Among the fundamental needs of human beings, healthcare services occupy a distinctive and central position. However, the effective, safe, and sustainable delivery of healthcare to society is only possible when different components come together by meeting minimum scientific and professional standards and operate in a coordinated and continuous manner. Within this integrated structure, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation represents a core healthcare discipline that focuses on restoring functional independence and achieving tangible, long-term outcomes for individuals.
Physiotherapists are among the healthcare professionals who maintain the longest and most intensive contact with patients. The re-education of movement, management of pain, restoration of function, and improvement of quality of life are, in most cases, directly dependent on the quality of physiotherapy interventions. Therefore, the effectiveness of the service delivered is largely determined by the physiotherapist’s level of knowledge, clinical reasoning ability, and practical competence.
The foundation of high-quality physiotherapy and rehabilitation services lies in a contemporary, evidence-based, and practice-oriented undergraduate education. Rapid transformations in healthcare systems, the increasing burden of chronic diseases, growing demands in sports health, and the needs of an aging population have made it essential for physiotherapy education to be structured at the undergraduate level with an interdisciplinary and research-driven approach. Moreover, patient safety, service quality, and professional accountability necessitate that physiotherapists possess a strong academic and scientific background.
With full awareness of these requirements, the Faculty of Health Sciences at İzmir University of Economics plans a Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation program that aims to educate professionals who:
· Provide education and services focused on protecting, promoting, and enhancing functional health in society,
· Generate scientific knowledge and translate it effectively into clinical practice,
· Demonstrate critical thinking and advanced problem-solving skills,
· Adhere to ethical principles and value interdisciplinary teamwork,
· Embrace lifelong learning as a professional responsibility.
As a university that has pioneered innovation since its establishment, İzmir University of Economics aims to offer students a strong integration of theory and practice through its four-year undergraduate program aligned with the Bologna Process, supported by a highly qualified and experienced academic staff and comprehensive clinical training opportunities. In the advanced years of the program, students will have the opportunity to engage in intensive clinical practice in selected fields, allowing them to develop focused expertise. Students who wish may also complete their clinical placements and internships abroad for periods ranging from three to twelve months.
In addition, the department aims to establish student and faculty exchange programs, conduct joint research projects with international partner universities, and foster academic collaborations that strengthen its global engagement. The ultimate goal is to graduate physiotherapists who are not only well-prepared for employment within Turkey, but who also possess the competence and qualifications required to work in international healthcare systems.
This approach positions physiotherapy and rehabilitation not merely as a field of technical application, but as a professional discipline where science, clinical reasoning, and human-centered healthcare intersect.
