The web portal Study in Greece is campaigning for the promotion and international visibility of Greek Universities and the comparative educational advantages of our country. In particular, the campaign focuses on the foreign language study programs that Greek Universities offer to Greek and international students. The initiative is supported by the General Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this context, a number of educational programs and actions are presented in detail on a regular basis, such as undergraduate and postgraduate programs, summer schools etc, to inform international students about the many foreign language options offered by Greek Universities.

Konstantinos Alexandris is a Professor and Dean of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also serves as Director of the newly established Bachelor's program, “Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance,” which is designed for students interested in the scientific principles of human movement, athletic performance, and health. He leads several European Union and nationally funded research projects (including Erasmus+, Interreg, and Innovation programs), focusing on sport tourism, sustainability, and the promotion of active living.

Study in Greece interviewed Professor Konstantinos Alexandris on the Bachelor program “Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance,” its features and what it has to offer to international students.

Professor Alexandris, please provide us with a brief overview of the brand new Bachelor in “Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance”, its structure and main research areas.

The Bachelor in Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance is a newly established, fully English‑taught undergraduate program designed to offer an international, modern, and scientifically grounded education in the fields of sport, health, and human performance. Delivered jointly by the Schools of Physical Education and Sport Science of Thessaloniki and Serres at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the program spans 4 years (240 ECTS) and integrates academic study with hands‑on professional training.

Program Focus

Students follow a structured curriculum that blends:

• Scientific coursework in sport and exercise sciences
• Laboratory‑based training using state‑of‑the‑art facilities
• Applied practice and fieldwork in real‑world sport and health environments
• Research activities that develop analytical and critical thinking skills

This combination ensures graduates gain both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies relevant to contemporary professional settings.

Specialization Pathways

Students choose one of two focused pathways:

• Sport Performance Emphasizes coaching science, athletic performance optimization, training methodologies, and applied sport analysis.
• Exercise for Health and Rehabilitation Focuses on exercise prescription, health promotion, chronic disease prevention, and rehabilitation strategies.

Graduate Outcomes

The program prepares students for diverse careers in:

• Sport Sciences and Performance analysis
• Exercise, Fitness, and Wellness professions
• Health promotion and rehabilitation settings
• Sport development officers
• Research and postgraduate academic pathways

Graduates are equipped with the scientific knowledge, practical skills, and international perspective required to work in multidisciplinary environments across the global sport, health, and exercise sectors.

What would you say are the qualities that help your Bachelor’s program stand out, compared to others of its kind?

• A World‑Class University

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is one of the largest Europe’s leading universities, internationally recognized for excellence in education, research, and innovation. Its long academic tradition and global reputation provide students with a strong and respected academic foundation.

• A Top‑Tier School of Physical Education and Sport Science

The School of Physical Education and Sport Science is consistently ranked among the top institutions worldwide in sport science research, education, and professional training. The school has more than 3,000 undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students, taught and supported by over 100 faculty members who are actively engaged in international collaborations and cutting‑edge research. Several world‑leading researchers teach within the school. Numerous EU‑funded projects are coordinated by faculty, offering students opportunities for international exposure, networking, and hands‑on research experience.

• Strong Integration of Science, Practice, and International Orientation

The program uniquely blends academic knowledge with applied training and real‑world experience. It is designed specifically for international students and to be delivered in a multicultural academic environment. It emphasizes laboratory work, field practice, and evidence‑based approaches. This combination ensures graduates are prepared for global careers in sport, health, and human performance.

• Thessaloniki: A Student‑Friendly European City

Thessaloniki is known for being:

Affordable, compared to other major European cities

Multicultural and vibrant

Safe and welcoming for international students

Its lively student community and rich cultural life make it an ideal place to study and live.

• Greece: The Birthplace of Sport and the Olympic Ideals

Studying sport science in Greece adds a unique cultural and historical dimension. Students experience the origins of sport, physical culture, and the Olympic spirit — an inspiring backdrop for academic and professional development.

• Competitive Tuition and Cost of Living

The program offers excellent value with its competitive tuition fees. The cost of living in Thessaloniki is also significantly lower than many European university cities. This makes high‑quality international education more accessible.

What kind of facilities and labs does the program include and what are the practical applications for them?

Exceptional Facilities and State‑of‑the‑Art Laboratories

The school is located within a dedicated sport campus of more than 200 acres, offering one of the most comprehensive sport and exercise environments in the region. The campus includes:

• Two fully equipped indoor sport courts
• Four football pitches
• Multiple tennis courts
• A full track and field stadium
• Modern fitness and strength‑training facilities

These facilities support both academic learning and high‑level athletic development.

The School also hosts state‑of‑the‑art laboratories specializing in:

• Sport medicine
• Biomechanics
• Coaching science
• Motor learning and control
• Exercise physiology
• Sport psychology
• Sport and tourism management

These labs are used extensively for research, teaching, and professional consultation, giving students direct access to advanced scientific tools and real‑world applications.

What are the academic or professional prospects that students are expected to have upon graduation?

Career and Academic Prospects

Graduates of the BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance complete the program with a strong foundation in scientific knowledge and a comprehensive set of practical skills. This combination enables them to pursue a wide range of professional and academic pathways in the sport, health, and human performance sectors.

Professional Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for careers across multiple fields, including:

• Sport science and performance analysis
• Health and fitness industries
• Clinical exercise and rehabilitation settings
• Coaching and athletic development
• Sport management and administration

Indicative professional roles include:

• Sport scientist
• Clinical exercise specialist
• Coach or performance trainer
• Fitness instructor
• Health and wellness advisor
• Educator for individuals with disabilities
• Sport development officer
• Sport manager

Academic Pathways

The program also provides a strong platform for further study. Graduates are well‑prepared to pursue postgraduate degrees (MSc and PhD) in areas in sport related areas.

In what way does your program align with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s broader strategy for internationalization?

A Strong Commitment to Internationalisation

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki maintains an extensive global network, with more than 600 Erasmus partnerships and over 4.000 international students enrolled across its programs. As a university that actively promotes internationalisation, it fosters a vibrant, multicultural academic environment where students from diverse backgrounds learn and collaborate.

The BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences for Health and Performance is fully aligned with the University’s mission to expand international education. By offering high‑quality English‑taught undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the University strengthens its global presence and provides international students with accessible pathways to study in Greece.

If you could send a message to a student who is considering studying in your program, what would it that message be?

This program offers a unique opportunity to study sport and exercise sciences within a truly international, research‑driven, and multicultural environment. By choosing this degree, you will gain not only strong theoretical foundations and advanced practical skills, but also the experience of becoming part of a dynamic academic community in Greece — the birthplace of sport and the Olympic ideals.

You will be encouraged to challenge yourself, think critically, and engage with real‑world applications across sport performance, health, and rehabilitation. Throughout your studies, you will develop competencies that are highly valued in scientific, clinical, and professional environments around the world.

If you are passionate about sport, health, and human performance, this program offers a powerful foundation for a meaningful and globally relevant career. It provides not only knowledge and practical skills, but also the opportunity to grow within an international academic community shaped by the rich cultural heritage of Greece — the birthplace of sport and the Olympic ideals.

Applications are now open! For more, follow the link:

https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/1729/details/sport-and-exercise-sciences-for-health-and-performance.

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A cooperation protocol was signed between the University of Piraeus (UoP) and the Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas (CERTH) for the joint undertaking and implementation of projects in the fields of innovation, scientific research and its exploitation in the strategic sectors of energy and digital transition, shipping, transport and logistics and tourism.

More specifically, the Cooperation Protocol between the two institutions will be based -among other things- on the creation of research and innovation-based education programs adapted to the needs of the market, the exploration of opportunities to attract resources from Greece’s or EU’s funding mechanisms, the better use of the scientific staff and infrastructure of the two institutions, as well as the joint undertaking of initiatives for the development of research infrastructures in cutting-edge sectors.

The Protocol of Cooperation was signed by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis and the Chair of the Board of Directors of CERTH, Dr. Dimitrios Tzovaras, on September 8, 2024, within the framework of the Thessaloniki International Fair. Also present at the signing ceremony were the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the CERTH, Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris, Research Director, Dr. Vassilios Kappatos and Professor Maria Boile.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, University of Piraeus Rector, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, stated: "The University of Piraeus applies targeted strategies of outward orientation and networking with research institutions, leading in their field, in order to establish, develop and jointly implement innovative initiatives in cutting-edge research and innovation areas and to create channels of interconnection between knowledge-producing institutions for the benefit of our students and alumni and society as a whole."

On his part, CERTH’s COB of directors Dr. Dimitrios Tzovaras said: "Focusing on the common interest of both sides to implement research and educational projects and initiatives that promote technological innovation in a wide range of fields, the signing of this Protocol of Cooperation capitalizes on the expertise of both institutions and comes to promote cutting-edge research, creating an environment that favors knowledge and scientific excellence for the benefit of society."

The University of Piraeus

The University of Piraeus was founded in 1938 under the title “School for Industrial Studies” by the Industrialists and Tradesmen Association. Today it runs ten departments in four greater fields of study: a) Economics, Business and International Studies, b) Maritime and Industrial Studies, c) Finance and Statistics and d) Information and Communication Technologies. It also offers a variety of postgraduate programs (MSc and MBA).

The University of Piraeus Research Centre (UPRC) was established in 1983 and it is a non-profit research organization. UPRC aims at providing the institutional framework which would facilitate and support the research activities that are carried out by Faculty members, in the general fields of economics, management and computing, emphasizing on the study of the Greek economy and society. The UPRC has so far effectuated over 1.000 research programs and numerous educational programs, conferences and executive seminars.

The Centre for Research & Technology

The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas was fοunded in March 2000, and is a legal entity governed by private law with non-profit status, supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) of the Greek Ministry of Development. CERTH suggests one of the most important Research Centers in Greece with a core mission: The promotion of innovative research for the benefit of society. Dedicated to this purpose, CERTH is at the forefront of basic, applied and technological research to provide solutions to society’s modern challenges.

Clean energy, low/zero CO2 emission technologies, clean vehicle technologies, green hydrogen, climate change, artificial intelligence, advanced robotic systems, the internet of things, precision medicine, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, agro-robotics and circular economy, are among the primal fields around which CERTH’s five (5) institutes are organized. CERTH places a strong emphasis on innovation, demonstrated by establishing collaborations with the industry. The commercial exploitation of its technological findings has led to the creation of 23 spin-off companies with significant economic activity, including the attraction of financing from investment funds.

The post A cooperation between the University of Piraeus and CERTH appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has taken a bid leap ahead in global university rankings, landing at the 89th place globally and at the 16th place in Europe, as determined by the “Top Universities by Top Google Scholar Citations” table published by Webometrics for 2024. According to the current ranking announcement, as well as the results of recent years, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens not only consolidated but improved its position among the top 100 universities worldwide, while maintaining its top spot in the Southeastern Europe region. Among the rankings that stand out are:

Top Universities by Top Google Scholar Citations

NKUA ranked 89th worldwide and 16th in Europe at the "Top Universities by Top Google Scholar Citations," published on January 24 2004 by Webometrics. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has consolidated and improved its position in this ranking among the top 100 Universities in the world.

The specific ranking, published twice a year (January and July), is compiled based on the number of citations of the research work of the professors and researchers of the Institutions. Cross-references are located through the most popular academic literature search engine, Google Scholar.

Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities

The second important distinction for the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens came based on the results of the global ranking of Universities "Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities", which was published on 31/1/2024. According to the publication of the Ranking, the E.K.P.A. is in 247th place worldwide among 12,000 Universities, rising five places compared to last year's corresponding ranking. Based on the results of the said ranking, the E.K.P.A. is in 55th place among the 3483 Universities of the European Union and in 1st place in Greece among the Greek Universities included in the ranking.

NTU World University Rankings

The next ranking in which the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens achieved significant distinctions is the internationally recognized ranking "NTU World University Rankings - Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities".  This is one of the most important global rankings evaluating the quality, quantity and effectiveness of the research work of Institutions worldwide. NKUA occupies the 1st position among the eight Greek Universities and the 211th position globally.

In addition to the overall ranking, this system includes rankings by 6 broader scientific fields, as well as by 27 specific scientific subjects. Here too, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has scored significantly high, as it is among  the top Universities in five of the six scientific fields;  in the scientific field of Medicine, NKUA is ranked 112th in the world.

In the category of individual scientific subjects, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is ranked globally 89th in Immunology, 100^th in Pharmacy – Toxicology and 106th in Clinical Medicine. Furthermore, NKUA ranks in the top 250 in the scientific subjects of Civil Engineering, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Space Sciences.

The "Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities" evaluation is based exclusively on the research work produced and published in each institution, on the impact achieved by the published works of its faculty members and researchers, as well as on the final special distinction and recognition they receive as high profile posts. In addition, this evaluation captures both the short-term and long-term performance and performance of the Universities in research, so that an Institution's position is not affected by a single year’s good performance.

Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities has been published annually since 2009 and is regarded as one of the three most influential and widely followed university classifications.  The rankings for 2023 were announced on October 27, 2023 by Shanghai Jiaotong University and includes include the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, known as the “Shanghai list”.  The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens excelled on this list too, as it is included in the top Universities for 15 academic subjects. NKUA’s Medical School is ranked among the top 100 Medical Schools Worldwide; it has risen to positions 76-100, from positions 101-150 in 2022 at in the scientific field of Clinical Medicine. According to this ranking, the Medical School is also in the highest position among the Medical Schools of the four Greek Universities included in this ranking.

Other NKUA Departments that stand out are: the School of Dentistry which, for the fourth time since 2017, is in the top-100 Universities Worldwide, occupying positions 76-100 in the subject "Dentistry & Oral Sciences," the Department of Nursing, which climbed in this year's ranking to positions 101-150 - compared to positions 151-200 in 2022, the Departments of Informatics and Telecommunications and the of Digital Industry Technologies, which rose 350 places in the subject "Electric and Electronic Engineering" and now rank at 101-150, and finally the Department of Physics which ranked 151-200 in the subject "Physics.”

These achievements by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) were further confirmed in the recent presentation of performance data of Greek universities in rankings by the President of the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (HQA) Periklis Mitkas. The analysis conducted calculated the average positions for each institution among the institutions in Greece, in the rankings where they appear, on an annual basis.

I.L.

Reed also from Greek News Agenda

• Medical Degree in English Program by the University of Athens
• University of Athens E-Learning Program
• Professors Efthymios Lekkas and Niki Evelpidou on the MSc in Geographic Information Systems at NKUA

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