IVO: „Orthopaedic shoe technology between academization and workshop“

How does education within orthopaedic shoe technology come along? Fred Holtkmap from the Netherlands, Lisa Irish from Canada, Karl-Heinz Schott from Australia and Prof. Klaus Peikenkamp from Germany presented their countries' educational concepts at the meeting of the International Association of Orthopaedic Shoe Technicians (IVO).

It turned out that the path towards the professional educations often leads directly to the university in countries where the profession is still young. Provided that a respective degree course can be successfully established. But also in countries where the education so far has consisted of the combination of the practical education within a company and classes at the vocational school, degree courses are being established at universities.

Does this lead to the profession's gradual academization? And what are the consequences hereof? This has been discussed intensively and controversially within the framework of the congress "Orthopädie Schuh Technik". Especially the owners of small businesses wondered if there would be sufficient qualified employees left for their trade in the long run. They fear that nobody with a university degree wants to sit in a workshop and make shoes.

IVO-president Karl-Heinz Schott however took up the cudgels for the university. The profession's link to the academic world is important for the profession's recognition of health insurance companies, but also of public authorities. According to Schott it would have to be guaranteed, however, that the practical education does not suffer during the education at the university.

A detailed report of the meeting can be found in the next printed issue of foot&shoe. Subscribe now!