As Director of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Studies Program (IPSP) entitled “Educational Sciences through Innovative Technologies and Biomedical Approaches” at the University of West Attica, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the IPSP and its online spaces.
This IPSP resulted from the fruitful collaboration between the Departments of “Biomedical Sciences” and “Early Childhood Education and Care” of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Administrative, Economic, and Social Sciences, respectively, of our Institution. Characterized by interdisciplinarity and a holistic approach to Pedagogy, while also leveraging New Technologies and approaches from the field of Biomedical Sciences (covering issues such as Neurobiology, Genetics, etc.), it stands as a groundbreaking initiative among domestic postgraduate programs. It was established to meet the needs of a large cohort of graduates, not only from our Departments but from our entire Institution, who wish to pursue a career in education, regardless of the orientation, knowledge, skills, and specializations acquired during their first cycle of studies (undergraduate studies) at the Institution.
The IPSP is also generally aimed at education professionals in both the public and private sectors, as well as any graduate, whether employed or not, who wishes to engage in education, early childhood care and education, and Special Needs Education. The objective in all cases is to enhance professional qualifications by acquiring new knowledge in Pedagogical Science through an approach based on innovative theories, technologies, and Biomedical Approaches. The provision of three specializations, the option to choose elective courses, the internship, and the completion of a master’s thesis in the final semester enhance specialization and significantly increase the competitiveness and professional expertise of our graduates. The curriculum was structured in the same vein, aiming to provide Pedagogical Competence, which was granted by Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ) 3784/vol.B’/14-10-2019. The IPSP also provides its graduates with computer proficiency recognized by ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection). The teaching staff of the IPSP, in addition to faculty members (ΔΕΠ) from the three Departments and the Institution at large, includes faculty members from other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Researchers, Education Directors, and School Advisors with relevant qualifications, all of whom are acclaimed scientists in their respective cognitive fields and excellent instructors and educators.
The postgraduate students of our Program benefit from all the provisions and facilities offered by the Institution to our undergraduate students for their education. Specifically, the University of West Attica provides all necessary support infrastructure for the seamless service of students, such as electronic processing of administrative requests, a public Wi-Fi network, a library, a fully equipped medical clinic, a gym, restaurants and canteens, parking areas, a conference center, social counseling and welfare services, employment and career services, innovation and entrepreneurship units, a liaison office, as well as internship and lifelong learning structures. The existing material and technical infrastructure of the University of West Attica covers the operational needs of the IPSP (including building facilities, laboratories, amphitheaters, laboratory and specialized equipment, internet access, and software with asynchronous distance learning capabilities).
Additionally, studies in the Inclusive Education specialization of the IPSP have established relevance to the field of Special Needs Education (S.N.E.), as certified by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs (Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ) 1812/vol.B’/29-04-2021).
Finally, the IPSP is integrated into continuous evaluation processes based on the plan developed by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) and the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit (QAU – ΜΟΔΙΠ). This evaluation includes indicators that highlight the competitiveness of the IPSP, regarding its preference by prospective students and its image in the labor market.
Thank you for your interest,
Efstathia Papageorgiou
MSc Course Director
Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
University of West Attica