ECEDU – Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων

Dear students, welcome to the Department of Early Childhood Education for the academic year 2022-2023. Congratulations on your selection and acceptance. The Department of Early Childhood Education in its many years of development has formed a dynamic framework of offered possibilities for learning knowledge, skills and abilities.

Undergraduate (four courses), postgraduate (two programs) and doctoral studies, workshops, student internships, research programs, conferences (panhellenic and international), international collaborations and mobility (Erasmus) constitute the physiognomy of a Department that methodically and dynamically shapes the profiles of the modern researcher/educator, the active citizen, in an environment of professional, academic, personal and social formation.

The aim is the cultivation of knowledge, skills and abilities that will allow you to function as educational scientists, educators, researchers and active citizens. In this context, the Department recently received excellent Certification in accordance with the principles of the Undergraduate Studies Program Quality Standard of the National Higher Education Authority (HAHE) and the Quality Assurance Principles of the European Higher Education Area.

The constant and growing worldwide interest in the Sciences of Education and Training at the Early Childhood level stems from modern scientific data that prove that this is a critical period and an important dimension in the learning process and the all-round development of the personality of children – students and tomorrow’s citizens . The training and specialization of the students in the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina is “founded” and based on the provision of modern scientific findings, participation in experiential activities, cooperative learning, the utilization of their inclinations, abilities and interests and seeks to empower of their creativity through their involvement in teaching and research environments.

The teaching staff and the staff of the Secretariat conists of excellent members of the Department which is committed to working with you, aiming at your excellent academic performance. At the same time, do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with the teaching staff.

You will find useful information about the academic operation of the Department:
on the website:https://ecedu.uoi.gr/
in the Study Guide: https://ecedu.uoi.gr/odigos-spoudon/
for the lessons: http://ecourse.uoi.gr/

We wish you a good academic year with health and creativity.

The President of the Department
Charilaos Zaragas
Assoc. Professor

President

Zaragas Charilaos, Assoc. Professor

Charilaos Zaragas is an associate professor specializing in Kinetic Education and Learning, in the Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Educational Sciences of the University of Ioannina. He is a Physical Education and Sport Science graduate of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a specialization in Classical Sports and a degree in Psychology from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina. He received his master’s degree in Kinesiology from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science Serres of A.P.Th. and his PhD in Educational Sciences from the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina. He has four years of studies in Psychodrama and Social Therapy from the Open Psychotherapeutic Center (OPC) of Athens and at Systemic Psychology – Consulting from the Systemic Therapy and Counseling Center of Ioannina. He holds two diplomas from the Judo Coaches School of the General Secretariat of Sports and was a federal coach of the sport for a number of years (1996 – 2004). His research interests concern the areas of psychomotor education and retraining, motor development, teaching methodology and interdisciplinary approach of physical education at preschool and school age, measurement, evaluation and maximization of motor performance. He has written and edited books and chapters in psychopedagogical collective volumes, while his research articles have been published in reputable Greek and international scientific journals and conference proceedings. He is a member of Scientific Organizations, such as the Organization for Preschool Education OMER, the Hellenic Psychokinetic Scientific Society, the Pedagogical Society and the Union of Gymnasts of Northern Greece. He was an athlete of the National Men’s Judo Team in the 86 kg category (1987 – 1994). He holds the titles of the bronze Mesogionikis (Athens, 1991) and the champion of Greece in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Department

HISTORY

The first University Education Departments were established by law 1268/82, par. 46, in the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Ioannina, Thrace and Crete. However, their organization and operation began gradually, beginning in 1984-85. The Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina started operating in the academic year 1987-88 and its first students graduated in 1991-92.

MISSION

The organization and operation of the Pedagogical Departments is governed by the PD. The Pedagogical Departments, in particular, under article 1 par. 2 of Law 1268/82 have as their mission:

To cultivate and promote Pedagogical Sciences through academic and applied teaching and research.
To provide their graduates with the necessary equipment to ensure that they are well trained for their scientific and professional careers.
To help raise the level and meet the increasing needs of Education in pedagogy issues.
Contribute to the treatment and resolution of pedagogical problems in general (Article 2 of Presidential Decree 320/83).

Since 4/11/93 the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Ioannina (WTN) has gained autonomy.

The academic year 1996-97, the School of Education of the University of Ioannina was founded, where it joined the Pedagogical Department (NTU) and the Department of Primary Education (NTUA).