Last week, from 1^st to 5^th of June,  Milda Gintilienė, Head of the Rehabilitation Department at the Faculty of Medicine, Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution, visited the University of West Attica in Athens, Greece, under the Erasmus+ exchange programme.

This visit marked the continuation of a productive collaboration that began three years ago with Assistant Professor Dr Christina Athanasopoulou, a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of West Attica. Since then, the partnership has included student exchanges and the joint organisation of the 4^th International Scientific-Practical Conference “Applied Research Works of Young Researchers in Rehabilitation”.

During the visit, M. Gintilienė had the opportunity to visit ELEPAP – Rehabilitation for The Disabled, the oldest non-profit rehabilitation center in Greece, providing essential services to children since 1937. This visit offered insight into the long-standing traditions and innovative practices in pediatric rehabilitation.

At the University of West Attica, she delivered lectures and presentations, introduced the Lithuanian healthcare and rehabilitation system, and represented both Lithuania and Kauno kolegija. She also engaged in active discussions with students and faculty members, exchanging experiences and answering questions. The warm hospitality and enthusiasm of the academic community further strengthened the partnership between the institutions. An additional highlight of the visit was the meeting with Dr Marjorie Bonello, Head and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta. Upon learning that occupational therapy professionals in Greece and Malta are not currently subject to formal licensure, an idea emerged to initiate a joint international project aimed at supporting the professional regulation of OT practitioners and establishing structured continuing professional development programmes.

Discussions on future cooperation revealed several promising directions:

• • Joint supervision and development of final theses between Lithuanian and Greek students.
  • Launching a scientific research project focused on the development of an innovative product for the elderly (geriatric population) to enhance independence and quality of life.
  • Co-creation of continuing education programs for occupational therapy professionals in collaboration with Lithuanian institutions.

This visit marks an important milestone in the advancement of international academic cooperation, promoting applied research, innovation in rehabilitation, and the enhancement of professional training across Europe.