Challenging the establishment? What benefits can a more practicebased, part-time bachelor program have in educating physiotherapists for tomorrow?

Abstract

This article is based upon a study of 15 students’ learning, educated within a part-time, decentralised and net-supported bachelor program in physiotherapy. The program was found to educate students with skills and attributes which are most needed for health care workers of tomorrow. The research questions were: What are the key factors of the program that contribute to the learning outcomes? How can such a program challenge a more traditional campus-delivered program? The most important factors were 1) the variation between learning arenas; on-campus activities, periods of clinical placement and self-study periods and 2) the stronger emphasize on clinical experiences throughout; regular, weekly skills training in clinics and tasks that stimulated ref lection and social and collaborative learning. Transferring such elements to full-time programs is suggested. This implies more responsibility to the professional field, and affects the role of the teachers, supervisors and the power of the institution.