The Occupational Therapy Department of Metropolitan College had a strong presence at the 28th Annual Conference of the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE), held in Coimbra, Portugal, bringing together academics, students, and occupational therapy professionals from 36 countries.
Metropolitan College was represented by members of the academic team and graduates of the Occupational Therapy Department from the Athens, Piraeus, Maroussi, and Larissa Campuses, who presented their research work.
Specifically, Mrs. Elena Gliki, Programme Leader of the Occupational Therapy Department at Maroussi Campus, and since December 2024 an elected member of the ENOTHE Board of Directors, presented a paper in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy Department of Larissa Campus and Mr. Dimosthenis Lygouras, Ms. Eleftheria Prouzou, Dr. Elena Bardas, and Ms. Viktoria Goraki, titled:
“Breaking Barriers: Addressing Occupational Deprivation in Prisons through Leisure Activities”. The presentation highlighted the contribution of Occupational Therapy to social inclusion and the promotion of well-being among vulnerable populations.
Two recent graduates of the College’s Occupational Therapy programme also participated in the conference, presenting posters with oral pitch presentations, showcasing their research and innovative ideas.
It is worth noting that Metropolitan College was the only Greek higher education institution to participate in the conference with oral presentations, a distinction that highlights its active engagement and ongoing contribution to the European academic community in the field of Occupational Therapy.
Throughout the conference, a wide range of activities, workshops, and presentations took place, focusing on contemporary topics in Occupational Therapy such as sustainability, social inclusion, and innovation in education. During the closing day, as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of ENOTHE, Dr. Linda Renton, Collaborative Academic Link of the Occupational Therapy programme from Queen Margaret University, was honoured with the title of ENOTHE Fellow, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to occupational therapy education internationally.
The participation of Metropolitan College’s Occupational Therapy Department in the ENOTHE Conference reaffirms the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, international engagement, and the advancement of the Occupational Therapy profession through teaching, research, and collaboration with leading European institutions.
