New English-taught Postgraduate Certificates and micro-credential launched aimed at professionals

Micro-credential in Rehabilitation & Prevention in the Healthy Aging Context

This course is specifically for those with a physiotherapy degree, and aims to delve deeper into healthy aging in terms of movement and prevention (e.g. falling, injury, etc.). The course set-up is the same as the PGs, and includes one week on campus in April to focus on the practical skills. The blended learning set-up allows participants to manage the learning within their professional context, but does include online interactive sessions with some parts in small groups which are mandatory. Professor David Beckwée explains the purpose of the micro-credential: “The aim is to pass on expertise to guide people from a younger age on towards a healthy aging process, something much needed in a world with a growing aging population. There is a focus on guiding patients who are 65+, and the issues that come with older age such as limited mobility, or symptoms due to e.g. stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease. The demand for courses such as these has increased considerably due to a lack of geriatric physiotherapists with the necessary skill set.”

PG in Clinical Anatomy

The reason to launch the PG in Clinical Anatomy is because for the past five to six years international students have specifically been asking for it. The PG is aimed at those with a background in anatomical structures (so not just physiotherapists, but also e.g. biomedical students, doctors, those working on machine-building, ergonomics experts, etc.). The idea is to give participants a deeper knowledge of anatomy and apply this newly-learned knowledge in their field of expertise. The programme focuses on enhancing knowledge in anatomy through dissection workshops, and to give participants 3D anatomical insight into the neuro-musculoskeletal system. The main selling point of this programme at VUB is that in most countries there is limited (or sometimes no) access to dissection rooms and often students are taught via a digital dissecting table, whereas here they have open and easy access to practice their skills on actual bodies. “The importance of being able to feel the various structures of the human body and do the dissection on a real body, is invaluable, and quite unique,” Professor Scafoglieri explains.

It is a one-year programme, in a blended format, with two weeks spent on campus to hone the acquired practical skills (compulsory). The mix of interactive online sessions and prepped material will also include Q&A sessions and study moments in group online to stimulate cohesiveness.

Advanced Master in Manual Therapy

This programme is a one-year research Master, and is specifically aimed at those who want to acquire more in-depth knowledge prior to starting a PhD, or continue their studies. It can also provide an added value for practitioners but is really aimed at those staying in the area of research and education. It is based on the Dutch-taught programme, and set up in a similar manner as the postgraduate programmes and the micro-credential described above. It also has two weeks on campus (mandatory). The target audience is international to help them expand and enhance the educational and research offer in Manual Therapy back home, given that this often is non-existent abroad, so this helps to fill that gap. Professor Scafoglieri adds, “It is an area where Belgium, and specifically VUB, is at the forefront, as physiotherapy is offered at a high academic level (a fully-fledged Master programme).”