17 May 2022 | ERTNews | By Elpida Koutsogianni
University of Thessaly to Establish English-Taught Undergraduate Medical Program
The University of Thessaly is set to launch a new English-taught undergraduate medical program in September 2023, initially admitting a maximum of 40 international students. The program will be self-funded through annual tuition fees of €12,000 and will operate within the public university system, under the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Thessaly.
The announcement was made at a press conference by the President of the Department of Medicine, Professor Athanasios Giannoukas, together with the Rector of the University of Thessaly, Professor Zisis Mamouris, and faculty members of the Department of Medicine.
The new English-taught undergraduate program will operate in close collaboration with, rather than in competition with, the existing Greek-taught medical program. It will be housed alongside the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, providing opportunities for close interaction with research activities.
Scheduled to welcome its first students in September 2023, the initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening the University’s international outlook and further enhancing its academic profile. At the time, international rankings placed the University of Thessaly among the world’s top 300 institutions and among the top 150 in Europe.
A Historic Milestone for Medical Education
Professor Athanasios Giannoukas, President of the Department of Medicine, described the initiative as a historic moment for the University.
“The Senate of the University of Thessaly approved the decision of the Department of Medicine to establish an English-taught undergraduate program in Medicine. In other words, an English-taught medical school within a public university.
The program is intended for graduates of secondary schools abroad and is not addressed to students from Greece. Admission will be based on an application process, followed by an evaluation of applications and examinations, allowing us to select the most qualified candidates.
We do not regard students as customers. We consider this initiative to be historic, as it will open new avenues for international engagement, the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and the development of international collaborations.
It will facilitate the arrival of international students wishing to pursue their medical studies here, while also creating opportunities for our own students to participate in Erasmus exchange programs abroad.
Furthermore, highly qualified young academics will be recruited to teach in both the English-taught and Greek-taught medical programs.”
Professor Zisis Mamouris, Rector of the University of Thessaly, also described the occasion as a historic day, opening new horizons for the University and taking its academic activities to an entirely different level.
“I believe this will be the fourth English-taught program of its kind in Greece. I am confident that it will be highly successful. It will raise the profile of both the region and the University of Thessaly, while offering faculty members, researchers, and students new opportunities to develop their careers beyond traditional academic pathways.”
Larissa’s Advantages and the University’s International Outlook
Professor Theofilos Karachalios, Professor of Orthopaedics and Coordinator of the Working Group, highlighted the comparative advantages of Larissa as a safe, medium-sized city and an attractive destination for international students. He also noted that the University of Thessaly was the fourth-largest university in Greece.
Professor Alexandros Daponte, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, emphasized the University’s strategic commitment to internationalization and the importance of expanding its international academic presence.
Professor Dimitrios Bogdanos, Director of the Division of Internal Medicine and the Department of Medicine’s representative on the University’s Quality Assurance Unit, referred to the Department’s academic standing and its progress in comparison with other medical schools in Greece.
“The Department of Medicine ranks among the top 300 worldwide and among the top 150 medical schools in Europe.
As a department, we have a responsibility to establish an English-taught medical program. We have studied the mistakes made by institutions that have developed similar programs around the world, so that we can avoid repeating them.
Compared with the other seven medical schools in Greece, the Department of Medicine at the University of Thessaly has demonstrated the greatest progress. The establishment of the English-taught program will further strengthen the Department’s international outlook.”
Finally, Professor Tsoungos, Vice President of the Department of Medicine, described the initiative as a highly positive development for both the University and the city of Larissa.
He encouraged the local community to warmly welcome international students, emphasizing that the program’s success would bring significant benefits not only to the University but also to the city and the wider region of Thessaly.
Source Link: https://www.ertnews.gr/perifereiakoi-stathmoi/larisa/quot-to-panepistimio-thessalias-grafei-istoria-quot/
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