he Department of Physiotherapy, of the School of Rehabilitation Health Sciences at the University of Patras, was established under Law 4610/2019 (Government Gazette 4610/07-08-2019/Issue A’) following the abolition of the Department of Physiotherapy of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Western Greece. It is the fourth of the five corresponding departments of higher public tertiary education in Greece offering a four-year undergraduate program in Physiotherapy. Taking into account the strong academic potential of the Department’s teaching staff, its operation within the university academic environment is expected to contribute to the enhancement of its educational and research activities. As an independent Department, it will be able to organize all cycles of study, while its coexistence within the same academic ecosystem alongside other Departments and scientists of the University will promote development, extroversion, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The mission of the Department is the, development, promotion and dissemination of knowledge in the science of Physiotherapy through appropriate theoretical instruction, extensive laboratory and clinical practice, and applied research, in order to provide students and graduates with the necessary qualifications that ensure their comprehensive education for their scientific and professional career and advancement as Physiotherapists.
Within the framework of its mission, the Department of Physiotherapy:
- Monitors international developments in the scientific, educational, and professional fields
- Develops collaborations with higher education institutions in Greece and abroad
- Conducts applied research in the field of Physiotherapy
- Collaborates with production units, professional bodies, and other organizations related to its field of expertise
- Uses modern technologies in education
- Develops students’ competencies and skills, enabling them to become capable and competitive at both national and international levels
- Monitors developments and changes (educational, economic, and social) related to the discipline in both national and international contexts
- Remains constantly prepared to accept, analyze, and incorporate new perspectives, always aiming to ensure and improve the quality of studies within the Department
The vision of the Department includes five interdependent aspects:
- Providing high-level education in all fields of Physiotherapy, aligned with contemporary international developments and trends in the science
- Providing and implementing high-level laboratory and clinical research in the scientific fields in which the Department is active
- Providing high-quality student-centred services
- Offering second-cycle (postgraduate level) and third-cycle (doctoral level) studies in Physiotherapy
- Establishing connections and collaborations between the Department and institutions of the local community
