EdAge-Physio

Katrijn D’Herdt is policy officer for education and internationalization. She has a thorough understanding of curricula and educational design, as well as of E+, international cooperation, student exchange and internationalization of the curriculum. She is well connected with international colleagues and has a good overview of physiotherapy education in EU. She has been involved in several E+ projects in the domain of teacher education and will support the project management. As ENPHE board member she can contribute to generate wider impact and dissemination.  

Karen Feyen is a research and teaching assistant at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She graduated in 2022 as a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, specializing in geriatrics. Karen combines clinical practice, research, and education within the field of healthy ageing. Through her involvement in courses and the micro-credential Geriatric Rehabilitation & Prevention in the Context of Healthy Ageing, she contributes to the education of both students and physiotherapists.  

David Beckwée is associate professor at VUB and University of Antwerp. He is affiliated with SOMT University of Physiotherapy in the Netherlands; he is head of VUB ‘Rehabilitation Research’ group and the project manager for the Belgian Society of Gerontology & Geriatrics. He also is the co-developed a handbook for older individuals as part of the Erasmus+ project FORTIPHY (Preventing the risk of undernutrition by fostering meal FORTIfication and PHYsical activity in older adult).

Solveig A. Arnadottir, PhD, is Professor and Chair of Physiotherapy at the University of Iceland. She teaches in the five-year physiotherapy program, focusing on geriatric physiotherapy, gerontology, and functional assessment. Her teaching links classroom learning with community and clinical practice. With clinical experience in geriatric physiotherapy, she draws on research and international collaboration to strengthen education and care for an ageing population.

Steinunn A. Olafsdottir PhD, is an assistant professor of physiotherapy at University of Iceland. She is a member of the Teaching Academy of the Public Universities in Iceland which aims to promote pedagogical development and improved teaching methods at the universities. In her teaching, she emphasizes motivating students to participate at all levels and supporting them in finding use of their studies. She is also very interested in using simulation methods in teaching.

Abigail G Snook earned her Ph.D. from the University of Iceland in 2020, using mixed methods to explore the support needs of teachers. A physiotherapist with over nine years of clinical experience working with older adults, she now teaches physiotherapy students at the University of Iceland. She has published several articles on patient education and earned an M.Ed. in 2015 with a focus on Instructional Design, where her final project was a website to assist caregivers in helping their older adults navigate the internet.  

Sandra Jorna-Lakke is a physiotherapist, educator, and researcher based in the Netherlands, affiliated with Hanze University of Applied Sciences. She has over 25 years of experience in primary care, hospital, and rehabilitation settings. Her teaching focuses on interprofessional education and integrating research findings into physiotherapy curricula. Sandra’s research centers on vulnerable patient populations and interprofessional healthcare education. She also coordinates various projects aimed at advancing physiotherapy education and research.  

Hans Hobbelen (PhD, PT) is a leading scientist in the field of Frailty and movement disorders in dementia. Since 2012, he has been a professor in Ageing and Allied Health Care at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, The Netherlands. Hans is a member of the Clinical Consortium on Healthy Ageing of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Network on Long-Term Care (WHO). Since May 2019 he has been president of the international association of Physiotherapists working with Older People (IPTOP, official specialty group of World Physiotherapy). Hans was awarded the World Physiotherapy Service Award on Education in 2023.

Jolien Bergsma (MSc) is a lecturer-researcher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. With a master’s degree in Neurorehabilitation and in Geriatrics, she has developed a deep appreciation for working with complex questions in older adults. Her dual role, educating students in higher education and treating elderly patients as a geriatric physical therapist, offers a unique and fulfilling combination. She is committed to inspiring students to discover the value and satisfaction of working with older populations, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based care in aging.

Bastiaan Ellwanger (MSc) is a lecturer in physiotherapy at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. In addition, he works as a geriatric physiotherapist in a nursing home, where he is active in somatic care, psychogeriatric care and rehabilitation. He greatly values the combination of clinical practice and education, as it enables him to provide students with up-to-date, practice-based insights. He believes this interaction enhances the quality of both education and healthcare. He considers it is important that physiotherapy students are introduced to elderly care and the complex challenges that come with it.

Hege Handeland is the project coordinator for the EdAge Project and a senior lecturer in the Bachelor Programme in Physiotherapy, with extensive clinical experience from primary health care, particularly physiotherapy for children and young people. She teaches physiotherapy for children and youth, general function and movement, and communication and collaboration.  

Mari Kalland Knapstad is an associate professor in the bachelor’s program in physiotherapy at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). Her research focuses particularly on dizziness and vestibular disorders. In addition, she works clinically at the Balance Laboratory at Haukeland University Hospital, where she combines clinical practice with research and development work.

Joost Van Wijchen is an associate professor, senior lecturer, Assistant Head of the Department of Health and Functioning, and program lead in physiotherapy at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. His work spans socially engaged and sustainable physiotherapy education, and he contributes internationally through the Environmental Physiotherapy Association and World Physiotherapy.  

Silja Wessman is a project advisor in the Division of Research, Internationalization, and Innovation at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), where she works with international education projects.  

António Alves Lopes, M.Sc., a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation, is a physiotherapy lecturer and ERASMUS Coordinator with experience in international curriculum development.

Patricia Almeida, PhD in Health Sciences with a specialization in Neurological Rehabilitation, former President of the European Network of Physiotherapy Higher Education (ENPHE) and has experience in neurological rehabilitation and academic collaboration.  

Maria da Lapa Rosado, PhD in Human Kinetics, specializes in Physical Activity and Health and holds a postgraduate degree in Health Services Management, contributing knowledge in health promotion and interdisciplinary research.

The work packages are based on different steps: developing – testing – revising for all products to be developed. Monitoring the project progress, project quality, and achievement of the project activities are essential to ensure that the project stays on track, meets its objectives, and delivers the desired outcomes.

This work package is set to provide essential insights into the needs of various  
stakeholders in this project, taking into account cultural differences across the partner countries.

The objectives will include perception of aging and geriatric care, the influences on student engagement and career choices in geriatric physiotherapy, professional perspectives on essential geriatric physiotherapy competencies and older adults’ expectations for physiotherapy care.

This work package aims to develop activities and educational processes that can be implemented as stand-alone activities or integrated into existing courses in the partner universities.

The expected outputs for this work package include institutional analysis and best educational practices, through a thorough literature review, a structural framework for classifying and organising educational activities and a data base of educational activities.

This work package is geared towards implementing the materials created throughout the course of this project. The RE-AIM approach was chosen for this work package (Reach Effectiveness – Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance).

 During development of the courses, students are involved, the courses will be tested and adapted before implementing in this WP. The objectives of this work package are formulated towards students and their attitude changes after following the newly created courses.

This work package WP5 aims to increase European students’ and physiotherapists’ interest in physiotherapy for older adults, as well as positively influencing the general societal perception of ageing. This will be archived by a social media campaign as well as through organising AWARENESS DAYS in the respective partner countries, with input and materials created throughout this project.