Why Was It Updated?
Although FTR-UÇEP 2025 is a continuation of the program implemented since 2016, it has been restructured in line with today’s rapidly changing healthcare needs, the expectations of younger generations, and European Union standards. The new program was developed based on the Bologna Process, the criteria set by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), and the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education, with the aim of ensuring national-level harmonization of professional standards.
Main Objectives of the Program
The most significant feature of the new program is its emphasis on a competency-based educational approach. Students are expected not only to acquire knowledge but also to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative skills. While sixty percent of the curriculum will be based on national standards, forty percent will be shaped by elective courses designed according to universities’ own visions and the individual goals of students. Moreover, a biopsychosocial approach to healthcare education has been placed at the center, taking into account cultural and social dimensions. The program also aims to instill a habit of lifelong learning, enabling graduates to continue their professional development in a sustainable manner.
Innovations in the Physiotherapist Profile
With FTR-UÇEP 2025, the expected profile of physiotherapists has also changed. Graduates are envisioned as creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial individuals who demonstrate digital literacy and technological competence, while also developing a perspective that is sensitive to social and universal values. Adherence to ethical principles, environmental awareness, professionalism, and the ability to balance subjective well-being are among the core characteristics that new physiotherapists are expected to embody. In this way, professionals who are both individually responsible and socially engaged, and who can adapt to the demands of the modern era, will be trained.
Changes in Educational Methods
The new program also brings a fundamental transformation in teaching methods. Going beyond traditional approaches, FTR-UÇEP 2025 adopts problem-based learning as its core educational model. Students will actively participate in discussions and solution-development processes through real-life case scenarios. Supported by online materials, audio-visual content, and digital platforms, this approach makes learning more interactive. Assessment methods have also been renewed, with performance-based formative tools such as rubrics, peer evaluations, and self-assessment forms coming to the forefront. Learning environments are becoming more flexible, interdisciplinary, and student-centered.
International Standards in Clinical Practice
Another notable feature of FTR-UÇEP 2025 is the regulation of clinical practice. The program requires physiotherapy students to complete a minimum of one thousand hours of clinical training. This duration has been determined in line with practices in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Clinical training will take place in hospitals, sports clubs, rehabilitation centers, and university-affiliated practice units, all under the supervision of experienced physiotherapists. In this way, students will be able to transfer theoretical knowledge into practice and develop professional competencies within a framework consistent with international standards.
What Does It Mean for Universities and Students?
Higher education institutions are obliged to revise and implement their curricula in accordance with FTR-UÇEP 2025. For students, this means encountering a more flexible, innovative, and internationally valid educational process. Consequently, graduate physiotherapists will be able to work not only within Turkey but also abroad as competitive, well-equipped professionals who uphold ethical standards.
Conclusion: A New Era in Physiotherapy Education
Approved by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), FTR-UÇEP 2025 represents a fundamental change not only in course content but also in the overall philosophy of education. By focusing on innovative skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and digitalization, this program provides Turkish physiotherapy education with a powerful vision on an international scale.
Click here to access the full text of FTR-UÇEP 2025.
