalated Degree students). In addition to teaching both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, Yannis is often invited to teach at different institutions around the world. Three long term external teaching commitments are:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Certificate in Drugs in Sport (www.sportsoracle.com/Drugs+In+Sport/Faculty/). This IOC professional certificate course trains and equips healthcare professionals and those working in anti-doping to advise and support athletes to make the best choices regarding effective clinical drug options, while ensuring compliance with the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code, sports federations, and national anti-doping agencies. Since 2018.
- Master’s Degree in Sports Training & Nutrition (https://universidadeuropea.es/en/real-madrid/news/the-master-degree-in-training-and-sports-nutrition-an-unique-opportunity). A 1-yr postgraduate programme, coordinated by the European University of Madrid, Spain. Since 2018.
- European Masters in Health and Physical Activity (europeanmasterhpa.eu). This is a 2-yr postgraduate program (120 ECTS) coordinated by the University of Rome “Foro Italico” since 2002.
- A 1-yr postgraduate programme in Clinical and Sports Nutrition at Bournemouth University since 2015.
