The Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão (ESSA) is a private higher education institution, established by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisbon (a private non-profit social solidarity institution), which carries out its mission in the areas of social action, health, education and culture. culture. Integrated into the national education system as a polytechnic higher education school in 1994, ESSA has more than 50 years of accumulated experience in education and training in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. It was the first Portuguese school to train professionals in these areas and teaches bachelor's and master's degree courses under the ECTS system, all of which are accredited by the Higher Education Assessment and Accreditation Agency (A3ES). Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES). The School has maintained the highest international standards, establishing privileged contact with the schools at international level, mainly in Europe.