NTRODUCTION

This Plan is implemented based on the guidelines of Law 4957/2022, within the framework of the action "Strategic Planning Unit of the University of the Peloponnese," which has been included in the Operational Program "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020" with code MIS 5184856. The Plan includes the following dimensions in detail:

1. Recording of the basic data of the Department
2. Recording of the current situation in key areas, such as education, research, infrastructure, and services
3. Mapping the strengths and weaknesses of the Department in relation to the wider environment
4. Recording the strategic objectives of the Department

Chapter 1: Presentation of the Department

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (TEDD) was established at the University of the Peloponnese in May 2019 (Article 46, paragraph 1-f) of Law 4610/2019, Government Gazette A' 70/07.05.2019). The Department is part of the School of Health Sciences of the University of the Peloponnese and is based in Kalamata (Antikalamos). It is the only university department in two administrative regions, Peloponnese and Western Greece, that deals with the subjects of "Nutrition" and "Dietetics." The department's undergraduate program was approved in August 2019 by the University Senate (Decision 8/22.08.2019, Meeting 156) and the department accepted students for the first time in the 2019-2020 academic year.

 

The establishment of the Department reflects the current situation and needs of Greek society in relation to the profession of dietitian-nutritionist, as the perception and attitude towards the importance of nutrition and the role of dietitians has been redefined and upgraded. The mission of the Department is to cultivate and promote the science of dietetics and nutrition and to train scientists who will apply it, with the aim of improving the eating habits and nutritional status of both individuals and population groups, healthy or sick, across all age groups and in both prevention and treatment. The above field of study is interdisciplinary and falls within the broader cognitive area of Health Sciences (0915 - "Therapy and Rehabilitation"), as defined in UNESCO's ISCED-F 2013 classification).

 

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics has 4 faculty members (1 Professor and 3 Assistant Professors) and 2 teaching staff members (1 EEP and 1 EDI). It should be noted that 1 faculty member has been elected and is in the process of being appointed, while another 2 faculty members are in the process of being elected. The Department also has 2 permanent members of administrative staff with higher education qualifications. The educational needs of the Department are also served by faculty members from collaborating departments, as well as by young scientists with the status of appointed lecturers and/or academic experience.

The main mission of the Department is to properly train students in the subjects of Nutrition and Dietetics through teaching and research, and to shape responsible citizens who will respect diversity and respond sensitively to social needs. The inclusion of practical training in the curriculum provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to support their scientific and professional careers. In parallel with the education of students, TEDD aims to promote research and international cooperation in areas related to Nutrition and Dietetics. 
 

Chapter 2: Presentation of the Current Situation

Education

Undergraduate Program (UP)

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics implements a modern undergraduate program that is harmonized with the European Higher Education Area standard and has been developed in consultation with internationally and nationally recognized experts. Specifically, the undergraduate program provides graduates with the necessary qualifications (knowledge/skills/abilities, level 6 according to the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education: http://proson.eoppep.gr/el/ Qualifications/Details/1698) and is designed to fully meet the requirements (course content and type/hours of practical training) set by the European Federation of Associations of Dietitians (European Federation of Associations of Dietitians, EFAD) regarding the qualifications that graduates of Dietetics Departments must have in order to be recognized at European level and be able to work in all European countries. Similarly, the PP covers the competency standards set by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) HCPC) for the profession of dietitian, as well as all the standards for the curriculum and learning activities described by the American Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics as prerequisites for the recognition of foreign Dietetics Study Programs. In accordance with the "European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System" (ECTS), the PPE has been set at 240 ECTS with 30 ECTS/semester of study, which have been distributed among the courses according to the students' workload. 
 

The PPE is characterized by coherence and functionality. It has been designed to satisfy and cover current scientific developments in the subjects taught in the Department, as well as the constantly evolving needs of society. Specifically, the curriculum aims to promote knowledge in the broader fields of Nutrition and Dietetics, namely the nutritional needs of individuals or population groups, clinical dietetics, nutrition throughout the stages of human life, nutrition in exercise and competitive sports, the role of functional foods in nutrition, sustainable nutrition, nutrition and public health, nutrition education and health promotion, nutritional behavior, nutrigenetics, psychology of nutrition, and research in dietetics. For this reason, several of the program's courses are developed and designed to meet the specific knowledge and skill requirements of the private and public sectors. In addition, the program, as it has been designed, provides the necessary knowledge to those who wish to continue their studies by attending postgraduate programs or continuing on to doctoral programs in departments in Greece or abroad. 
 

Doctoral Program (DPS)

The TEDD offers the opportunity to conduct doctoral and postdoctoral research from the academic year 2021-2022. During the academic year 2023-24, the Department's DPS has 6 registered doctoral students (active doctoral candidates) and 1 postdoctoral candidate in subjects that correspond to the research interests of the Department's faculty members. The attractiveness of the Department is consistently satisfactory, given that every year (since 2019) all admission places are filled, while there is a significant increase in student inflows through transfers from other institutions. In general, there is a steady student population entering the Department, with a high percentage of active undergraduate students. 
 

Research

The main objective, directly linked to the undergraduate program, is to conduct high-level scientific research, the promotion of research collaborations, and the utilization and dissemination of the results of research produced by the members of the Department (faculty members, research staff, and students) for the benefit of science and society. According to Google Scholar, the faculty members of the Department have participated in a total of 309 papers, 120 of which were published in the last five years, with a total of 22,950 citations, 13,682 of which were in the last five years.

Infrastructure and Services

The department is housed in modern buildings covering a total area of 18,000 square meters at the University of the Peloponnese in Antikalamos, Kalamata. The allocation and distribution of space is determined by the Rector's Office. The following facilities are available for the development of the research and teaching work of the Department: 
 

1. Classrooms and lecture halls
2. Teaching and research laboratories

All laboratory spaces are used both for the education of undergraduate students and for the completion of research theses by students. 
The Department has experienced and specialized administrative staff (i.e., two people in the Secretariat), who hold higher education degrees in subjects related to their duties. The administrative staff supports, for example, the meetings of the Department Assembly, the procedures for the election, tenure, or promotion of faculty members of the Department, the procedures for the recruitment of other permanent teaching staff or external collaborators (Lecturers, Academic Fellows, etc.), the organization and management of student issues in the first and third cycles of studies, financial matters and procurement, support for the Department's website, and actions to promote and raise the profile of the Department (informative events, scientific conferences, etc.). The Human Resources Department of the University of the Peloponnese implements training programs for administrative staff through the National Center for Public Administration and Local Government. 
 

Chapter 3: SWOT Analysis of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

The purpose of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Department, as well as the external environment, in order to determine the measures that need to be taken to optimize its operation. 
 

Strengths

• The only department in two regions that deals with nutrition and dietetics
• Modern curriculum
• Practical training that exposes students to clinical and non-clinical experiences (hospitals, schools, sports clubs, nursing homes, dietetics offices).
• High evaluation scores for final-year students by practical training providers
• Strong absorption of graduates by postgraduate programs in related departments in large metropolitan centers
• Immediate professional rehabilitation of graduates (especially those with excellent grades) even before receiving their degree.
• The only Department of Nutrition and Dietetics after Harokopio University that is geographically close to large metropolitan centers such as Athens and Patras

Weaknesses

• Student/faculty ratio
• Increased teaching and administrative workload for faculty members
• Lack of infrastructure for the operation of laboratories required for the teaching of certain courses (such as Organic Chemistry, General and Inorganic Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, General Microbiology, Food Microbiology)
• Need for new, larger classrooms due to the continuous increase in student enrollment
• Insufficient space for the operation of the computer lab
• Low student attendance in some theoretical courses

Opportunities

• Linking the Department's research activities with the local community and contributing to the development of the local and regional economy.
• Establishment of a permanent Outreach and Internationalization Committee to increase the Department's outreach through the development of collaborations with universities and institutions in Greece and abroad.
• Establishment of a permanent Research Planning Committee to formulate a Research Strategy for the Department and exploit funding opportunities for research.
• Creation of a Postgraduate Studies Program to increase the extroversion and strengthen the Department in higher education, covering the scientific fields of "Clinical Nutrition" and "Sports Nutrition."
• Recorded interest in supporting the Department from private donors and sponsors.
• Economic and tourist development of Messinia (new jobs in agri-food and medical tourism).
• Students with scholarships can be utilized in research programs.

 

Threats

• Delay in staffing the Department with new faculty members.
• Significant reduction in state funding, with a negative impact on efforts to create teaching and research infrastructure.
• High competition in research activity at both European and national level.
• Economic crisis that may discourage candidates from studying in another city.
• Need to strengthen the Department's administrative support as student enrollment increases.
  
   

Chapter 4: Presentation of the Objectives of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

The strategic objectives of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and its activities are divided into four areas:

A) Educational Work

The training of young scientists in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics is the primary mission of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Department's strategic objectives regarding the quality of education are formulated within the framework of strategic planning. The continuous improvement of educational work is achieved through specific objectives and actions. 
 

B) Research Work

The specific objectives for conducting high-level scientific research by the members of the Department (faculty members, research staff, and students) concern Increasing funding from research programs (European and National), and increasing the annual number of publications per faculty member, in all categories provided for by OPESP. The actions include, among other things, the development of research infrastructure, the search for sources of research funding through collaborations with departments or universities that have experience in research programs, the establishment of a permanent Research Planning Committee for the formulation and implementation of long-term research, policy, and resource search, etc. 
 

C) Extroversion (connection with society)

Close and stable links with the local economy and society are a long-term strategic goal of the Department. The specific objectives for achieving this strategic goal include, among others Connecting research activities and results with the local community, Promoting the Department in the local community, and Strengthening closer links with the local labor market by increasing the percentage of Department students participating in internships in the city of Kalamata. 
 

D) Internationalization
The goal of the TEDD is to encourage faculty members to participate in the national and European academic environment, as well as to motivate students to participate in mobility programs. An important factor in internationalization will be the mobility of administrative staff for training and the exchange of good management practices. 
 

For more detailed information, please refer to: 

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