TherFor
I
Therapeutic Research as continuing professional development for healthcare professions
The BMBF competition "Advancement through Education: Open Universities" is part of the qualification initiative launched by the federal and state governments in 2008 to promote educational opportunities for all citizens. Following a first round in 2011, the second round started in summer 2014. The goals of the competition include securing the supply of skilled workers and improving permeability between vocational and higher education through specialized educational offerings for persons with family responsibilities, working professionals and returnees, university dropouts, or unemployed academics.
The project team comprises experts from the fields of media education (Rebecca End), adult education (Prof. Dr. Sylvana Dietel), health and nursing sciences, health care education and physiotherapy (Antje Schubert), medical education and physiotherapy (Angelika Unger), speech science (Prof. Dr. Mariam Hartinger), physiotherapy (Alexander Hahn), and speech therapy (Melanie Zedler). We see great added value in this interdisciplinary team composition for the research project results and for our own personal development, as we learn from each other across professional boundaries.
The goal of the research project is the development of two continuing education modules for teaching and deepening scientific competence for the healthcare professions of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Depending on prior knowledge and professional qualifications, therapists can participate in the module at bachelor's or master's level.
Continuing education alongside employment
Family-friendliness
Highly motivating through close practical application
Academic continuing education: completion through ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System) enabling Europe-wide recognition at universities
Development and production of learning-supportive media content with a dedicated research methodology for healthcare professions
First funding phase: 01.08.2014 – 31.01.2018 | Second funding phase: 01.02.2018 – 01.07.2020
Project lead at HIU is Prof. Dr. phil. Mariam Hartinger
Prof. Dr. phil. Mariam Hartinger
TherFor I Research Project: Results
Publications and Presentations
- Kickoff Event, October 2014, Berlin (Poster)
- Three-Country Conference “Health Universities: Bringing Education and Care Together,” September 2015, Winterthur (Poster)
- Conference on “Developments and Perspectives in the Health Professions – Current Fields of Action and Research,” Working Group “Vocational Education Research Network” (AG BFN), October 2015, Münster (Presentation)
- Health Science Symposium, April 2016, Dresden (Presentation)
- Paulicke, D., Richter, R., Hartinger, M. (2017): Academic Qualifications in the Therapy Professions in Germany from the Employers’ Perspective. In: Seper, U. (ed.): Thinking Ahead: Education in the Health Professions. Leykam, Graz, pp. 137–152http://www.fh-burgenland.at/studieren/bibliothek/publikationen/
- Richter, R., Dietel, S., End, R., Paulicke, D., Unger, A., Hartinger, M. (2017): Employer Perspectives on the Academic Qualification of Therapists. In: Weyland, U., Reiber, K. (Eds.): Developments and Perspectives in the Health Professions – Current Fields of Action and Research. Bertelsmann, Bielefeld, pp. 115–137. (Publication)
- Three-Country Conference “Health Professions – Pathways to the Future,” September 2017, Vienna, Session: “eHealth & Active and Assisted Living” (Presentation)
- Conference of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences for Health (HoGe) on “Digital Learning and Teaching,” September 2018 in Berlin (Poster)
- 1st International Conference – “Countering Staff Shortage Among Health Professions – Together for a Healthy Health Care System,” October 25–26, 2018, Bern, Session “HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMPETENCES” (Presentation)
Theoretical Background
Here you will find the current state of research and development based on our national and international studies (in progress)
- Employer support for part-time academic continuing education (m/f)
- Support from family/social environment
- Work-life balance
- Support for part-time academic continuing education for non-traditional students
- Gender-specific aspects
- National and international comparison of comparable continuing education programs
Methodology
Research question: The aim of the employer survey (m/f) was to analyze current attitudes, perceptions, support offerings, and assessments of employers (m/f) regarding academic continuing education and qualification opportunities in the therapeutic professions in Germany.
A) Employer Analysis (m/f)
- Cover letter to HR managers
- Interview guide
- Overview of sample and contrast analysis
B) Employee analysis (m/f)
- Future scenario
- Cover letter to therapists (m/f) and students
- Implementation guide for future scenario
- Poster for future scenario
Results of the Needs Assessments
Poster presentation/project presentation at the Three-Country Conference in Winterthur (September 2015)
A) Employer Analysis
Publications: Conference Proceedings (Austria), BIBB Münster (see “Publications and Presentations” above)
Results
- Job advertisement analysis
B) Employee analysis
- Preliminary results
Results of module development
- Foundations for module development
- Use of learning platform/e-portfolio system to document personality and competency development (in development)
- Developed (interactive) teaching and learning media (in development)
- Module Handbook TR1 (in development)
- Module Handbook TR2 (in development)
Relevance of the research project for students at HIU
Students at HIU are cordially invited to participate in the research project through project theses or bachelor’s theses. If you are interested, please contact Prof. Hartinger.