Thank you for the 2020-21 academic year
I would like to start by expressing my sincere gratitude for everyone's efforts during the past academic year, which was, to say the least, remarkable. Although it was a demanding year, I remain fully convinced that we have learned an immense amount and taken huge strides forward in the development of the naprapathy program. Furthermore, I want to extend a special thank you to all the students who showed interest in, and were able to make, an invaluable contribution to healthcare during the most critical phase of the pandemic.
During the spring semester of 2020, a collaboration began between the School of Naprapathy and Danderyd Hospital (DS), where students were offered the opportunity to work as assistant nursing aides on various wards following a brief clinical introduction. Many stepped up, and no fewer than approximately 100 naprapathy students were able to assist the healthcare system during the acute crisis at that time. Judging by various reviews and evaluations, this was a highly appreciated effort.
The naprapathy program is attractive, which is reflected in, among other things, the number of prospective students who want to begin the program. Applications to the naprapathy program have increased by more than 20% compared to the previous academic year. This is significantly better than the otherwise strong education market! The fact that more people are applying to colleges and universities is largely due to how society and the labor market have been affected by the pandemic. The record-high interest in the naprapathy program is, of course, also due to this. However, the fact that we are performing so much better than the education sector as a whole is likely due to our investments in quality development, marketing, and the fact that we have some of the most satisfied students in Sweden!
The number of applications to the naprapathy program has increased by just over 20%. The record-high interest is partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the fact that we are performing so much better than the rest of the education market is likely due to our investments in quality development, marketing, and the fact that we have some of the most satisfied students in Sweden!
The management team has therefore decided to set a target of admitting 150 students to DN58 for the autumn semester of 2021. Operations are being continuously adapted to the number of study places, and the college is allocating significant resources during the current and coming years to teaching facilities, the expansion of teaching staff, administration, IT systems, and quality assurance.
Rationale for the decision:
Martin Asker has been appointed as the new Head of Research and Development (R&D) at the School of Naprapathy. The role involves responsibility for achieving the organization's goals of conducting evidence-based education, research, and development within manual medicine. In practice, this means initiating, supporting, and implementing research and development efforts, as well as contributing to knowledge and competence development at the college. The position also includes monitoring research and development trends and helping to identify key areas for development. The role also involves fostering collaboration with other academic institutions, professional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Pedagogical Director Per Palmgren is expanding his role at the School of Naprapathy. Does this mean the college has "flipped out"? Well, perhaps, as we are trying to flip the learning process. The intention of a "flipped classroom" is for students to prepare before class and work actively during lessons instead of passively sitting through lectures and having "knowledge poured over them." This approach offers greater flexibility, meaningfulness, and individualization, while also increasing interaction and reflection. Much of the teaching in the flipped classroom involves digital solutions and distance learning.
Finally, politicians in our neighboring country have understood what naprapathy can do for public health and musculoskeletal issues. Furthermore, this represents a recognition that naprapathy is based on science and proven experience, and therefore belongs within the general healthcare system alongside other medical specialties. The decision is also a major acknowledgment for the School of Naprapathy, confirming that our education is of such high quality that it can serve as the foundation for professional authorization in both Sweden and Norway.
Naprapathy programs in Finland and Sweden have long explored opportunities for further studies and higher education in the field. The naprapathy program in Finland (XAMK) is now launching a Master's program in Naprapathy in collaboration with the School of Naprapathy. This enables advanced-level studies and opens doors for further research in a subject that truly needs to be studied—a huge step forward that shows "nothing is impossible."
During the spring semester of 2020, about 20 Master's students began this brand-new program. The new education in manual medicine has received media attention, with Finnish Yle, for example, broadcasting a segment "about the unique higher education program with students from Finland, Sweden, and Norway, which constitutes an important path forward for naprapathy." Parts of the education are planned to take place at the School of Naprapathy during the autumn semester of 2021. We are certainly looking forward to this and sincerely hope that the corona situation allows it. The theme will be "Spine & Extremities: clinical reasoning, advanced diagnostics, treatments and mechanisms of action/effects."
Although the coming academic year will not be "normal" again, we hope that the measures and adjustments we have made to our teaching will prove successful.
The college's hope is to return to more on-site teaching, while some courses will continue to be offered as digital lectures.
According to surveys conducted during the 2020-21 academic year, many students appreciate the opportunity for digital teaching methods in theoretical courses. The digital solutions and educational platform that the college has introduced provide easily accessible tools, all to ensure that students find their studies stimulating!
We need to develop a blended teaching and learning method that combines secure and flexible virtual learning with "face-to-face" interaction to accommodate students' diverse needs while maintaining a sense of social belonging, context, and community.
The college's hope is that we can now start looking forward to "post-corona" education. Over the past year, our education has gone through a tough time that required major adjustments to our operations, both from an organizational and an educational perspective. It was necessary to create urgent solutions to continue teaching. We did it, and we succeeded! No courses or examinations were canceled, all students were able to study within the allotted period, and graduating classes were able to receive their degrees. Evaluations also show that we achieved this while maintaining very high educational quality—meaning both students and patients remain satisfied!
I wish you all a truly wonderful and well-deserved summer break!
Helène Schulte, Licensed Physician, PhD
President, School of Naprapathy
