Traineeship at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen (Norway)
On 9-11 March 2023, teachers of the Faculty of Health Care – assoc. prof dr. Milda Žukauskienė and lecturer Kristina Žukienė visited the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (Bergen, Norway) under the LLP/Erasmus Programme.
The European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher education (ENPHE) is a network of institutions that train physiotherapists. The main objectives of the network are to bring together educational institutions training physiotherapists in Europe; to exchange information on innovations in educational development; to promote the development of physiotherapy programmes in a European context; and to facilitate the mobility of staff and students between physiotherapy educational institutions; to support and implement high quality standards of physiotherapy education in accordance with the recommendations of the World Confederation of Physiotherapy (WCPT); to promote joint research projects between physiotherapy educational institutions; to communicate, cooperate, exchange information with other national and international organisations and with European public authorities. In order to achieve these objectives, ENPHE organises regular workshops – seminars and conferences.
The ENPHE seminar „Educating Physiotherapists for a Global Mindset“ in Bergen took place over 3 days. On 9 March we had meetings of the ENPHE Board, Working Groups, Student Group. On 10 and 11 March we heard keynote speakers (Future Sustainable practices by Eric Jansen & Joost van Wijchen; Environmental Physiotherapy & Planetary Health by Filip Maric). Participants could choose to work in several groups: Pain Education in Physiotherapy, Practice-based Learning, Environmental Physiotherapy, Internationalization, Facilitation of learning, Emergent Topics in Education, Research. K. Žukienė participated in the working group “Facilitation of Learning” and M. Žukauskienė in the group “Emergent Topics in Education”. The group “Facilitation of Learning” share good practices in simulation method in teaching-learning among ENPHE members and stakeholders in higher education. The group “Emergent Topics in Education” held an open discussion on the understanding and attitudes towards artificial intelligence tools, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence in physiotherapy studies, education, research and practice. The importance of mobility in promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience between institutions and the benefits of international cooperation and partnerships between institutions were also discussed. Issues related to language skills, cultural differences and teaching methodologies were discussed. The transnationality panel highlighted the challenges and opportunities of teacher mobility and provided insights on how institutions can work together to overcome these challenges and create a supportive environment for teachers and students involved in mobility exchanges.
