As part of the Health & Rehab trade fair, students from Denmark's health education programmes are invited to a Co-Creation Conference. Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd in Aabenraa is sending 25 students.
By Asger Lind Krebs
The social and health care students at Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd in Aabenraa always go on a study trip during their final school period. This time, the trip takes them across the country to the Health & Rehab trade fair at Bella Center, where the students will participate in the Co-Creation Conference — an event designed to engage students in the use and development of assistive products and assistive technology solutions.
"When I told the students they were going to Health & Rehab in Copenhagen, they were really excited. They think the professional programme at the Co-Creation Conference sounds incredibly interesting. And they're also looking forward to the social side — going out to dinner, staying at a hotel, spending time together and having fun."
— Camilla Zachariassen, Lecturer at Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd
Co-Creation Across Disciplines
The Co-Creation Conference takes place on Thursday 6 March as part of Health & Rehab 2025.
The aim is to create a space where students can work across professions and disciplines in connection with the use of assistive technologies.
"We also hope to spark curiosity about the development of new and existing assistive technology solutions, because we want to involve students in that development. It is important that the people who will be working with the products also help to shape them."
— Pia Beck, Educational Manager at Direct Healthcare Group
The first part of the Co-Creation Conference consists of presentations on topics such as cross-disciplinary innovation and the inclusion of user perspectives.
After the presentations, participants are divided into groups mixed across different educational backgrounds.
Each group is presented with a realistic scenario. For example, they might be asked to find the best way to support a citizen with multiple sclerosis. The groups are then sent out among the trade fair's exhibitors to explore what solutions are available and assess how they can be used and adapted to their specific case.
Pia Beck hopes that participants in the Co-Creation Conference will come away not only with greater knowledge, but also with a stronger interest in the development of assistive products and assistive technology solutions.
"We need young people who want to work in the assistive products and assistive technology sector. Hopefully, the Co-Creation Conference can help demonstrate the variety of career opportunities available when you pursue a health education."
Technology Plays a Growing Role
Camilla Zachariassen had no doubt that the Co-Creation Conference was right for her students when she received the invitation.
"I'm certain that our students will gain a great deal professionally from the conference. We already work with innovation and assistive technology, because the future of care will involve an interplay between staff, assistive products and technological solutions."
According to Camilla Zachariassen, Health & Rehab is an ideal opportunity for the students to see and experience the very latest in assistive products and assistive technology.
"We need to start thinking about the whole sector differently. There are more and more elderly people, and if we are to continue managing all the tasks, we need to increasingly adopt technological solutions."
At the Co-Creation Conference, the social and health care students will work on concrete tasks in collaboration with students from other health education programmes, such as occupational therapy, nursing and physiotherapy.
"I think it is extremely relevant and important that they get to work across different education programmes and professional disciplines, because that is exactly what they will be doing once they graduate and enter the workforce."
— Camilla Zachariassen
Photo credit: Rasmus Boldt