# Thirty International Physiotherapy Students and Teachers Joined at Intensive Course - Savonia AMK

> Three universities around Europe are involved in the study course for the joint Blended Intensive Program (PIB) for neurological rehabilitation.

## Overview
The Blended Intensive Program (PIB) for neurological rehabilitation welcomed more than 30 physiotherapy students and teachers to participate in cross-border learning. The course involves three universities:
* Savonia University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
* The Charles University (Czech Republic)
* Department School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly (Greece)

The program began with a virtual meeting, followed by a week of contact teaching at the Savonia University of Applied Sciences Kuopio campus in February 2023.

## Perspectives from Faculty
Dr. Kamila Řasová, Associate Professor of Physiotherapy at Charles University, expressed enthusiasm for the international collaboration, stating, "I hope that this co-operation continues and we can make this intensive course a recurring learning experience for our students."

Dr. Thomas Besios, Assistant Professor at the University of Thessaly, noted the differences in clinical practice between Greece and Finland. "In Greece, we use our hands a bit differently and there are some differences in other methods, too," he observed, while also praising the environment in Kuopio.

## Course Curriculum
The program explores neurological rehabilitation from various perspectives. Key themes covered during the course included:
* Stroke and rehabilitation
* Multiple sclerosis and rehabilitation
* Parkinson’s disease and rehabilitation

The contact week in Kuopio featured a mix of lectures and group work designed to facilitate both academic learning and networking among participants.

## Student Experiences
Georgios Marios Kyriakatis, a final-year student from Greece, noted that while the principles of care remain consistent, the approaches differ. "I believe that our take is more classic and the Finns have more modern approach," he said.

Michaela Raková, a student from the Czech Republic, highlighted the informative nature of the program. "This whole week has been so well organized and informative, full of learning about the evidence-based methods. We have seen robots that are used here in physical therapy here. That was very interesting," she added.