Project

SportsComp: Higher education to improve competency in Sports Physiotherapy

Project sponsors

Abbreviation
SportsComp
Project type
Development project
Focus area
Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation
Implementation time
1.9.2023 - 31.8.2026
Unit
School of Health and Social Studies
Financing program
Erasmus+ Key Action 2 2021-2027
UN Sustainable development goals
Project description

Higher education to improve competency in Sports Physiotherapy, SportsComp

The SportsComp - project focuses on the long-term competence development of the academia, students, and professionals by updating sports physiotherapy competencies for the higher education and physiotherapy organisations. Project, implemented at EQF level 7, supports the development of English taught Master programmes, courses, and flexible study options in sports physiotherapy through co-creating and piloting innovative e-learning courses through competence-based education. 

The general objective of the project is to increase the quality of sports physiotherapy education and profession through competence development. Project enhances the excellence of sports physiotherapy, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation education, and supports the improvement of European health care and sport systems.

The specific objectives of the project include:
1: long-term competence development of the academia, students, and professionals through updating sports physiotherapy competencies for the higher education institutions and sports physiotherapy organisations at EQF 7 level, 
2: to support the development of English taught Master programmes, courses and flexible study options in sports physiotherapy through e-learning courses at EQF 7 level.

The concrete results of the project include:
Work Package 2: Updated international sports physiotherapy competencies based on the European Qualifications (EQF) level 7 and redefined role of the sports physiotherapist according to CANMEDS model.
Work Package 3: Three innovative e-learning courses (5 ECTS Credits) in sports physiotherapy co-created based on Work Package 2 findings. The courses are integrated into partners' curricula prior to project end. 
Work Package 4: Two piloted e-learning courses for the students, academia and working life participants. In addition, the project develops a Tutor Guide to support competence development, learning and teaching for the academia, professionals, and learners to be used in different environments and settings to also support the knowledge and skills development of end-users and beneficiaries. 
Work Package 5: The project publishes various international papers and articles focusing on the competency update and refined role of sports physiotherapists.

Project is coordinated by Jamk University of Applied Sciences. Project partners include: University of Tartu, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Thessaly ja International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy. 

Further information: Armi Hirvonen, Project Manager

Project results
Higher education to improve competency in Sports Physiotherapy, SportsComp

SportsComp project was implemented during 1.9.2023-31.8.2026. 
SportsComp project's main objective was to increase the quality of sports physiotherapy education and profession through competence development. This included, for instance, updating the international sports physiotherapy competencies and developing and piloting innovative e-learning courses based on the competency update. In addition, the project sought to enhance the excellence of sports physiotherapy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation education while supporting the improvement of European health care and sport systems. 

Project's key results include:

Work Package (WP) 2: Updating the international sports physiotherapy competencies; defining the role of sports physiotherapy via a Delphi survey and focus group interviews. This was followed by a final consensus and publication of the Final report and the new version of Competency 11.

Work Package (WP) 3: Developing (co-creating) three e-learning courses (5 ECTS Credits each, EQF level 7) for long-term competence development of students, academia and field professionals. 

Work Package (WP) 4: Implemeting two of the e-learning courses to international group of students and experts followed by feedback, assessment, accreditation and course revision. This was followed by the integration of the courses into organisations' curricula, dissemination and scaling. In addition, a Guide to E-learning was co-created to support digital pedagogy development, teaching and learning.

Work Package (WP) 5: The project focused on on-going and global communication and dissemination actions via various channels, including the project website, social media, events, meetings and conferences. Attended conferences included, for instance the following: Fifth World Conference of SPT – Oslo 2024, World Physiotherapy Congress – Tokyo 2025, Marathon Conference – Athens 2025, first remote SEPWOC Conference 2025. Project also published six international papers and three national papers for enhancing project impact. The future collaboration of the consortium was finalised through a written Strategic plan.

The project has created sustainable long-term impact at regional, national, EU and global levels, the project outputs, results, created practices and knowledge being used in education, learning and practice for decades to come. Project benefits various target groups and stakeholders for enhancing competencies and knowledge in sports physiotherapy, physiotherapy and the field of rehabilitation.