The principle objective of this project (FAPADAG) is the multiplication of products and results in occupational therapy education developed by the TEMPUS-JEP, CORDAID and ENOTHE and by the different consortium partners in order to Facilitate the Participation of the Disabled in Armenia and Georgia.
The project will contribute to the reform of higher education as well as to the reform of the social sector through the introduction and implementation of:
The project will focus on the following specific project objectives:
In seeking to achieve the above mentioned objectives, the project will develop two connected practical resource centres, which can be used in a flexible manner as part of staff development programmes tailored to specific target group's requirements.
Proposed approach/methodology
On the basis of a local co-operation between the universities and the practical places the project will focus first on a joint master degree in occupational therapy with a two-year duration for students with a first degree in psychology, medicine or special pedagogy.
Because the profession does not yet exist in Armenia and only by September 2003 in Georgia the first 11 students will be fully trained as OTs, the project will focus on training and supervising this group of 11 OTs to become lecturers and/or clinical supervisors. At the same time 20 new students will be trained and other disciplines will join in short intensive courses in order to promote multidisciplinary work.
Modules will be taught alternatively in Georgia and Armenia. Each module will be carried out as intensive course followed by distance learning and an assessment. The intensive course is open to other disciplines, while during each intensive course a public seminar is given.
Each local OT teacher/clinical supervisor will be partnered to an EU/candidate teacher.
It is of utmost importance that the first group of trained OT teachers and qualified OTs have high standards, because they have all to function as ambassadors of this new profession in their countries.
During this two year-training new services in OT will be set up and short intensive courses for doctors, psychologists, special teachers etc. will be given, as well as information seminars for regional rehabilitation teams by the local staff.
The master course in OT should lead to a fully recognised speciality within social and health care.
An outline for a full-time 3 year Bachelor study with an integration of the basic subjects from the partner universities will be considered for the future.
Outcomes
The main directly measurable outcome will be a curriculum frame work in OT education for Georgia and Armenia, description of the content, and the subject-specific modules, developed as a model based on positive practice. The frame work and modules, which will be tested and introduced as course material in project partners' institutions, could also be used in short courses as a part of continuing professional education.
The above mentioned objectives will be measured by the following specific outcomes:
The analyse, development and restructuring of the existing products and results in FAPADAG will be guided by the 8-9 group activities defined for the entire TEMPUS project plan and according to the planned exchange of expertise with European Universities. The actual work in the departments is organised and will be managed in the period of 36 months through the hereafter described workplan.
Activities to be undertaken
The above mentioned outcomes will be achieved through a co-operation of the Armenian, Georgian, Dutch, Scottish, Czech and Japanese partners in implementing the ENOTHE curriculum guidelines and WFOT standards in the Armenian and Georgian Universities.
Staff and student training will take place through intensive courses, seminars, exchange visits and distance learning.
The modules have the following structure:
All existing modules of former projects will be reviewed, adapted and carried out in partnership between the local and foreign staff. Because occupational therapy is not an exact science and very cultural related the subjects should be adapted to the context of both countries.
The teaching methods are focused on active learning around real problems and projects.
Practical places will be basically equipped and staff and students will learn how to set up OT departments and to make simple equipment themselves.
Brochures and a web-site will be published about the OT services and the value for the different disability groups as part of the education.
Furthermore formal work around academic and professional recognition will be undertaken as well as the establishment of a professional association. Finally when courses are implemented the ENOTHE peer review process should confirm that the Bachelor/Master course will be comparative to European standards. Official application for World Federation Recognition will be made.
Products to be disseminated
The main products from the former projects which will be disseminated are:
The dissemination of the products will be going hand in hand with the implementation of occupational therapy as academic discipline or speciality and the introduction of the profession in the field. Fieldwork places have to be supported by the academic staff in their developments of OT services.
Client and parents groups have to be made aware of the opportunities occupational therapy can offer and other professionals have to be informed about the role of the OT in the multidisciplinary team.
Examples of good practice in dissemination and collaboration are already carried out in the Mercy Corps project and the agreement between ENOTHE and the organisation 'Every Child'.
In the ´ Mercy Corps ´ Project, OT will be introduced in the Child Disability Management process and disseminated through seminars to different regions in Georgia. (This project will end April 2003). 8000 handicapped children and their parents will be informed through this network about the opportunities of OT, but how to obtain OT, when there is no proper education in this profession?
The organisation of social workers employed by ´ Every child ´ had requested in July 2002 the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education, to nominate as short-term trainers two of the Georgian OT students to fulfil under supervision of ENOTHE the following tasks:
Planning and delivering training, together with the social workers and NGO staff, for parents of reintegrated children with disabilities and foster carers, focusing on the following areas:
Both above mentioned examples give evidence of the opportunities for occupational therapists and the great need for occupational therapy education in Georgia and Armenia.
In 2003, the European Commission and the disability movement are organising the European Year of People with Disabilities to highlight barriers and discrimination faced by disabled people and to improve the lives of those of us who have a disability.
People with disabilities should be at the centre of the European Year, which is about raising awareness of the rights of disabled people to full equality and participation in all areas. It is about tackling barriers that people with disabilities face, wherever they occur. The European Year is also about raising awareness that disability is an issue of concern to all of us.
With this project 'Developing Occupational Therapy Education in Armenia and Georgia' the consortium will provide a strong impetus to set up these long term goals and the development of new initiatives throughout a ´ wider ´ Europe.
| Home
| Organisation
| Education
| Themes
| Tuning & quality
| European dimension
| Continuing Education & research
| Innovative teaching methods
| Related projects
| Meetings
| Resources
| What's New
| Students
| Top of page |
Questions or remarks to Hanneke van Bruggen