New directors of degree programmes at FH Burgenland

Pinkafeld, 22 March 2024 - The Bachelor's degree programmes in Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy , each with 15 places, will be offered at the Pinkafeld campus of FH Burgenland from autumn 2024. The degree programmes last three years. There are no tuition fees. Specialists in both fields are in high demand. Two programme directors, Nicole Feichtgraber and Lisa Schöndorfer, were recruited just in time for the start of admissions.

Occupational therapy: establishing high-quality training in Burgenland

Lisa Schöndorfer, BSc MSc (born 1997) completed a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt and a few years later a Master's degree in Health Promotion and Human Resource Management at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland. She gained professional experience as an occupational therapist and interim centre manager of a day care facility for young people and adults in Krems, worked in orthopaedic rehabilitation in Baden and then at the Badnerhof health and spa hotel. There she worked in quality and risk management before joining the Department of Health at FH Burgenland as a project employee in summer 2023. Lisa Schöndorfer lives in Berndorf an der Triesting.

Speech therapy: an interprofessional approach as a speciality

Nicole Feichtgraber, BSc MA (born 1988) completed a bachelor's degree in speech therapy at the FH Joanneum in Graz and a few years later a master's degree in health management and integrated care at the FH Burgenland. She gained professional experience as a speech therapist at the Friedberg curative kindergarten, at the Rosalienhof therapy centre of the BVAEB and as a freelance speech therapist of choice. Nicole Feichtgraber lives in Hartberg.

Study for three years free of charge

Occupational therapists help people of all ages to (re)organise their lives independently. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, primary care centres, schools, kindergartens or independently in their own practice.

Speech therapists help with speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders as well as problems with communication, breathing and hearing. They work in different settings with people of all ages, including in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, outpatient clinics, kindergartens or independently in their own practice.

The degree programmes are free of charge and after three years lead to a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies (BSc) degree and a professional qualification in the respective field. The degree programme is organised to enable students to work. Courses take place from Monday to Thursday at the Pinkafeld campus of FH Burgenland. There are 15 places available on each degree programme. Information and enrolment at www.fh-burgenland.at

Interview with Lisa Schöndorfer, Head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Occupational Therapy:

• What are you particularly looking forward to in your new role?

I am particularly looking forward to working with my colleagues to establish a high-quality training programme for occupational therapists in Burgenland and thus make a long-term contribution to occupational therapy care in Burgenland. I am also looking forward to establishing the occupational therapy research area at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences and actively participating in interdisciplinary research and development projects involving students on the Bachelor's degree programme in Occupational Therapy.

• What are your plans? What would you like to focus on?

I attach particular importance to a lively transfer between theory and practice. Students have the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in theory directly in practice in all courses and in a total of six internships in various healthcare and social institutions. Thanks to a small group size of 15 students, we at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences are also able to cater to the individual needs of students and promote personal skills in a targeted manner.

• Where do we encounter occupational therapy in the course of our lives? What can it achieve?

We can encounter occupational therapy in a wide variety of life situations and phases. In occupational therapy, we assume that independent action or activity is a basic human need and contributes to health and quality of life. After illnesses and accidents, developmental disorders or other challenging life events, everyday activities such as getting dressed, shopping, doing homework, preparing meals, going to work or socialising can often no longer be carried out or only to a limited extent. Occupational therapists then work with their clients to enable them to carry out important everyday activities independently again and thus (re)master their everyday lives independently.

Occupational therapists work in various fields such as neurology, orthopaedics and hand surgery, psychiatry and psychosomatics, geriatrics, paediatrics and health promotion and prevention.

• In your opinion, what do interested candidates need to bring with them?

Interested candidates should definitely have an interest in working with and on people and in the topics of health and illness, everyday life and independence as well as therapy and rehabilitation. Potential applicants should also be characterised by their empathy, communication skills, ability to work in a team, ability to reflect, patience and perseverance.

Interview with Nicole Feichtgraber, Head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Speech Therapy:

• Where do we encounter speech therapy in our lives?

Speech therapy belongs to the professional group of MTDs (medical-technical service). The fields of activity of a speech therapist include the areas of speech, language, voice, swallowing, hearing and breathing. The primary goals are to improve, maintain and regain communicative abilities, oral functions and food intake throughout the entire lifespan.

For example, some children need support in discovering language for interaction or the correct articulation of certain sounds. In adulthood, we speech therapists also care for patients with swallowing, voice, speech and/or language problems following neurological or oncological diseases.

• You also mentioned working with the voice. Who needs your support here?

People who work in a speech profession need a powerful voice. However, sometimes the daily strain on the voice is too great and hoarseness occurs. In speech therapy, we try to help people with voice problems on the one hand and to maintain the health and performance of the voice through preventive interventions on the other.

• The interprofessional approach is a unique feature of the new degree programme. How can you visualise this?

The special feature of the new Bachelor's degree programme in Speech Therapy at FH Burgenland is our interprofessional approach. Right from the start, students get to know the professional groups that they will encounter in their everyday work. Holistic, individual, needs-orientated therapy for patients can only be achieved through the interaction of all professional groups involved. In the Department of Health, we endeavour to ensure that all degree programmes in the department work together. This gives tomorrow's nurses, physiotherapists, health managers, midwives, occupational therapists and speech therapists an insight into the day-to-day work of the other professional groups.

• What do people interested in this profession need to bring with them?

Communication enriches our lives. New encounters and interactions make our everyday lives exciting and varied. If you want to accompany and support people throughout their lives on their way to improving, regaining or discovering their communication skills or when they have problems with eating, speech therapy is the right profession for you.

• What do you focus on in your training? What is important to you?

During their studies, students can expect varied, exciting and research-orientated teaching with a high proportion of practical experience in order to optimally prepare them for their future work as speech therapists. After graduation, the doors to the professional world of speech therapy are open, and students are motivated, eager to learn, courageous, committed and happy to pursue them.

Further information:
Mag^.a Christiane Staab
Marketing & Communication
Fachhochschule Burgenland GmbH
Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537
E-Mail: christiane.staab@fh-burgenland.at