Description

The MSc in Applied Kinesiology in the Armed and Security Forces is implemented at the University of Thessaly, the third largest university in Greece, which is included in the top 5% of European universities, according to the University Ranking of Academic Performance, but also in this Department, which has been evaluated for the last few years as the best Department of Sport Science in Greece and one of the 150 best Departments of Sports Science at international level.

The MSc has been successfully operating since the academic year 2014-2015.It is a globally unique MSc and it deals with physical fitness and quality of life in the Armed and Security Forces. Physical exercise as gymnastics or sport, is an important physical activity perfectly linked to the nature and actions of the Armed and Security Forces. The curriculum has been drafted based on the suggestions of the uniformed personnel, which are based on the challenges of the modern operational environment and the maximization of the operational capability of the uniformed personnel.

For members of the Armed and Security Forces, health is the cornerstone of success as it is linked to general physical fitness which, after all, is an important factor in theoretical readiness. In addition, individual good physical fitness is a prerequisite for avoiding injuries during training or during the performance of tasks. Given the increased professional demands, such as crisis management, participation in international alliances, etc., physical and mental fitness are dominant elements for the effectiveness of uniformed personnel. Therefore, it is considered necessary to train Armed and Security Forces personnel for physical fitness and to improve performance and quality of life.

The MSc aims to equip members of the Armed and Security Forces as well as civilian personnel with in-depth knowledge for the optimal physical fitness, performance and quality of life of uniformed personnel. In particular, it provides expertise to graduate scientists:

1. The application of the knowledge of the exercise to the Armed and Security Forces.
2. To promote the health and quality of life of uniformed personnel through established methods of physical activity.
3. Understanding rehabilitation methods and the application of exercise as a means of rehabilitation in the Armed and Security Forces.
4. The rational nutrition of uniformed personnel.
5. The adaptation of the actions and procedures of the Armed and Security Forces to various environmental conditions.
6. Psychological strategies for protecting the mental competence of uniformed personnel.

The level of demand for the qualifications of the graduates of the MSc is considered very high. The vision of the MSc is “To become an International Point of Reference in training for optimum physical fitness, performance and quality of life for Armed and Security Forces personnel”.