In response to Ukraine’s growing need for highly qualified rehabilitation professionals, Physiopedia led an initiative to align university rehabilitation programs with international standards. Through systematic application of the Academic Program Reflection Tool (APRT), this project brought together educators from multiple institutions to enhance educational quality and outcomes.
The project’s transformation was spearheaded by four leading institutions: the Ukrainian Catholic University, National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, Lviv State University of Physical Culture, and Khortytsia Rehabilitation Academy. These universities worked collaboratively to develop detailed action plans aligning their programs with international standards while maintaining sensitivity to local contexts. Their success was enhanced by remarkable inter-institutional collaboration, with universities openly sharing experiences and strategies for program improvement.
Under the guidance of international mentor Dr. Larisa Hoffman and national coordinator Olha Kovalachuk, the project implemented a diverse range of educational activities. The program combined intensive face-to-face workshops in Poland with sustained online collaboration, delivering 50 online workshops focused on APRT implementation and three leadership workshops for rehabilitation education and workforce development.
Key achievements include:
This project demonstrates how structured use of the APRT, combined with international expertise and local leadership, can drive meaningful improvements in rehabilitation education. The impact is well illustrated by feedback from the Ivan Bobersky Lviv State Physical Culture University, where close collaboration with international experts enabled step-by-step analysis and improvement of their master’s program in physical therapy, while enhancing faculty knowledge of modern approaches. This systematic approach has created a sustainable model for ongoing program development and enhancement across Ukraine’s rehabilitation education sector.
If you would like to learn more about using the APRT to strengthen academic programs, please contact us.
USAID
This project was made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the “Strengthening Rehabilitation Services in Health Systems” (SRSHS) activity, and implemented by Physiopedia.
