Non communicable diseases (NCDs) take 38 million people’s lives each year worldwide (1). In Europe NCDs are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have recognized the importance of nutrition in prevention and treatment of NCDs (2; 3). Dietitians play an important role in the prevention of NCDs and in patient care of several diseases (4). Dietetics is a relatively young discipline at HEIs in Europe and differences in curriculum and thus education still exist. An example of the differences encountered is the “Dietetic Care Process” (DCP) or “Nutrition Care Process”, which is of key concern to all dietetic professionals. It is a systematic approach to recognize, diagnose and intervene in nutrition related health concerns. It improves consistency and quality of dietetic care and the predictability of outcomes, ensures evidence-based practice, and supports critical thinking as well as decision-making in all areas of dietetic practice (6). Worldwide and within Europe different frameworks of DCPs are used e.g. differences in the number of steps or used terminology. Equally important, each step should be strengthened by evidence-based recommendations, which are still not available for Europe. Furthermore, not all countries use a standardized language in dietetics (7). Thus implementation of international research projects, comparability of project results, agreement of the most efficient therapies and cross border mobility for professionals is difficult. Moreover, there is a substantial need for innovative learning materials. Different learning materials for the training of the various DCP are available, but unfortunately none use an innovative learning approach or are free for use. Therefore, another key output of this project is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) based on the unified framework DCP and free for use. The project will be a role model for all of Europe and other HEIs will be encouraged to implement the unified framework DCP and the MOOC. IMPECD addresses also the Education and Training 2020 strategy of the EU (13). Health professionals need to be trained to use new technologies as well as to provide innovative means of health care aimed at improving patient care (5). Therefore a Strategic Partnership composed of following five European institutions of higher education (HEI) has been formed to enhance the quality of dietetic education: University of Applied Sciences, St. Pölten (Austria) University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg (Germany) University of Applied Sciences, Fulda (Germany) Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool, Antwerp (Belgium) Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen (Netherlands) The project IMPECD aims at the IMProvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics goals - unify the framework Dietetic Care Process (DCP) - produce a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), free for use - implement an Intensive Study Programme (ISP) to test the MOOC and evaluate the materials - set up a syllabus and implementation guidelines to disseminate the results objectives - improving quality and relevance of dietetic higher education in Europe - improving key competences including English language, digital competences, knowledge and understanding of dietetics, dietetic process as well as professional reasoning, building professional relationships, autonomy and accountability, research and development in dietetics and thereby increasing employability. - support discussions concerning a dietetic standardized language - support Life Long Learning for dietitians Output of the project include a unified framework DCP, as a basis for the development of clinical cases, and the production of the innovative MOOC, which is embedded in the IMPECD-platform. Furthermore, pedagogical training materials are developed to present the clinical cases on the MOOC and for the development of the contents of the two ISPs. A syllabus is compiled and addresses the other European universities as a guideline to implement the mentioned results within the curriculum. To disseminate the results as a role model for Europe, implementation guidelines are compiled as a discussion basis for the stakeholders. These results will support the development of a unified framework DCP and the discussions about the implementation of a standardized language in the field of dietetics. Furthermore, quality and relevance dietetic higher education improves and Life Long Learning will be supported and serves as basis of excellent dietetic therapy in all of whole Europe, which lead to cost savings in the health care sector.
Context/background of the project Non communicable diseases (NCDs) take 38 million people’s lives each year worldwide, in Europe NCDs are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have recognized the importance of nutrition in prevention and treatment of NCDs. Dietitians play an important role in the prevention of NCDs and in patient care of several diseases. For every 1 Euro spent on dietary counselling of patients suffering from obesity or obesity-related diseases, society receives a net of 14 to 63 Euro in return. Health professionals need to be trained to use new technologies as well as to provide innovative means of health care aimed at improving patient care. To improve the quality and relevance of dietetic Bachelor programs in Europe, the Strategic Partnership IMPECD (Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics) has been formed in 2015. Dietetics is a relatively young discipline at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Europe and differences in curriculum and thus education still exist. Thus implementation of international research projects, comparability of project results, agreement of the most efficient therapies and cross border mobility for professionals is difficult. Moreover, there is a substantial need for innovative learning materials. Different learning materials for the training of the various Dietetic Care Processes (DCP) are available, but unfortunately none use an innovative learning approach or are free for use. Objectives Through an innovative Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), based on a unified framework DCP, students are trained for dietetic practice based on clinical case studies as well as they train transversal skills like clinical reasoning, problem solving, collaborative and interdisciplinary working. The project will be a role model for Europe and other HEIs will be encouraged to implement the unified framework DCP and the MOOC. IMPECD addresses also the Education and Training 2020 strategy of the EU. Number and profile of participating organisations This Strategic Partnership is composed of following five European institutions of higher education (HEI): • Artesis Plantijn University College, Antwerp (Belgium) • Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen (The Netherlands) • University of Applied Sciences, Fulda (Germany) • University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg (Germany) • University of Applied Sciences, St. Pölten (Austria) Important stakeholders like the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) and the National Associations of Dietitians in Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands support the project as experts in the Sustainability and Impact Board (SIB). Description of undertaken main activities The project IMPECD aimed at the IMProvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics by following activities: • creation of a unified framework DCP • production of a MOOC, free for use • creation of nine instead of five complex clinical cases that students are solving in the MOOC by following the DCP (after positive approved amendmentin 2017) • implementation of two Intensive Study Programmes (ISP) to test the MOOC and evaluate the materials • development of a syllabus and implementation guidelines to strengthen the sustained implementation at the partner HEIs and to disseminate the results Results and impact attained All activities mentioned in the project application were reached. Based on in-depth analysis a unified framework DCP was created and evaluated by teachers and students as a basis for the development of in total nine clinical cases instead of five. A guideline for developing clinical cases was produced, and the MOOC was embedded in the IMPECD-platform (www.impecd.eu). Furthermore, pedagogical training materials were developed to present the clinical cases in the MOOC. A syllabus was compiled as a guideline to implement the MOOC within the curriculum of other European HEIs. To disseminate the results as a role model for Europe, three implementation guidelines were published as a discussion basis for the stakeholders in form of international journal articles. In total 40 national and international dissemination activities were conducted. These results supported the development of a European unified framework DCP and the discussions about the implementation of a standardized language in the field of dietetics. If relevant, longer-term benefits. • improved quality and relevance of dietetic higher education in Europe • improved key competences including English language, international collaboration, digital competences, knowledge and understanding of dietetics, dietetic care process as well as professional reasoning, building professional relationships and thereby increasing employability • improved Lifelong Learning as basis of excellent dietetic therapy in Europe, which can lead to cost savings in the health care sector.