Working with projects – chances and challenges in the bachelor of occupational therapy – Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) Winterthur, Switzerland

During the second and third year of the bachelor study in occupational therapy, students have to work on three projects. Already during the second term, they get introduced to the basics of project management. The first... [ view full abstract ]

During the second and third year of the bachelor study in occupational therapy, students have to work on three projects. Already during the second term, they get introduced to the basics of project management.
The first practical workshop takes place in the third semester and is called “Enabling Occupation”. During this project, students help clients to keep or improve their performance skills. Furthermore, the participants of the workshop develop own ideas or realize some from OTs working in the praxis.

During the fourth term students take part in workshops for handcrafting and design.

Students start to write a bachelor thesis in the second year of their studies. They have the opportunity to work on tasks, offered by OTs from the praxis. Not only for students, but also for their tutoring OTs, it can be hard work to collaborate. However, students have the chance to improve their basic skills of project management together with their partners.

The most important elements of project management for students and their lecturers are the various stages of a project, including thinking about goals, specific planning, creating concepts and finally the implementation phase. A special online tool is provided for the stage of project planning. During the time of these projects, students get permanent assistance of lecturers in meetings and an online platform.
With all these different projects, tutoring lecturers are challenged to keep the overview of every single work and its progress. To support them, tools from the multi-project management are applied.