Occupational Therapy students connect with students across the world through iDOT project

Occupational Therapy (OT) students say they gained skills and confidence through a project that connects them with other OT students across the world.

The International Discussions in Occupational Therapy (iDOT) project brings together nine partners across seven countries in Europe, Asia and Africa - including Belgium, Croatia, South Africa, and Kuwait.

Second year Occupational Therapy students at the University of Southampton are matched with counterparts from the other universities in the project.

The students meet virtually in small groups at least three times over the course of a month, with set discussion points and topics they are asked to cover.

The focus of the conversation is around older people and free time occupations, as well as the wider healthcare sector and society - exploring what it looks like here in the UK and in other countries involved in the project.

While the project is not assessed at Southampton, students are expected to make the connections and coordinate meetings – considering schedules and time differences across countries and courses – as well as reflecting on their experiences.

Senior Teaching Fellow Fay Free , who coordinates the project at the University of Southampton, said: “Students reported rich and positive discussions, learning not only about occupational therapy education in other countries, but also about culture, healthcare systems, history, and each other as people.

“That exchanging of ideas is really valuable, as well as forming connections and friendships with other people around the world.”

Student and staff experiences of the iDOT project were the subject of a recently published research paper, co-authored by representatives from the nine institutions involved.

The research, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy , featured feedback from around 140 students who completed a survey, alongside students and educators who took part in focus groups and interviews.

The findings showed that over 77% of participants felt they benefitted from the iDOT project, with most saying they gained social and interpersonal skills as well as supporting their professional development.

Around 80% of respondents stated that the skills learned during the project could benefit them in future working environments, for example through developing their communication skills. Most students felt more confident communicating with new people and improved their active listening skills.

They also maintained contact with their partners beyond the project, making friends and supporting each other with assignments.

Sarah McGinley , Principal Teaching Fellow, who co-authored the paper, said: “I think it is a really valuable experience in terms of being globally aware, developing their professional skills, and being conscious of cultural differences.

“It allows students to have that real-world experience of things like language barriers, appreciating what it's like for non-native English speakers, and developing their own communication style.”

Sarah and others from the project team are presenting the findings of the research at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, taking place in Bangkok from 9 - 12 February.

Sarah added: “It always sparks a lot of interest when we talk about it and when we have presented it. It's definitely gained momentum and interest from various global partners.

“By sharing the results of the study, we will hopefully have more people coming on board so that the project can grow and we can create more opportunities for students to collaborate with others from different parts of the world with very different experiences.”

Find out more about Occupational Therapy at the University of Southampton