Electrical and Computer Engineering

1. Departmental Mission and Research Culture

The Hellenic Mediterranean University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers an innovative, high-quality educational experience, while also developing new knowledge through intensive research and technological innovation in areas of electrical and computer science. As such, the Department's focus includes all the primary disciplines that make up the fields of electrical and computing sciences (energy systems, electronics, automatic control, telecommunications, computer engineering, and information technologies), which are the fundamental disciplines for addressing modern-day engineering issues in a multidisciplinary manner. Doctoral studies and research within the Department are key components to the success of its overall mission, serving as a basis for sustaining innovation, contributing to scholarship, and creating a positive impact on professionals nationally and internationally.
In accordance with international quality assurance standards and national regulatory requirements, the Doctoral Studies program aims to create individuals capable of generating novel ideas, demonstrating scientific integrity, exhibiting leadership, and producing original research that will contribute positively to advancing the current state of the art in electrical and computer engineering.

2. Doctoral Programme Structure and Progression

The PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering is designed to cultivate original scientific research expertise culminating in the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. The minimum duration of full-time doctoral study is three (3) years, with part-time options extending up to five or six years depending on individual progress and research needs.

The structure of the Doctoral programme is research based. After admission, candidates work closely with a supervisory committee, typically consisting of faculty members with aligned research interests. Initial phases of doctoral study include research proposal development, literature synthesis, and the formulation of a robust research plan. Subsequent phases involve experimental work, analytical modelling, simulation studies, prototype development, data analysis, and dissemination of findings through scholarly outputs. Candidates are assessed on their ability to conduct independent research, lead scholarly inquiry, and engage constructively with research communities. The primary deliverable is a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates a substantive and original scholarly contribution to knowledge in electrical and computer engineering. The dissertation must be defended publicly before an expert examination committee, verifying both the depth of the research and the candidate’s mastery of the field.

3. Academic Domains and Research Focus Areas

Doctoral research in ECE at HMU is organized around several core and interdisciplinary research domains that reflect both institutional strengths and global technological priorities. Each domain integrates theoretical foundations, experimental investigation, and practical application:

Energy Systems and Sustainable Technologies

Research in this domain addresses challenges related to energy generation, conversion, storage, distribution, and management. Topics include smart grids, renewable integration, power electronics, energy optimization, control of distributed energy resources, and resilient infrastructure. Doctoral candidates investigate new modelling paradigms, advanced control strategies, and system-level optimization frameworks with impacts in sustainable energy transitions.

Intelligent and Autonomous Systems

This domain spans robotics, control systems, automation, and intelligent decision-making frameworks. Doctoral projects explore topics such as hierarchical control architectures, learning-based automation, intelligent robotic platforms, sensor fusion, and human-machine interaction. Research contributes to fields where autonomy and adaptability are central to system performance and safety in complex environments.

Telecommunications, Networks & Connectivity

Candidate work in this domain focuses on advanced communications systems, wireless networking, signal processing for communications, distributed systems, and network security. Research spans both physical layer innovations and protocol-level strategies, with emphasis on multimedia communications, next-generation networks, IoT platforms, and integrated communication frameworks.

Computing Systems, Algorithms & Data Science

This domain encompasses computing architectures, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. Doctoral investigations address challenges in efficient computation, algorithm design, AI-enabled engineering systems, real-time data processing, and computational optimisation. Research outcomes aim to enhance the performance, robustness, and scalability of computing systems applied to engineering problems.

Electronic Materials, Photonics & Microsystems

Here, doctoral research explores materials science, photonics, applied electronics, and micro/nano-systems with applications spanning sensing, energy, communications, and biomedical technologies. This domain supports interdisciplinary inquiry, linking physical phenomena with engineering solutions at micro and nano scales.

Candidates typically work within one primary research domain while maintaining interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging expertise across faculty groups and laboratories.

4. Research Integration, Facilities & Professional Engagement

The Department's research support environment is critical to the training of doctorates. Doctorate students have the opportunity to use high-tech laboratories and equipment (including experimental facilities, measuring systems, simulation models, prototyping tools) for experimental research in areas such as energy systems, hardware-software co-design, communication technology, intelligent robotics and photonics.
Doctorate students are actively encouraged and supported to disseminate their research at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed publications, engage in partnerships with industry and/or membership of research consortia. The external engagement of doctorate students enables them to develop professional relationships beyond the academic community and increase their profile nationally and internationally.
The Department's research reputation is demonstrated by its continued participation in competitive national and European research programs and by the existence of multiple funding initiatives. In addition, the Department has integrated research into professional development opportunities provided for its Doctorate students through a number of mechanisms, including; seminars, research colloquia, workshops, etc.

5. Graduate Outcomes and Professional Preparation

The graduates of the PhD programme in Electrical and Computer Engineering are prepared to:

• Conduct scholarly research that advances technical knowledge and solves complex engineering problems.

• Design and implement experimental and computational research methodologies.

• Communicate scientific concepts clearly to academic, technical, and policy audiences.

• Collaborate in multidisciplinary research teams and lead research initiatives.

• Recognize professional ethics, societal responsibilities, and sustainability imperatives in research and innovation.

• Pursue lifelong learning to adapt to emerging technologies and domain evolution.