European experience of physical therapists training: Introduction of new master degree programs in Ukraine

Abstract

Improving the quality of education and training of future physical therapists in Ukraine is possible provided that the experience of the best European educational programs is taken into account. During 2018-2021, Ukraine is implementing the EU Erasmus + Program in the direction of KA2 ‒ "Cooperation for innovation and exchange of best practices ‒ Development of higher education potential" project "Innovative rehabilitation education in Ukraine: Introduction of new master degree programs in Ukraine (REHAB)". Among the participating partners are four representatives of higher education institutions of Ukraine and Europe.
 The main goals of the project are: to increase the professional potential of teachers of domestic universities; creation of new resources for teaching, learning, assessment; creation of a special educational infrastructure necessary for the implementation of new master's programs in physical therapy.
 At the first stage of the project implementation, own educational programs in physical therapy were analyzed and a comparative description with similar European educational programs was made. In the second and third stages of the project, an innovative educational environment was developed and created for the training of future physical therapists. Particular attention is paid to practice-oriented training of future physical therapists. Methodological support for conducting an objective structured clinical examination has been developed.
 The results of this project at Sumy State University are: analysis and updating of the educational-professional program "Physical therapy" of the first (bachelor's) level of higher education; development of the project of the educational-scientific program "Physical therapy" of the second (master's) level of higher education; development of educational and methodological support of educational components of bachelor's and master's educational programs in physical therapy; development of three electronic courses for the educational-scientific program of the second (master's) level "Physical therapy"; development of methodological support for conducting an objective structured clinical examination in the specialty 227. "Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy"; creation of four rehabilitation educational and scientific laboratories and organization of the educational process on their basis; increasing the professional competence of all teachers of the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Sports Medicine of SSU; participation of students in academic mobility activities, various forms of non-formal education within the project.