The values and principles statement defines the common base for all ENPHE members. It makes explicit what principles and values collaboration within the network is based on. It forms an important part of ENPHE’s vision and mission statements.
About ENPHE
The leading Knowledge Forum in Physiotherapy Higher Education in Europe. Home for Educators, Students and Professionals.
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summary
The European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE) is a voice, a forum and a connector for physiotherapy higher education stakeholders. Our mission is to align educational programmes and drive forward new developments, in Europe.
ENPHE was founded by Hogeschool Utrecht (Netherlands), University of Iceland (Iceland), University of Applied Sciences in Zagreb (Croatia), Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão (Portugal), Instituto Politécnico do Porto (Portugal) and Escola de Santa Maria Saúde (Portugal). It initially functioned as nonformal and regional network of higher education institutions. The first office of ENPHE was established in Belgium, and in 2009 move to the Netherlands.
In 2021, ENPHE became an official and formal nonprofit organisation, based in Portugal. Currently comprises of 156 institutions from 31 different countries.
values and principles
“We believe that ENPHE must be oriented towards the future being driven by innovativeness and active collaboration. Our network is open to new ideas and approaches, and we treat our members equally. Our work is based on trust and transparency related to objectives, processes and the use of resources.”
Our Vision
The vision statement provides an inspiring idea of physiotherapy in Higher Education in Europe. It says what ENPHE would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or longterm future. It describes a future status but no activity. It is inspiring and emotional but realistic.
ENPHE is the leading Knowledge Forum related to Physiotherapy Higher Education in Europe that anticipates trends and forces in the changing society that shape professional practice and education.
ENPHE provides a Home for Educators, Students and Professionals where they can openly engage and collaborate, and where they can find support to align and improve educational developments in the field.
Our Mission
The mission statement declares ENPHE’s purpose and why it exists. The mission statement describes the added value which it brings to the sector.
ENPHE exists so that …
· Physiotherapy higher education has a voice that speaks out and lobbies for aligned educational development in physiotherapy. ENPHE is a VOICE.
· Physiotherapy higher education stakeholders have a forum to engage and drive forward new developments. ENPHE is a FORUM.
· Different approaches in physiotherapy higher education become visible and are connected so that they have best impact for future professionals. ENPHE is a CONNECTOR.
Key Strategies
The key strategies pursued support to achieve the mission. Each strategy or group of strategies should have an obvious connection to one (or more) aspects of the mission. Specific programmes, targeted audiences, significant projects, membership strategies, revenue development etc. are not involved but will become part of the strategic plan. In order to achieve its mission, ENPHE will:
- Become proactive in the social discourse around education in physiotherapy and health. It will represent the views and ideas of its members.
- Engage and involve its members through interactive fora and working groups. It will make knowledge publicly accessible for all its members.
- Facilitate learning, innovation and co-creation for improved educational structures and approaches.
Actively involve students of physiotherapy to support learning and personal development. - Engage and collaborate with other educational and professional stakeholders. It will foster inter-professional learning and interprofessional collaboration.
Milestones and Partnerships
Governing Organs
Board of Directors
Patrícia Almeida
President
<p class="p1">Executive board member and President of European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE)</p>
<p class="p1">Senior lecturer - Department of Physiotherapy, Alcoitão Health School – Portugal | Head of Education - HANZE University of Applied Sciences - The Netherlands | President of the Neurology group of specialists Portuguese Physiotherapy Association.</p>
<p class="p1">Physiotherapist since 1996, expertise in neurology. Since 2001 combined practice with physiotherapy education and research. Active member of ENPHE since 2004. Currently interested in neurology, clinical reasoning, professional issues, innovation and management in higher education.</p>
Bjorg Gudjonsdottir
Tresurer
<p class="p1">Director of Board member and treasurer of European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE). Also involved in organization of seminars and conferences of ENPHE and a contact person with the working groups.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">An assistant professor at the Department of physical therapy of Iceland.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">Physiotherapist with expertise in Pediatric physiotherapy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have combined practice with physiotherapy education and research until 2019 when I stopped working in practice. Since involved in education and research.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">The University of Iceland has been a member of ENPHE from the start. I have been active member of ENPHE since 2014 and was a country coordinator until I joined the directors of board. Currently interested in pediatric physiotherapy, documentation, clinical reasoning and decision making, research, and professional issues.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
Ipek Gurbuz
Vice-President
<p class="p1">I am an Associate Professor in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, and a lecturer of Neurologic Physiotherapy and Pediatric Physiotherapy post-graduate programs of the faculty in Ankara, Turkey. I have been doing researches (since 2007) and giving classes on pediatric rehabilitation, especially on pediatric neuromuscular disorders since 2013. I am giving lectures on ethical issues in Physiotherapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation of pediatric neurological conditions, academic resource monitoring in Physiotherapy, and Physiotherapy in Public Health in undergraduate program of the faculty.</p>
<p class="p1">I am the member of Turkey Physiotherapy Association since 2007, and currently, I carry out the duties of general secretary at the Neuromuscular Diseases Research Association and a substitute member of the board of directors at the Association of Pediatric Physiotherapists in Turkey. I like to spend my time with my family, especially with my 1-year-old twins, and friends. Additionally, reading and participating to social environments with friends are my best activities which keeps me alive.</p>
William Steed
Student Representative
Andrea Ribeiro
Secretary
<p>I am a coordinator Professor ISAVE, and a lecturer in Cardiorrespiratory and musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in undergraduated programs. I am a physiotherapist since 1999, and a researcher since 2001. I like to spend my time with my family, especially with my 1-year-old twins, and friends. Additionally, reading and participating to social environments with friends are my best activities which keeps me alive. My name is Andrea Ribeiro and I hold the position of coordinator Professor at ISAVE, Amares, Portugal. I am a lecturer in cardiorrespiratory and musculoskletal field. During my PhD program I have worked in shoulder biomechanics and this continues to be one of my research interests, amongst with the cardiorrespiratory, public health and environmental Physiotherapy. I am a clinical practice supervisor / Adviser of undergraduate and post-graduated physiotherapy students. I have 20+ years of clinical practice experience, which I am<br />now developing at my clinic. I love to spend time with my family, and specially try to be the best mum, to my 3 boys.<br />I love travelling, and stering at the sea!</p>
Kenneth Chance-Larsen
Secretary
<p>I joined the ENPHE Board of Directors in 2024.<br />I am an Associate Professor at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, where I lecture on the Bachelor in Physiotherapy programme. I have previous academic experience from the United Kingdom and Australia, where I led the development of new pre-registration programmes of physiotherapy education from inception to roll-out. My clinical background is mainly within musculoskeletal practice, which is also where I have focused most of my research activities. I have a particular interest in direct access to physiotherapy in primary care, the boundaries of professional scope of practice, environmental physiotherapy, and exploring the liminal space within education.<br />I am also a keen cyclist, runner, and skier</p>
General Assembly Board
Jasmin Pekaric
Officer
<p class="p1">Jasmin is a physical therapist, manual therapist, head of department of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, international coordinator and a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (UASU), The Netherlands.</p>
<p class="p1">Formaly he was a member of the executive board (from 2017 to 2024)<br />As a lecturer he has a passion for applying healthcare technology in to education, interactive teaching and innovation of teaching methods. His moto: Always challenge the system and find the solution.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
Vilma Dudoniene
Secretary
<p class="p1">I am assoc. prof. and Director of the bachelor Physiotherapy study program at Lithuanian Sports University (https://www.lsu.lt/en/), Department of Health promotion and Rehabilitation. I have been working, doing research, and giving lectures on Differential Diagnosis, Obstetric, Gynecological and Pediatric Physiotherapy, Aqua therapy since 2000. I have been involved in ENPHE since 2001 and been on ENPHE boar between 2013-2017. <br /><br />Currently I am an Editor-in-Chief Of the journal Reabilitacijos mokslai: slauga, kineziterapija, ergoterapija (<em>Eng. Rehabilitation Sciences: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy; </em><a href="https://journals.lsu.lt/reabilitacijos-mokslai/about"><span class="s1"><em>https://journals.lsu.lt/reabilitacijos-mokslai/about</em></span></a>). In my free time I like reading books, travelling-to explore new countries and meet interesting people, and my hobby is cross-stitching.</p>
Katrijn D’Herdt
President
<p class="p1">I am internationalisation coordinator and policy officer for education at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy.<br />My background is in language teaching (secondary and adult education) and teacher education (as a lecturer and programme coordinator). <br /><br />My main interest is international and intercultural learning in higher education and I am involved in several higher education networks and international projects. Apart from that, I am a licensed group fitness instructor and a co-author of ‘Taalweb’ (course book Dutch for secondary education). I love exploring new places, good food and fresh air.</p>
Supervisory Board
Thim van der Laan
Officer
<p class="p1">I am responsible for the SUPSI Landquart and for THIM in Landquart, Switzerland. The SUPSI is the university of applied sciences of southern Switzerland and has an affiliate in the German speaking area in Landquart. THIM is a private university with roots in the Netherlands.</p>
<p class="p1">In 2019 I participated in my first ENPHE congress and immediately I got enthusiastic with the goal of the organization, its huge international network and the great members. As a non-physiotherapist in this organization, I try to look at the diverse issues from a different perspective. Nevertheless I surely share my love for education and physiotherapy with all other ENPHE friends.</p>
Daniela Simões
President
<p class="p1">My name is Daniela Simões. I am a lecturer and Physiotherapy Degree Coordinator at Escola Superior de Saúde de Santa Maria – Porto, Portugal. My teaching fields are evidence based practice, scientific research, statistics and public health. My ambition is to empower physiotherapy students with good scientific and public health basic knowledge.</p>
<p class="p1">I am actively involved in ENPHE since 2016. I have been a country coordinator and a working group member before becoming a supervisory board member.<br />I love spending time with my family and friends, I am an avid reader, a cinema and TV series enthusiast, a slow traveler and a food lover.</p>
Claudia Silva
Officer
<p class="p1">My name is Claudia C. Silva and I hold the position of Professor at ESS.PP, Porto, Portugal, in Neurology and Pediatrics fields (both undergraduated and post-graduated courses). During my PhD program I have worked on post-stroke management and the development of novel patient-centered intervention strategies, and this continues to be one of my research interests, amongst with the comprehension of movement strategies performed by young babies and children, with and without neuromotor conditions.</p>
<p class="p1">I am a clinical practice supervisor / Adviser of undergraduate and post-graduated physiotherapy students. I have 20+ years of clinical practice experience, which I am now developing at my university clinic.</p>
<p class="p1">I am very passionate about physiotherapy and with the perspective of endless opportunities for learning, given by this profession, which I consider the best profession in the world!</p>
<p class="p1">I love to spend time with my family, and specially try to be the most present mother I can be, to my 3 boys. I love travelling, both with my family, or alone!</p>
Officers
Helma Hillebrand
Office Manager
<p class="p1">I am the assistant of the Executive Board of ENPHE.</p>
<p class="p1">My tasks for ENPHE are the financial administration, organization and participation in seminars/conferences, stakeholders/board-meetings and relationship management.</p>
<p class="p1">My main job is Management assistant at the Institute of Human Movement Studies at the University of applied sciences in Utrecht.</p>
Margarida Jardim
Communication Officer
<p class="p1">As the communication officer of ENPHE, my tasks consist of managing all communication channels of ENPHE – social media, website, newsletters, and so on, proposing and executing interesting and creative ways of promoting ENPHE, its activities and its members. I have a BSc in International Business (with Marketing specialisation) and a MA in International Communication. <br /><br />Currently working at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, as a study advisor and communications coordinator for the Master International Communication. Born in Portugal, but living for almost 10 years in the Netherlands, I like to live in the best of both worlds (or should I say countries).</p>
ENPHE Governance Bylaws
In this document you can find the general bylaws of our association. Members can find the detailed bylaws in “resources”.