We are delighted to welcome you to the MSc Programme in Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health at the Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Our Programme, operating since 2018, aims to address the contemporary, complex, and continuously evolving needs of children, adolescents, and their families. It is designed for health professionals, scholars in theoretical and mental health sciences, educators, and all those working closely with children and adolescents, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools for meaningful support and empowerment.

The MSc in Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health emphasizes modern approaches that focus on social and emotional empowerment, life skills, and Lifestyle Medicine, aiming at the promotion of wellbeing and resilience. In close collaboration with international organizations, such as the UNESCO Chair in Global Health and Education, the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Society of Social Pediatrics (ISSOP), we implement evidence-based, effective protocols that respond to the most pressing challenges of our time.

The Programme is developed along two complementary directions: “Developmental and Adolescent Medicine” and “Education and Psychosocial Health”, enabling an effective interdisciplinary approach to the care and support of children and adolescents. Special attention is given to understanding the impact of successive social, economic, and health crises on families, as well as exploring ways to mitigate their negative effects while enhancing adaptive skills and psychological resilience. A central philosophy of the MSc Programme is the active participation of children and adolescents themselves, in accordance with the UNESCO motto: “Nothing for them, without them.” We believe that the design of meaningful interventions requires empathy and a clear understanding of the contemporary reality experienced by young people, both in the physical and digital environments.

Our students have the opportunity for experiential learning, through practical placements in partner institutions and the Adolescent Health Unit, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, at the “A. & P. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, a best practice, internationally recognized child- and adolescent-friendly setting. At the same time, the Programme systematically promotes research-oriented thinking and student participation in international scientific dialogue, encouraging them to produce, publish, and disseminate knowledge on contemporary issues in developmental, adolescent, and social health. Our graduates remain active members of a dynamic scientific community, participating in conferences, research projects, and scientific publications, thus contributing to the formation of a new, human-centered, contemporary model of care for children and adolescents.

We invite you to explore the MSc Programme in Strategies of Developmental and Adolescent Health and become part of a shared effort to promote the wellbeing and quality of life of children and adolescents, both today and in the future.