The aim of the analysis was to document how the accreditation programme was used in developing the physiotherapy education at SAMK between the years 2019 and 2024.
The seeking of full accreditation began as part of the continuous updating and quality assurance work with the specific aim of ensuring international as well as professional credibility of PT education. We also wanted to distinguish ourselves in Finland/Europe with our own competences, the process helped to identify the competences that we wanted to bring up.
SWOT - analysis was used yearly to examine the external threats and opportunities as well as internal strengths and weaknesses. The results of analysis were used for strategic planning of the physiotherapy education and for the applications of future development projects.
Strengths: The active participation in international and national networks has been a strength as has the continuous high scores in the national graduating students’ feedback (AVOP). New research-project fundings has been granted, which has also increased international relations.
Weaknesses: The availability of clinical placements has decreased. There are only a few lecturers having PhD and there is no physiotherapy master-programme in SAMK.
Opportunities: High-quality degree programs are attracting international students and a potential future workforce to Finland. Changes in content of the degree because of Covid has led to digitality based pedagogical methods. This is a possibility for increased international relations.
Threats: Covid-pandemia has led to changes in content and implementation of education, International and national political and societal changes, for example in health care and educational policy.
Regular implementation of SWOT analysis and annual feedback from World Physiotherapy as part of the accreditation process are solid basis for renewal of curricula in physiotherapy education. Annual accreditation process functions as a vital international quality assurance tool for degree programmes. The accreditation has led to an increased number of international applicants. The integration of the international students into Finnish society has been successful. An increasing number of graduates remain in Finland pursuing their physiotherapist careers.
Five years’ experience of being an accredited programme as an accredited programme can be utilised as an example of the development process of physiotherapist professional entry level education, and the results of SWOT- analysis can assist other education providers to engage in this process.
education
SWOT
