Study Guide

Description

The title of the graduating students of Degree Programme in Physiotherapy is Bachelor of Health Care. The degree is comparable with equivalent degrees in other EU countries. Bachelors of Health Care are authorised by National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health as health care professionals (physiotherapists). The scope of the Degree Programme in Physiotherapy is 210 credits and the education lasts for 3,5 years.

Competences developed

Physiotherapy can be defined as a profession with specific areas of expertise in health, movement, mobility and functional ability. The main methods of physiotherapy are health and functional guidance and counselling, therapeutic exercise, manual and physical therapy and assistive technology services. Physiotherapy provides services to individuals and populations in situations where their mobility and functional capacity are or may be threatened by ageing, injury, pain, illness, dysfunction or environmental factors. Physiotherapy contributes to the active participation of individuals in society by developing, maintaining and restoring their health, mobility, physical activity and functional capacity throughout their lifetime.

The graduating student has the skills needed for expert tasks in promoting health, functional ability and wellbeing of individuals and groups. Physiotherapy is evidence-based and physiotherapists work within legislation and the profession’s ethical principles. Physiotherapist work with different aged people in hospitals, health centres, research and rehabilitation centres, spas, private physiotherapy clinics as well as in different organisations, schools, as private practitioners as well as in different projects and marketing. He/she can operate in different professional situations also in English. Physiotherapist often work as a team member but are responsible for planning, acting, evaluating and developing their work.

Implementing physiotherapy education

Physiotherapy has it’s basis in physiotherapy science. Studies in the degree programme consist of professional studies, Bachelor’s thesis and elective studies. Larger modules are divided into smaller study units. The knowledge of different subjects is integrated to develop student´s individual knowing. The programme contains 45 ects gredits worth of practical training in different clinics or other practice surroundings. The graduating student will be familiar with the principles of sustainable development in the work of a physiotherapist.

The professional growth process of each student is essential in physiotherapy education. It is based on the know-how the student already has before the education begins. The process varies individually depending on the learning environment and the social and cultural situation. The physiotherapy education is implemented according to the problem based learning (PBL) approach. The PBL pedagogy supports students´ information acquisition skills, personal knowledge creating skills, lifelong learning skills and skills for studying in a group.

Learning outcomes and aims of each academic year

During the first academic year, the physiotherapist degree programme focuses on the anatomy, movement, mobility and functional ability of a healthy person. Student will become familiar with the professional ethical principles and values of the health and social care sector and learn to act in accordance with them. During the academic year, student will gain experience in client encounter, client service and become familiar with the work of a physiotherapist. Student will acquire skills such as analysing and guiding basic movement, therapeutic exercise and the use of various other guidance and teaching methods. They will also learn the English language needed in the profession of physiotherapist.

During the second semester, student will be trained in the implementation of physiotherapy to adults. The course will include musculoskeletal, respiratory and circulatory diseases, neurological diseases and mental health challenges. Student will be introduced to a variety of health and rehabilitation settings during their professional development placements. In addition, the student will become familiar with the Swedish language required for the profession of physiotherapist. By the end of the academic year, the student will be able to use scientific evidence-based knowledge in the planning and implementation of physiotherapy in a guided manner. He/she will also be familiar with the social and health care system.

In the third year, student will study the specific issues of health and functional capacity of children and adolescents, as well as older people. By the end of the academic year, he/she will be able to plan and implement physiotherapy and assess its impact. Clinical reasoning will focus on the client and his/her reference groups. In addition, during the third semester, the student will learn about work-life skills and well-being at work. Students will complete two clinical practices. Physiotherapy students have the opportunity to go on a student exchange during the third or fourth year. In-house students will have opportunities for home internationalisation as exchange student tutors.

By the end of the studies, the student will have acquired the skills to carry out projects, for example by participating in projects. He/she has deepened his/her professional knowledge in his/her chosen specialised areas of physiotherapy, in particular through the thesis and optional studies. Student also acquired a wide range of language skills as an integral part of her professional identity. He/She has also become familiar with multidisciplinary management and development in the social and health care sector. In the fourth year, the student will also be equipped to work as a physiotherapy entrepreneur.

The courses are designed and implemented in cooperation with other degree programmes in the Tampere University community. Physiotherapy students also study in multidisciplinary groups. In addition, it is possible to choose rehabilitation studies from the joint course offerings of other universities of applied sciences.

Curriculum development and working life cooperation

The curriculum development has been and is continuously carried out in collaboration with the members of the advisory board and physiotherapists of the region. The professional practical training is mostly carried out in organisations offering physiotherapy services in the Tampere region.

Students have also been involved in developing the curriculum. In addition, student feedback on each course has been taken into account in the curriculum.

The objectives and contents of the curriculum have been specified according to both the Finnish and the European core competences in physiotherapy. The curriculum includes competency requirements that have been agreed as common in Europe.