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The University of Thessaly was founded in 1984 and has elected the first Rectorate Board in 1998. Its administrative and academic centre is in the city of Volos.In order to serve the needs of the region of Thessaly, its first Departments were based on agricultural, educational and technological sciences. In its initial phase of organization and operation there have been eight Departments, seven of them in Volos and one, the School of Medicine, in Larissa. Since 1984 and onwards the University of Thessaly has been gradually growing with new Departments in the four biggest cities of the region of Thessaly, Volos, Larissa, Trikala and Karditsa. Its present academic structure consists of sixteen (16) Departments, four (4) Faculties and they were all founded by the end of 2000-01.The main mission of the University of Thessaly is the promotion of scientific knowledge through research and the contribution to the cultural and economic development of the local community and wider society. It is known for its excellent research performance and outstanding scientific achievements, in accordance with the international standards. The excellent equipped Laboratories of the different Departments and Research Units have a number of well trained researchers to support them. The members of the academic and research staff participate in European research networks and numerous innovative research projects in the EC.Emphasis is also given on the bond between the University of Thessaly and the local society. This bond is further supported by the operation of the University Hospital of Larissa which covers the medical needs of the whole region of Thessaly. The University brings also students in contact with the labour market through its Career Office, and it encourages a great deal of social activities and public lectures on various issues held by qualified academic staff. Since May 2009 there has also been a significant cooperation between the University and the National Radio of Volos for the organization of radio broadcasts, which have a main impact in the local and wider society.Student life in the University of Thessaly is also rather intense. The students have established well-organised associations which are highly active in the fields of sports and culture.Today the University of Thessaly has 45.662 undergraduate students, 4.922 postgraduate students and 1.736 PhD students. It also has 1.107 members of teaching and research staff, 237 members of teaching staff with a temporary teaching contract, 418 members of administrative staff and 57 members of Special Technical Laboratory Staff. It is a University with its own identity and with a prominent position in our national educational system, known for its quality in teaching, research, human resources, spirit of cooperation at all levels and a dynamic presence in the society.
The Department's undergraduate program has recently been certified by the Hellenic Authority of Higher Education, receiving the highest rating. The Department's curriculum is constantly renewed and improved in order to respond adequately to the national ones and international trends that want graduates with better quality education and an emphasis on achieving specific learning outcomes
The Department has four laboratories which produce 90% of published scientific papers and hosts almost 100% of Ph.D Students.
The Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS) was founded in 1994 in Trikala and is part of the School of Physical Education, Sport, and Dietetics (SEFAAD) since 2019. The staff of the Department, guided by their shared vision, aim at continuously enhancing the quality of education and the promotion of knowledge through research and innovation, and are committed to the goal of developing the Department into a national and international center of excellence in sports, exercise, health and quality of life.In addition to the undergraduate programme of Physical Education and Sport Science, the Department offers a wide variety of independent and collaborative postgraduate programs.
In particular, the Department offers the following Master's programmes: "Exercise and Health: Evaluation and Prescribing", "Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Physical Education", "Applied Kinesiology in the Armed Forces", "Ergonomics - Occupational Physiology and Health - Quality of Life"; in addition, it offers the following collaborative Master's programmes: "Exercise, Ergospirometry, and Rehabilitation" in collaboration with the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, "Lifestyle Medicine" in collaboration with the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics of the University of Thessaly, and "European Master in Sports and Exercise Psychology" in collaboration with the University of Leipzig, Germany, D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy, and University of Orleans, France.
"To transform the lives of those who engage us through knowledge, education, research and innovation and to be nationally and internationally recognized as the Greek agent for excellence in exercise science, sport, health, and quality of life. Our goal is to continually find the common good between society and our students and to do our best to maximize that good"
Despite its small size of 26 faculty members, the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science is ranked among the best 100-150 internationally in the Shanghai list of Sport Science departments. The Sport and exercise psychology lab is considered one of the best in Europe. As a reference, the University of Thessaly has also advanced itself in the recent past. It now ranks in the top 800 Universities internationally, according to World University Rankings, one of the best-known university ranking lists in the world.
A short video about everyday life at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science...
Video by Costas Tannas
