Academic Program Reflection Tool

The Academic Program Reflection Tool (APRT) is a practical guide to support the development and review of academic programs for the rehabilitation professions. The purpose of the tool is to use a reflective review process to identify opportunities to create meaningful change to strengthen academic programs.

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What is the Academic Program Reflection Tool?

The Academic Program Reflection Tool is a practical guide to support the development and review of academic programs for the rehabilitation professions.

Why is the Academic Program Reflection Tool needed?

There is a global need to strengthen the rehabilitation workforce, in particular to address a shortage of personnel and inadequate training programs. This need coincides with the obligation of academic entry-level programs to prepare the workforce with knowledge, skills, and behaviors that align with global standards.

What is the aim of the Academic Program Reflection Tool?

The purpose of the tool is to use a reflective review process to identify opportunities to create meaningful change to strengthen academic programs. In addition the tool can be used to support the development of academic programs that align with international expectations.

Who is the Academic Program Reflection Tool for?

The tool is targeted at academic institutions that are developing new entry-level rehabilitation programs as well as reviewing existing academic programs. Rehabilitation programs may include, but are not limited to, audiology, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy, as well as rehabilitation specialists in medicine (physical and rehabilitation medicine or physiatry) and nursing (rehabilitation nursing). The tool is designed to be suitable for any context and a variety of local demands, and can be used interprofessionally for a shared vision.

How is the Academic Program Reflection Tool structured?

The Academic Program Reflection Tool consists of a workbook with worksheets to guide users in the process of reviewing and developing seven key components of academic programs:

Philosophy: Reflect on the core values of the program and align them with the program’s philosophy, vision, mission, and program outcomes statements.
Outcomes: Reflect of the process of developing relevant and realistic measures of program efficacy.
Curriculum: Reflect on the different parts of the curriculum and their alignment with current and projected global standards.
Students: Reflect on the processes for student recruitment, admissions, progression, and support services to identify opportunities to improve student success.
Program Faculty: Reflect on faculty roles and responsibilities and identify if there is sufficient expertise across the faculty to meet the needs of the curriculum.
Program Resources: Reflect on the physical and financial resources that are needed to support the program.
Program Integrity: Reflect on strategies to assess the integrity of the academic program.

While working through the workbook and worksheets the tool uses a reflective Plan-Do-Assess-Adjust model that focuses on the process of reflecting. The planning, doing, assessing and adjusting process is continuous and will take time to achieve the desired outcomes.

What is needed to use the tool successfully?

The process of developing new academic programs and/or reviewing existing programs can be overwhelming. With commitment from academic staff and stakeholders, implementation of the Academic Program Reflection Tool can guide the process. Collaboration of all stakeholders involved is vital to the process and facilitated through focused workshops, regular meetings, mentorship from experienced academicians, ongoing discussions, and sharing of ideas and experiences.