Enabel continues to invest in strengthening medical education in rehabiltation area in Ukraine. In October 2026, with the agency’s support, 14 speech and language therapists (SLTs) and 7 occupational therapists (OTs) took part in a study visit to Bruges.

The programme, delivered by the VIVES University of Applied Sciences, covered topics relevant to both professions: teaching and assessment methods, clinical placement supervision, and the use of digital technologies. This reflects VIVES’ approach to training rehabilitation professionals: future members of multidisciplinary teams share a number of joint classes, where they work through clinical cases together.

At Enabel’s request, occupational therapist Iryna Nyshcha and speech and language therapist Yuliia Ozarchuk share their reflections on the visit.

Yuliia Ozarchuk
Speech and Language Therapist
Teaching Assistant at the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University 

For me, the real discovery was an approach built on student autonomy. VIVES places great emphasis on developing students’ self-reflection and their responsibility for their own learning process, while the lecturer’s role is to create the right conditions and support that process.I also found the discussions on the mindful use of technology and the critical appraisal of scientific literature with digital tools particularly interesting. One session of the visit focused on the role of AI in education and research.

The CoCon Knowledge Centre left an unforgettable impression. It is a space that brings together professional literature, assessment tools for people with communication disorders, and even a podcast recording studio.The visit to Campus Spermalie gave us a chance to see how speech and language therapists work in an educational setting, and how the facilities are designed for children with visual and hearing impairments and developmental language disorders.

Iryna Nyshcha
Occupational Therapist
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
at Lesi Ukrainki Volyn National University

What stayed with me most was the university environment, where accessibility is visible in practice, not just in theory. I was particularly impressed by the adapted kitchen and bathroom, because these everyday spaces are where independence takes practical shape.As an occupational therapist, I found it fascinating to see how the layout of an environment can make daily tasks easier. It was a powerful reminder that our goal is not simply to restore function, but to help people return to their everyday lives.

In Belgium, students can spend a day or even a week with a family that includes a person with a disability or is raising a child with a disability. It would be valuable to see this kind of placement adopted in Ukraine. It would help students better understand the challenges these households face, how they adapt their home routines, what barriers arise during ordinary daily tasks, and which solutions are still missing to support greater independence and comfort, or communication itself. 

This kind of experience gives future practitioners a window into real needs and challenges that cannot be recreated in a rehabilitation setting. It would help them develop practical thinking and apply a person-centred approach in their work.

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