# FUGA project - Promoting cooperation in Singapore

> FUGA, Future of Remote Therapy project, is a project coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences and funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland’s, Asia Programme administered by the Finnish National Agency of Education.

## Project Overview
The FUGA (Future of Remote Therapy) project is a collaborative initiative running from October 5, 2020, to December 31, 2022. The project aims to develop a virtual course focused on remote therapy.

**Participating Organizations:**
*   Turku University of Applied Sciences (Coordinator)
*   Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
*   Singapore Institute of Technology
*   Savonia University of Applied Sciences

The project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland, which covers costs for expert visits. Planning, piloting, and development are conducted through the working time contributions of the participating organizations, involving professionals in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and project management.

## Development and Piloting
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, initial project work was conducted via online meetings and webinars, and some planned travel was postponed. Course development began in late 2020, with the first student pilot occurring in the spring of 2021. Following feedback, the course was refined, and a second student pilot was successfully implemented in the spring of 2022 with eight participants.

## Singapore Field Visits
In May 2022, project members visited Singapore to facilitate face-to-face collaboration and explore the local rehabilitation system. Key visits included:

*   **Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT):** Discussions focused on future cooperation in areas such as fall prevention and active aging.
*   **Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD):** A local charity providing learning support for children with developmental disabilities and individual rehabilitation services to assist with returning to work.
*   **TechAble Assistive Technology Center (Enabling Village):** An accessible community space focused on promoting assistive devices and user-driven tool development to help individuals with disabilities live independently.
*   **National Heart Center:** A specialized unit for cardiac rehabilitation, focusing on evidence-based, individual care for both in-patient and out-patient cardiac patients, including specialized care for frail patients.
*   **NTUC Health:** A social enterprise providing comprehensive elderly care, including day care, nursing homes, home care, and active aging centers that offer social activities like gymnastics and crafts.

## Future Outlook
The FUGA project continues through the autumn of 2022. Current efforts are focused on the long-term implementation of the developed course, the generation of new project ideas, and the continuation of international cooperation.

## Authors
*   **Marja Äijö**, PhD, Principal lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
*   **Sanna Sihvonen**, PhD, Principal lecturer, Jamk University of Applied Sciences
*   **Niina Katajapuu**, PhD, Senior lecturer, Turku University of Applied Sciences