Looking Back: ENPHE Conference 2023 - Educating Physiotherapists for a Global Mindset

The European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE) held its conference in Prague, Czech Republic between 5-7 of October 2023. Hosted by the Charles University - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport​, the conference brought together physiotherapy educators, researchers, and students from across Europe to exchange knowledge, insights, and experiences.

Overview of the Conference

Over the course of three days, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, including keynote speeches, workshops, presentations, and networking sessions. The theme of this year's conference was "Educating Physiotherapists for a Global Mindset", which inspired lively and engaging conversations about the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field. We counted with the presence over 200 participants from about 30 different countries.

About the Keynotes

Dr. Daniel Stach: "Education for practice: learn (to) understand and explain” - Dr. Daniel Stach took us on a journey into the complex world of healthcare information and disinformation. He explored strategies to recognize (ir)relevant information in the public space, especially when patients come in with preconceived notions or misconceptions. His lively and engaging session encouraged us to navigate the intricate landscape of healthcare information with confidence and clarity.

Dr. Michael Rowe: "Navigating AI in Health Professions Education" - Dr. Michael Rowe's presentation dismantled the simplistic view of AI as either a saviour or a threat. Instead, he urged us to embrace ambiguity and explore the evolving role of humans in AI-supported HPE. Drawing inspiration from the antihero archetype, Dr. Rowe underscored the complexities of AI integration. This session encouraged interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to navigate the ethical dimensions of AI in practice.
  

About the Working Group Development Sessions

Working Groups hosted workshops and/or presentations on their thematic topics.

The Working Group on Emergent Topics in Physiotherapy is looking for participants in a survey concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Physiotherapy Education and Research. The aim of this survey is to understand the:

• Perceive knowledge of physiotherapy educators and researchers with AI
• The usage patterns of AI in physiotherapy education and research
• Attitudes towards the integration of AI in education and research
• Concerns and perceive risks of the integration of AI in education and research.
• Perceived necessities regarding the integration of AI in education and research.

Please use the link to respond: https://forms.office.com/e/JgemM3tcdE. All the responses will be kept confidential and individual information will not be disclosed in any published or presented data.

The ENPHE Research Group have three new articles to share as part of their outputs. You can find them on their website page.

All work and progress made by the groups can be seen in the respective WG webpage found here.

The Students’ Day

ENPHE's Student Day united a record number of students of about 90 participants to explore technology in physiotherapy, complementing the conference's global mindset and discussions on AI. The event included informative presentations, workshops, and hands-on experiences. Students from various countries learned about robotics, Virtual Reality's role in rehabilitation and empathy, and interacted with AI, AR, and VR technologies. They left with a strong interest in technology's potential applications in physiotherapy. You can see their results in their webpage.

General Assembly

The General Assembly for the Autum Conference occurred before the closing ceremony, with 63 members from the 157 current members, considering both full and associate members. The meeting covered several important topics. It began with the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, which passed without comments. The presentation of the activity plan and budget plan for 2024 sparked a discussion about developing an ENPHE journal, with members agreeing to explore the idea further.

The treasurer presented the budget plan, addressing concerns about the budget for the ER-WCPT meeting and clarifying that the budget is expected to balance once membership fees are collected. A reminder about the new online voting process was provided, detailing the timeline for voting and the use of the Qualtrics system.

Finally, the meeting announced vacancies for two positions in the ENPHE Boards: Secretary and Chair. The election process timeline was outlined, and only country coordinators can vote for board elections. The meeting also discussed institutions' requests for Erasmus+ staff mobility for training documents, which will be further explored in the spring 2024 GA.  

Looking back…

…it is safe to say that the ENPHE Conference Edition of 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic was another successful ENPHE event, with colleagues coming together to collaborate, network and co-create. Such a success would not have been possible without the tireless work of our colleagues at the host university Charles University - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, therefore a special thank you to Lenka Henebergová and Tereza Nováková. Additionally, thank you to the keynote speakers for sharing their insights, and the WG facilitators for hosting such interesting workshops. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the participants for joining and making this ENPHE event so pleasant. We hope to see you all again during the ENPHE Seminar 2024 Edition in Spain!