Study Guide

Descriptions

The degree programme in physiotherapy is a 3.5-year, 210 ECTS programme which leads to a Bachelor of Health Care Degree. The competences generated by the degree correspond to the definition of higher education mutually agreed in the European Union, aimed at enabling the movement of the workforce and experts. Physiotherapy is a science-based practice focused on the human ability to function. Physiotherapy focuses especially on the prevention and rehabilitation of functional impairments. Physiotherapy uses evidence-based knowledge and procedures from the field of physiotherapy as well as several other disciplines.

Physiotherapy is included in wellbeing, rehabilitation, and exercise service systems. The aim of physiotherapy is to promote and maintain the health, functional capacity and wellbeing of individuals and groups. Physiotherapeutic assessment is used to determine the client’s ability to move and function, as well as factors threatening or hindering that ability in the person’s living and working environments. The situation is assessed to draw up rehabilitation goals together with the client for the achievement of their optimal functional ability, especially mobility. When setting rehabilitation goals, focus is placed on the client's resources, living environment and services offered by different service systems. The physiotherapist then prepares a physiotherapeutic plan aimed at achieving the client's rehabilitation goals, implements the plan together with the client and evaluates the achievement of the goals during the physiotherapy process.

Physiotherapists act similarly to entrepreneurs, meaning that they bear the responsibility for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and development of the process, drawing from evidence-based information. In their work, physiotherapists must consider ethical and legislative perspectives as well as the requirements of effectiveness, efficiency, and economic conditions.

The work of physiotherapists is client-oriented, meaning that they consider the client's and the client’s family situation. Physiotherapists work in cooperation with the client and other experts participating in the client's treatment and rehabilitation, in addition to acting as experts within multi-professional working groups.

Clients can reach out to a physiotherapist directly or be referred to one, by another healthcare professional. A physiotherapist may work either under the command of another professional, as an independent entrepreneur, or as part of different projects. Physiotherapists may work in hospitals, health centres, research and treatment facilities, wellness companies, rehabilitation facilities and spas, occupational health care, public health, sports and disability organisations, service centres and kindergartens, as well as school and sports facilities.

Becoming a licensed healthcare professional

Upon application, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA) will provide physiotherapists with a certificate d to act as licensed healthcare professionals. Being granted a license requires completion of the 210 ECTS credits included in the curriculum of the physiotherapy degree. The task of the University of Applied Sciences is to verify that the skills of the graduating healthcare professional correspond to the set professional requirements.

Professional development

Savonia's curricula are made up of study units that form broader study entities. These are designed to support students’ overall development and the development of their expertise. At the same time, they combine teaching and working life-oriented research and development activities.

The physiotherapy curriculum is designed so that:
- the degree programme provides students with the skills required in working life
- it ensures the development of students' expertise.

Students
- prepare a personal study plan to support their studies, in which they identify any previously acquired skills
- are responsible for the progress of their studies

Savonia's teachers and other professionals provide guidance and support to students in defining and achieving their personal goals.

The development of expertise of physiotherapy students starts with the construction of a professional identity and progresses through the development, deepening and application of professional knowledge to becoming an expert in the field of rehabilitation. The physiotherapy curriculum is based on annual themes, which help students plan and evaluate their professional growth and focus on learning core information and skills as well as ethical principles. Learning is carried out as a goal-oriented, situation-related and interactive activity. The process requires identifying each student's personal goals and objectives. After completing their degree and sufficient work experience, students have the opportunity to apply for a higher university degree.

The annual themes included in the degree programme are laid out in the annex to the study curriculum.

Implementation

At the Savonia University of Applied Sciences (Savonia), the pedagogical focus is based on combining high-quality and working-life-oriented education, research and development activities in various ways. Co-development across disciplines encourages multidisciplinary activities, partnerships and closeness to working life. Focusing on working life increases students' motivation and commitment to their studies. The large variety of virtual and physical environments at Savonia and in different facilities provided by their network of partners, both in Finland and abroad, connect the theory and practice of physiotherapy in a broad and interesting way to the students’ learning process and organisational development. The physiotherapy degree is characterised by diversity, a multidisciplinary focus and the fact that it is unbound to a specific time and place.

Students' professional growth is supported throughout their study path by means of comprehensive guidance. At Savonia, each student is treated as an individual. The degree programme is carried out considering the different needs and goals of each student. Personalised education enables students to take advantage of alternative assessment methods and explore different paths according to their specific goals.

At Savonia, emphasis is placed on the recognition and acknowledgement of students’ previous skills and work-based learning, which are incorporated into personalised study plans. Students can deepen or expand their skills by taking advantage of the possibilities offered by Savonia's national and international university partners.

At Savonia, the content and implementation methods of annual themes and study units incorporate elements of responsibility, sustainable development and global security challenges affecting humanity.

The study curriculum defines the goals of each study unit, their subject matters, the scope of each study unit in ECTS credits, how the course and teaching will be organised, and the required assessments. The structure of the curriculum is designed as an entity that will enable the development and deepening of physiotherapeutic expertise. Teaching is carried out based on a hybrid model, either online or physically at Savonia’s premises. Courses are characterised by diversity, a multi-disciplinary approach and multi-professionalism.

Courses focused on working life, as well as internships in workplaces, are a central part of the implementation of the different physiotherapy study units. The working life-oriented implementation of study units includes collaborative projects and authentic learning situations that take place in various operating environments and workplaces.

Teaching, on the other hand, is carried out in the form of simulations and workshops, for example. Internships takes place each semester. Students can choose to do their internships at the Savonia Wellness Centre, daycare centres, clients' homes, hospitals, health centres, rehabilitation facilities, physiotherapy companies, in various projects, or in the third sector. Internships places are selected in such a way that they allow the student to develop a versatile understanding of physiotherapy and the work of physiotherapists during their studies, as well as a strong work ethic aimed at promoting wellbeing, health and functional ability. The physiotherapy teachers create working life-based learning situations together with a network of working life experts. This approach supports and expands the development of students' expertise. The degree programme follows the principles of accessibility.

Internationalisation is incorporated into the degree programme. Students have an opportunity to gain international and cultural competences in different courses comprising a total of 60 ECTS credits at different stages of their studies. These can be completed at Savonia as part of the normal degree programme or by selecting courses from the Bachelor' Degree of Nursing. There are various foreign exchange programmes that students can participate in, towards the end of their studies. Students can also improve their cultural skills by tutoring international exchange students. Students may also complete optional language studies, which are included as part of personal study and career plans.

In “Swedish Language and Communication Studies”, students will achieve language skills at least up to the level stated in Section 7 of the Government Decree on University of Applied Sciences. Language skills are assessed in accordance with the Act on Language Proficiency (424/2003). In “English Language and Communication Studies”, students will achieve language skills at least up to the level required for studying, exercising their profession and professional development (B2 level). In “Finnish and Communication Studies”, students will achieve the necessary communication and interaction skills for studying, exercising their profession, professional development, as well as for further studies. As part of their language and communication studies, students will be given feedback on the development of their language and communication skills. Language and communication studies can be integrated, as appropriate, into vocational studies.

The system of evaluation follows the regulation on degrees of the Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Assessment is aimed at providing guidance and monitoring the achievement of students' study goals. The evaluation criteria are based on the goals of that study unit. Students will receive information about the evaluation criteria at the beginning of each study unit. Students have the right to receive information about the application of the assessment criteria to completed study units. In the physiotherapist degree programme, quantitative and qualitative feedback is collected during each study semester and processed during tutoring lessons. In addition, students can also provide feedback through an intranet feedback system for students. Students may give feedback under their own name or anonymously. If necessary, teachers can also collect feedback related to a study unit. Student services, library and information services, international services and other university services provide assistance to students regarding their studies.