It is the 1st of November 2021 and 27 OT-students from all over Europe have been waiting for the date to arrive. A date that has been full of uncertainty since there currently is a global pandemic going on. It has been a challenging time. The courageous participants have been trapped behind their own boarders and having to suppress the adventurous traveler within them for the past two years. And yet, everyone who was supposed to be there is standing in the classroom at the University of Akureyri, Iceland. That is why SPOTeurope have gathered a collection of tales from the NORDPLUS course about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion. A unique opportunity in what we can currently call a limited world. So please enjoy the company of Eline, Mirja, Thomas, Pauliin, Malin and Unnur as they share their perspectives.
Introduction by: Ulrik, General Board Member

Norway – Eline

Q1: Who am I?
My name is Eline Mjelstad Rosberg. I’m a Norwegian student at NTNU Trondheim. I’m 24 years old, and on my 6th semester, also my last semester in the path to becoming an occupational therapist. When it comes to my interests I really like singing at my church, and play board games with friends and family.
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
The best part about being able to join the international course in Iceland, was to discuss social exclusion in our different countries and culture, and to get to know other passionate students. It was almost unbelievable to see that we had so much in common, and how we all became great friends in just one week.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist?
I will take with me the different innovative ideas from the other students, and this way to work as occupational therapists – to be creative and believe in your ideas. I will also take with me the friendships I got from the trip. This trip has also strengthened my belief in cooperation with different countries. Even though our culture may be different, we have a lot of similarities and are able to exchange ideas in different projects.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
The most important lesson I’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion would be the importance of listening to exposed groups in the society when it comes to different activities people find meaningful. Also, the importance of discovering different exposed groups in the society. It is also important to work with the environment around different exposed group, and to help people to believe in themselves and their abilities to participate in the community by strengthening their empowerment. The course has also brought up some new ideas when it comes to developing strategies to include these exposed groups in the society in my country.
Finland – Mirja

Q1: Who am I?
Hi, I’m Mirja, a 23-year-old Finnish OT-student from our capital Helsinki. I attend the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and am a third-year student. Our OT-degree consists of 210 ECTS (approximately 3,5 years) and I will, hopefully, graduate after this spring semester! Outside of sweating through my studies I use my free time on cooking, playing video games and indoor climbing.
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
The best thing about taking part in an international course filled with other Nordic OT-students was just that. I got a wonderful opportunity to get to know so many future co-workers across Northern Europe and see how despite of our different cultures and backgrounds, we were all united through occupational therapy. And of course, the fact that I can call many of them my genuine friends too after our experience.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist? The thing that I will always keep with me from the course is a quote from the inspirational Icelandic occupational therapist Elín Ebba Gunnarsdóttir: “To break the rules, you have to know them first”. I’m eager to keep developing my skills in the field of rehabilitation but also to develop our field and societal status at the same time. In Finland and Europe as well. You can’t break the wheel before knowing how to ride the bike… Well, you can but you know what I mean.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
The most important lesson I learnt about occupation-based perspective on social inclusion is the fact that we as future occupational therapists are in a prime position to affect improvement on social inclusion. Not only on a client-based individual level but also on a societal one. It takes hard work and time, but OT provides a unique and profound viewpoint into the situations of the people who are excluded from our societies.
Denmark – Thomas

Q1: Who am I?
My name is Thomas, I am 24 years old, and I live In Denmark. Right now, I study at University College of Northern Jutland, Aalborg. I´m about to complete my 3rd semester before I go out for my first long internship which lasts 10 weeks. I like being a student, but when I relax, I use a lot of time spectating/playing football and workout at the gym.
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
In November I joined the Nordplus course in Akureyri with a lot of other students. The best part was meeting students from 6 different countries. It was very exciting to hear about the other cultures, both as occupational therapist students, but also as people. Furthermore, I found that we were all very committed to the course subject, and I experienced intensive work every day.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist?
At the course we discussed many different vulnerable groups from different cultures. In my journey toward being an OT I learned to become more open to different cultures, and further that you as an OT must listen to the patient, as they first and foremost know themselves.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
The most important thing I learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion, was inspired by a presentation by Jacob Madsen who is a lecturer at UCN.
One of his main points, was about how we, as a society, become better at including the socially vulnerably groups. We often look at how we include the individual person into the society, but instead, changes may be needed in the structures of society, to achieve inclusion. Inclusion is thus a responsibility of society and not only a responsibility of the individual.
Estonia – Pauliin

Q1: Who am I?
My name is Pauliin Möllits, I’m 24 years old occupational therapy student from Estonia. I’m on my last year, fourth year of studying occupational therapy. Right now, I work with children in development and therapy center called TegevusTe.
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
The best part of joining an international course was that I got to meet OT students from other countries. I got to hear about their experiences as being an OT student in their country.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist?
One thing that I will take with me from that course is that as an occupational therapist the goal is to create a situation in which clients are in charge and not depending on their OT.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
The most important lesson I’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion is to focus on solutions that can contribute not only for your client, but society.
Sweden – Malin

Q1: Who am I?
My name is Malin Leymann. I live in Stockholm – Sweden and am currently in the 4th semester of the occupational therapy program at Karolinska Institutet. When I’m not studying, I like to spend my time with my dog going on hikes or eating good food.
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
To get the chance to go on this course to Iceland was simply amazing. I love traveling, experiencing the country, and trying the local delicacies, but the
best part by far was being able to get to know all these wonderful like-minded students from all over. I thought it was wonderful to get to know them and take part of all their different thoughts and experiences, and at the same time be able to connect over our joint passion of occupational therapy.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist?
I would really like to implement that kind of cooperation in my field to be able to battle all the different kinds of social exclusion that are happening in our society today.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
It’s difficult to say what was the most rewarding or important lesson, but I really loved having everyone come together to brainstorm and give each other feedback. Since this can generate valuable results.
Iceland – Unnur

Q1: Who am I?
Heil og sæl!
My name is Unnur Oddný, I’m 25 years old and I’m on my 3rd year and final year of BSc in the University of Akureyri, Iceland, followed by a year on scene to be a licensed OT. I live in Kópavogur (close to Reykjavík) with my boyfriend and dog. When I’m not in front of the computer I’m usually outdoors in the nature from snowboarding, running to biking, no matter the weather. If there is something I have learned from my studies about myself is that nature keeps me sane!
Q2: What was the best part of joining an international course?
The best part about this course was the collaboration and teamwork with the students and teachers. We had the opportunity to plan
something for the other international students arriving to Akureyri and to get to know the teachers and spend some time in the University was inspiring since all the studies are via online. When the students arrived, I learned a great thing about letting go, step out of shyness and enjoy myself in a crowd.
Q3: What is the one thing that you will be taking with you on your journey to become an Occupational Therapist?
Teamwork, teamwork, TEAMWORK! No matter all the fuzz and growling through the years about all this teamwork that is really pays off. I have to mention that a course I am taking now in my final year of the BSc is all about innovation and making a pitch which we learned so much about in out intensive week in November.
Q4: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about an occupation-based perspective on social inclusion?
That everyone is in some way, or another included. It depends on what agenda/topic is “in fashion” that gets the most spotlight and our job as future OTs is to pinpoint those who fall further in the shadow of social exclusion.
Blogger’s note: Thank you to Eline, Mirja, Thomas, Pauliin, Malin and Unnur for sharing your experiences on this blog!
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