ENPHE GROUPS

Planetary Health

Aim

To raise awareness, foster inspiration, advance research, and support the implementation of Planetary Health and Environmental Physiotherapy concepts within Higher Education in Physiotherapy across Europe

 

Facilitators

  • Andrea Ribeiro (ISAVE, Portugal)
  • Volcmar Visser (Hogeschool Leiden UAS, Netherlands)
  • Filip Maric (UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway)
  • Eveline de Smidt (Avans University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands) 


Members: Niels Verhoeven, Mathys Wicherson, M. Ferdinand Bergamo, Celeste Rousseau, Joland Lieshout, Piia Soilckchi, João Venâncio, and Steinunn Ólafsdóttir.

 

Work in Progress

  • Teacher Prompts (Outputs)

    We already have three main areas published on the Environmental Physiotherapy Association (EPA) website. A collaborative Google Drive document is being used to complete the remaining content, with the aim to:
    - Provide accessible information for teachers.
    - Support the integration of Planetary Health themes into physiotherapy teaching.
    The available teacher prompts can be found in the Outputs section.

  • International Simultaneous Class

    We are planning a joint international class, involving several European universities.
    The goal is to:
    - Offer a shared learning experience.
    - Explore Planetary Health themes in the context of physiotherapy education.

  • Student Feedback and Evaluation

    A student perception survey will be conducted to assess:
    - The relevance of Planetary Health topics.
    - The applicability of these concepts to physiotherapy practice.
    This feedback will help to refine and improve our educational strategies.

 

Developments

  • Teacher Prompts

Stage: Three areas published on the EPA website; remaining content under development via shared Google Doc.

Next Step: Finalise and publish all prompts to support educators.

  • Simultaneous International Class

Stage: In preparation with partner universities.

Next Step: Deliver the class and gather student feedback.

  • Student Perception Survey

Stage: Survey design in progress.

Next Step: Assess relevance and applicability of Planetary Health in physiotherapy education.

  • Planetary Health Micro-Credential Proposal

Stage: Conceptual phase with benchmarking of existing offers.

Next Step: Design a modular micro-credential and identify institutions willing to pilot the implementation.

  • Case Study Repository

Stage: Collection of practice-based and interdisciplinary case examples underway.

Next Step: Create an open-access repository to support applied learning and problem-solving activities.

  • Student-Led Initiatives and Challenges

Stage: Informal discussions started with student representatives across ENPHE.

Next Step: Launch cross-institutional challenges or sustainability projects led by students, to reinforce agency and engagement.

  • Resource Collection and Curation

Stage: Collecting relevant teaching materials, scientific literature, and case studies.

Next Step: Organise and share resources via the EPA platform or a shared drive.

  • Collaborative Syllabus Mapping

Stage: Initial mapping against physiotherapy curricula in various countries.

Next Step: Develop guidance on integrating Planetary Health content into existing modules.

 

Outputs

 

Additional Information 

The ENPHE working group for Planetary Health is affiliated to the Environmental Physiotherapy Association and its international education project, the EPT Agenda 2023.

 

           

 

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