New research led by Dr Shinead Borkovic has explored global citizenship in occupational therapy education.
“In an increasingly interconnected and culturally diverse world, there is a pressing need for occupational therapy students to graduate as culturally responsive and socially responsible citizens,” she says.
“So, it is important to understand how educators perceive global citizenship and how it is embedded in the curriculum.”
The study found that, while some questioned its relevance, most educators saw global citizenship as a necessary part of preparing students for occupational therapy practice.
“We identified four ways educators understand global citizenship: institutionally imposed and irrelevant; locally mandated and important; values-driven and desirable; or professionally essential and aspirational,” says Dr Borkovic.
The findings from the study will inform the development of a global professional identity model, which aims to guide course designers, educators and researchers in preparing occupational therapy students for contemporary practice.
“Developing graduates as global citizens equips them to work comfortably in a complex and changing society, capable of addressing adversity and injustice,” she adds.
“It also contributes to the development of a stronger and more resilient occupational therapy workforce.”
