Iðjuþjálfinn - 01.06.2000, Page 35

assessments for each module will be
completed in the student's home country.
The dissertation is supported through e-
mail supervision.
The administrative office is situated in
Hogeschool van Amsterdam. We use
their quality management system for the
overall master's programme. The course
director is located at the Karolinska
Institutet in Stockholm. Figure 1 shows a
general overview of the course.
The second course starts in Aug-
ust/September 2000. Twenty-four stu-
dents will be admitted. The fee for the
master degree course is Euro 6.810.
The market and rationale for a
master's degree for Occupa-
tional Therapists in 1994
In 94 there were more than 100 institu-
tions in Europe offering undergraduate
OT programmes. Some institutions in
Britain and Sweden offer master's degree
programmes in OT for some years, and
now a few more countries are developing
master's programmes in OT e.g. Finland.
We found that there was a pressing need
for academic staff in all European coun-
tries to upgrade their qualifications in the
area of OT. The few possibilities for an
academic OT education created a need
for an international degree. Also the
political situation and the unity in
Europe evoked an increasing need.
We know that OT's wishing to study
further often have to enrol for other types
of degrees, e.g. in social sciences, MBAs
or MPHs. While this in itself has some
advantages there was a market for a post-
graduate degree in the specialised area of
OT. It was agreed that this European OT
degree would be attractive to therapists
who wish to explore the European
dimension of the profession. The degree
should be particularly attractive to those
who wish to co-operate with institutions
in Europe. The need to achieve effective
OT throughout Europe is reflected in the
way the research process is reinforced in
every module. The main aim of the cour-
se is to produce graduates skilled in
evaluating and developing their pract-
ices, and who are able to judge practice
within the European context.
The need for a European Master's degree
in Occupational Therapy includes to:
• Further the study of human occupation
within different cultures
• Bring unity of practice into Europe
• Develop evidence-based practice
through European OT research
• Develop multicultural awareness
• Upgrade OT education in Europe
• Strengthen and develop OT as an
academic discipline as well as a rese-
arch arena
We found that Europe is potentially an
ideal 'laboratory' for the development of
OT theory, because similarities and
differences between cultures facilitate the
study of effects of the environment on
shaping of human beings' occupational
lives. Thus a master's degree with a
European focus fosters research on how
different cultures influence choice of, and
participation in the various occupations
in which humans engage. A European
OT body of knowledge can be developed,
with data collected from many countries.
Most theories and models used by
European OT's have been developed in
North America, Canada and Australia. A
European master's degree could foster a
broader research culture in OT. This
could benefit society as a whole.
The practice of OT has similarities and
differences throughout Europe. There has
as yet been, no real study of these differ-
ences. Governments are now more aware
that the quality of life of all clients, inclu-
ding disabled persons, could be en-
hanced by the development of occupa-
tional therapy services. The EU
acknowledges the need for more equity
of provision for disabled people throug-
hout Europe. A European master's
degree in occupational therapy will ena-
ble practising therapists to compare inter-
ventions, aims and service delivery sy-
stems in the context and culture of OT.
This is intended to spread good practice,
identify areas of development and foster
cohesion between occupational ther-
apists. It could encourage more innovati-
ve approaches to issues, with wider inter-
national perspectives. Therapists will be
able to share their ideas and experiences
and so foster development of OT practice
and education throughout Europe.
Also the opening of borders in Europe
has increased the mobility of the pro-
fessionals. The master programme pre-
pares occupational therapists to practice
Figure 1. A general overview of the course.
IÐJUÞJÁLFINN 1/2000 35