Competences for the new era of user-driven digital rehabilitation

The project, “Competences for the new era of user-driven digital rehabilitation” (DIRENE), addresses the emerging challenges brought by Covid-19 and the the need for the development of digital rehabilitation through higher education. Digital rehabilitation competence and practice is needed to build the resilience of future rehabilitation systems. Global need for rehabilitation is increasing due to population aging and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes. WHO (2020), estimates that by 2050 over 2 billion people globally will need one or more assistive device at some point in their lives. Therefore, the need for cost-effective services and solutions for rehabilitation is evident. Digital transformation provides many opportunities, however many rehabilitation service providers and healthcare professionals in Europe and elsewhere, struggle using the new digital opportunities. The rehabilitation sector was strongly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the challenges faced by the rehabilitation sector include the lack of technical knowledge, capacities, and didactical competencies in the application of digital rehabilitation. One of the main identified challenges in the adaption of new digital opportunities, is the access to relevant and evidence-based knowledge of which solutions to use or how to include digital rehabilitation into the scope of services provided. Another identified challenge is the general competence and capability of rehabilitation workforce to design use cases, with the users, for the existing digital solutions and for the different emerging technologies. Transnational cooperation in higher education offers an opportunity to develop competences on scale and to ensure access to required diverse digital knowledge in rehabilitation. The overall objective of this project is to contribute towards the resilience of rehabilitation systems through the development of digital rehabilitation competences of teachers, students and working life professionals. The specific objectives of the project include: 1) developing knowledge in digital rehabilitation for teachers, students and professionals for competence development in digital rehabilitation and, 2) increasing learning opportunities in digital rehabilitation through theory and evidence-based practice. These objectives will be achieved through developed Discussion papers, Framework, open pedagogical Handbook and a study Module with open on-line learning materials for the use of identified target groups in Europe and beyond.Above objectives will be achieved through active cooperation and networking. Different stakeholders are widely invited to contribute to the development work, including partners outside Europe, who will offer new expertise and reverse learning opportunities. Results will be widely disseminated through websites, social media, multiplier events and through new open learning opportunities. Directly, project engages around 300 rehabilitation experts in Europe. Indirectly, through dissemination and data collection activities, it is expected that over thousand people will be contributing to final outcomes. Transnational cooperation is essential in order to develop innovative rehabilitation practices to answer to the global challenges brought by COVID-19. Transnational cooperation ensures that partners are able to share their expertise in digital rehabilitation and to develop standards that go beyond remote and tele- rehabilitation initiatives. Project will provide valuable insights for global discussion on digital rehabilitation and is expected to lead to many new initiatives to improve rehabilitation globally.