The 1st Centre of Interdisciplinary Education and Research in Rehabilitation in Greece opens its gates at Metropolitan College

In a special event attended by distinguished guests including representatives of the scientific and business community, as well as local authorities, Metropolitan College introduced a state-of-the-art building at Maroussi Campus. This facility will host Greece’s first Centre of Interdisciplinary Education and Research in Rehabilitation, which will be open to the wider public and especially to vulnerable populations.

Having invested in high-quality laboratories and equipment, the Centre of Interdisciplinary Education and Research in Rehabilitation (CIDERR) leverages the expertise, the advanced research activity and the collective experience of the Schools of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Special Education, Psychology and Sports Sciences of Metropolitan College, fostering an interdisciplinary and research approach.

CIDERR provides free assessment, rehabilitation and support services to the public for treatments in the fields of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Dietetics, Counseling/Psychology and Gait Analysis. Services can be provided upon medical recommendation to both adults and children with developmental, neurological, emotional difficulties/disorders, chronic illnesses, injuries. These services are integrated into Metropolitan College’s educational program and are offered as part of the Organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility scheme.

The CEO of the Educational Group Metropolitan College-IEK AKMI, Kalliopi Rodopoulou, emphasized the pioneering nature of this new project: “The Centre of Interdisciplinary Education and Research in Rehabilitation is a unique project that one cannot find in any other educational institution in Greece. We are delivering to our students, our academic staff and the wider community a state-of-the-art building designed not only to meet our upcoming needs emerging from the growth of Metropolitan College but also to provide a holistic student experience through the use of innovative educational methods, to inspire all educators, and to ensure high-quality working conditions for our staff.”

Referring to the dynamic of the Organization and Metropolitan College, she stated: “From the beginning of our journey, we have stood by every student, offering contemporary university programs, and we have played a crucial role in private higher education of our country. We have created an educational model that has been “tested” in the market for five decades and its proven success is mirrored in the stories of thousands of graduates.”
Ms Rodopoulou concluded her speech with news about recent educational developments revolving around Higher Education in Greece “Today, I want to share with you a commitment. Metropolitan College will be the first College to receive a license as a Private University in Greece.”

In his greeting, the President of BC PARTNERS, Nikos Stathopoulos, referred to the investment in the country’s largest private educational group and future plans.

As he stated: “Our investment in the Educational Group Metropolitan College-IEK AKMI, the undisputed leader in International University Studies and vocational training, has distinct features. Education is not just an economic activity, it is the fundamental infrastructure of the country’s future, the best way to invest in the new generation. We are here to support Metropolitan College and the Organization in the next stage of its development. We will focus on developing our students’ skills, emphasizing on employability and connectivity with the global labour market, as it has evolved after the Fourth Industrial Revolution, by enriching the educational portfolio with modern university programs, investing in new technologies and digital transformation. Together, we will continue our coordinated efforts to develop a dynamic international educational hub in the country, expanding collaborations with distinguished universities from around the world, aspiring to contribute to the redefinition of Greece as a global educational destination. Faced with the prospects and challenges of the future in education, our Organization has the strongest credentials and will continue to take the lead.”

Next on stage was the President of Metropolitan College Academic Board and member of the Academy of Athens, Professor Konstantinos Arkoumanis. “The new building aims to inspire students, educators and the local community, about the future of transmission of knowledge and skills through cutting-edge technologies, concurrently fostering critical thinking among students through group work and dialogue,” he mentioned in his greeting, among other things.

Referring to the state-of-the-art laboratories of the new Rehabilitation Centre by Metropolitan College, he emphasized the pioneering technology available in the Virtual Reality (VR) Laboratory. More specifically, he stated: “Using special glasses and stereoscopic display screens, the VR Lab of Metropolitan College allows the three-dimensional representation of the human body. This technology cannot be found anywhere, not even in major universities overseas. The most important conclusion from today’s inauguration of the new building and the significant investment by BC Partners is that Metropolitan College is fully capable of responding to any challenge from the government concerning the need for extroversion in higher education, having extensive experience as a pioneer in cross-border education in Europe over the last 20 years,” he emphasized.

Metropolitan College students will have the opportunity to specialize in state-of-the-art laboratories and cutting-edge equipment.
Among others, CIDERR hosts the following:

•  Physiotherapy Laboratory
•  Occupational Therapy Laboratory (Living Lab with domestic field simulation)
•  Speech and Language Therapy Laboratory (with observation two-way mirror glass)
•  Gait, Balance Analysis & Human PerformanceLaboratory
•  Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Lab
•  Counselling and Psychology Centre
•  Dietetics & Metabolism Lab
• Biomedical Sciences Laboratory (for classes and research projects)
• Gym (with fitness equipment and personal assessment tools)

See below photos with the prestigious guests of the event.

From left to right side: Robert Pefanis (Vice Principal External & Public Affairs, Metropolitan College),
Dimitris Diamantis (Metropolitan College Principal),
Michael Koutsilieris (Professor of Experimental Physiology, Chairman of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the Medical School of the University of Athens)
Marina Oikonomou-Lalioti (Professor of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) 
Nikos Stathopoulos  (BC PARTNERS CEO) and
Konstantinos Rodopoulos (Educational Group Metropolitan College-IEK AKMI CEO)

Konstantinos Rodopoulos and Calliope Rodopoulou with Pantelis Nikolaou, Orthopedic Surgeon at Athens Medical Center 

On the left: Vasso Gennimata, Administrator of “Helena” and “Alexandra” Hospitals 
On the right: Romanos Rodopoulos with Vaggelis Liolios, Chairman of the Hellenic BasketBall Federation 

On the left: Nikos Stathopoulos, Dimitris Avramopoulos and Calliope Rodopoulou
On the right: Voula Sakka, President of the Alzheimer Disease Association 

On the left: Nikos Koukis, Chairman of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture 
On the right: Constantinos Yannopoulos, Founder & Chairman of “The Smile of the child” 

On the left: Vaggelis Avgoulas, Founder & Chairman of “Me Alla Matia” NPO
On the right: Christos Koromilas, Member of the Board at “Faros Tyflon” (NPO for people with blindness and vision impairments) and Dr. Panagiotis Siaperas, Dean of Faculty of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences and Coordinator at the Institute of Occupational Science & Rehabilitation, Metropolitan College