Time to Rethink Intended Learning Outcomes for Sustainable Development? A Qualitative Exploration and Reflection of Course Syllabuses in Swedish Undergraduate Physiotherapy Education

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Several calls to action for the implementation of education for sustainable development in health profession education have been put forth during the last few years. The aim was therefore to explore and describe sustainability-focused intended learning outcomes (SD-ILOs) in curricula of undergraduate physiotherapy education in Sweden. METHODS Using a deductive, descriptive, and qualitative approach, SD-ILOs in programs ( n = 8) and course syllabuses ( n = 143) from eight higher education institutions providing physiotherapy undergraduate education in Sweden were analyzed. SD-ILOs were described based on the subject content or condition, level of cognitive processes, sustainability learning dimensions, and key sustainability competencies. RESULTS Six of the eight physiotherapy programs provided course syllabuses with SD-ILOs. However, only 3% ( n = 36) of all ILOs were sustainability-focused. A larger part of the SD-ILOs, 78% ( n = 28) was described within the cognitive dimension of learning, and 80% ( n = 27) were linked to either the cognitive process ‘understanding’ or ‘analyzing’. The most frequently identified key competency in the SD-ILOs was ‘systems-thinking’ n = 10 (28%), and 30% ( n = 11) lacked key competency. CONCLUSION There is an urgent need for rapid initiatives to enhance sustainable development education in Swedish undergraduate physiotherapy education. Pedagogical approaches that cover not only cognitive dimensions of learning for sustainable development but also socio-emotional and behavioral dimensions, as well as more complex cognitive learning processes must also be developed. The current lack of key sustainability competencies further emphasizes the necessity to enrich physiotherapy curricula with action-oriented learning to develop powerful future sustainability agency within healthcare and the public health arena.