Page 1 - ACOTUP Newsletter

Set your schedule

for Victoria, B.C.

Inter-university international

fieldwork collaboration

By Dr. Lynn Cockburn, assistant professor, University of Toronto

Carmen Moliner, coordonnatrice de la formation clinique en er-

gothérapie, Université de Sherbrooke

I

nterest in international field-

work is manifest amongst

occupational therapy students.

Canadian academic fieldwork

coordinators have been discussing

the ethics, sustainability and secu-

rity challenges of such placements.

Considering the time and energy

required for preparing the students

for international placements, the

outcome must be a valuable learn-

ing experience which develops

occupational therapy competen-

cies as well as exposing the

students to issues of global health

and cultural competency.

Last year, facedwithnumerous

requests to participate in interna-

tional placements andan insufficient

number of places within its own

university,CarmenMoliner fromthe

Université deSherbrooke, sent out a

call for offers fromother universities.

LynnCockburn fromtheUniversity

ofToronto responded.Afterworking

though the logistics of an interna-

tional placement coordinatedby two

universities, three occupational

therapy students andonephysiother-

apy student from l’Université de

Sherbrooke were supervised by

Lynn Cockburn in Cameroon, in

collaborationwith local supervisors.

Lynnwas spending part of a sabbat-

ical year in this country, which pro-

vided the opportunity for this

arrangement. During an eight week

period, the students carried forward

community projects and clinical

work which had been initiated by

previous students and professionals

at theBamendaCoordinatingCentre

for Studies in Disability and Reha-

bilitation and at SAJOCAH (St.

Joseph’sChildrenandAdultHome).

Student feedback on the

experience was very positive.

The experience also assisted the

universities and the local organ-

izations in moving forward with

an understanding of how to

work in partnership when

hosting international students.

This international collaboration

optimized student interest and

human resources, and con-

tributed to the development of

rehabilitation services in a coun-

try where the need is great.

ACOTUP/ACPUE is a national organization

that promotes and develops occupational therapy

education and research with an understanding

of issues in a global context.

NEWSLETTER – Issue 16 – Spring 2013

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Dr. Lynn Cockburn, assistant professor, University of Toronto with four students on

an international placement in Cameroon in 2012.

With only a month beforeACOTUPmeets inVictoria, B.C. details are

being finalized and agendas are being set. Please update your calendars

with the following information.

May 27, 2013 Annual General Meeting (9:00 a.m.)

This meeting is open to all ACOTUP members and a continental

breakfast will be provided at 8:30 a.m. It will be held in room Pacific

A at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel.

May 27, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

The Board of Directors (who should plan to attend the AGM as well)

meeting will also be held in room Pacific A at the Victoria Marriott

Inner Harbour Hotel.

May28, 2013Innovation inOTEducationForum(8:45a.m.-3:40p.m.)

All ACOTUPmembers are invited to attend this exciting forum being

held in room Terrace A at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel.

Acontinental breakfast will be offered at 8:30 a.m. prior to the start of

the forum, and lunch will also be served.

May 29, 2013 CUFE meeting (Time TBA)

All fieldworkcoordinators are invited toattend.Acontinental breakfastwill

be served in roomPacificAat theVictoriaMarriott Inner Harbour Hotel.

May 30, 2013 Speed Mentoring Session (11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.)

In addition, ACOTUP members may be interested in attending a Speed

MentoringSession (ledbyHeidi CrammwithCAOTfellows).The session

will be held in the Victoria Conference Centre.

The above information can also be found on the website at

www.acotup-acpue.ca

– we strongly encourage you to visit your web-

site and access the many resources it provides ACOTUP members.

Page 1 - ACOTUP Newsletter - Spring 2013