Occupational Therapy: A noble profession dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages to live life to the fullest

With World Occupational Therapy Day being just around the corner (celebrated globally on 27 October), the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Malta is excited to share updates on some of the key initiatives and projects in which they are actively involved. These efforts highlight the department’s ongoing commitment to empowering individuals of all ages to live life to the fullest.

From community outreach programs to innovative therapeutic interventions, the department continually strives to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they support. Occupational therapists play a vital role in promoting independence, enhancing participation in everyday activities, and improving overall quality of life, and these initiatives are a testament to that mission.

The Department of Occupational Therapy currently holds a number of Erasmus bilateral agreements with several universities in the European Union and operates number of mobility options with Odisee University of Applied Sciences in Belgium, University College Cork, Ireland (student and staff mobility), Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Finland, University of West Attica in Greece and the University of Granada in Spain (staff mobility only). 

Apart from these more established mobility routes, as of November 2025, the Department will be offering a blended intensive programme (BIP) in conjunction with Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Belgium that combines online teaching and learning with a brief mobility period of a week. This allows students to develop sensitivity and insight into interprofessional and multicultural practice in the context of the foremost European setting which is Brussels. 

This academic year (2025/2026) a total of five candidates in their final year will be undertaking the BIP at the beginning of the second semester.

A group of academic staff and students will, on World Occupational Therapy Day, be in Portugal participating in the ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education) Conference.

This conference brings together professionals, educators, and students from over 100 institutions across 36 countries, offering a unique platform to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and explore innovations in occupational therapy education and practice.

The participation of the UM delegation highlights the department’s commitment to international collaboration, academic excellence, and the advancement of the profession. It also provides an invaluable opportunity for staff and students to network with peers, gain fresh perspectives, and contribute to shaping the future of occupational therapy across Europe.

Researchers and academics from within the Department have a number of ongoing initiatives and projects that are transdisciplinary in nature.

Some projects worth mentioning are:

• EDUWEAR (Engineering Educational Competence Development on Customisable Wearable Rehabilitation Devices), which aims at creating an EU e-learning course, complemented with hands-on exercises, to equip learners with skills to design customisable wearable devices for rehabilitation.
• Digiclap TDP, a revolutionary smart wearable device to help children develop functional hand skills.  and
• EMPOWER Me, part of a national study, “Empowering a Mentally Healthy Generation”, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges contributing to the rise of mental health difficulties among children

Dr Nathalie Buhagiar, an academic from the Department of Occupational Therapy, is a researcher on all three projects.

Dr Marjorie Bonello, the Head of Department, is involved in an Erasmus project called ECHOES, or the ExChange Of Expertise in healthcare professionals’ education, which is a dynamic platform designed to foster research collaborations across the fields of health, social care and wellbeing. An upcoming seminar will in fact help experts from diverse disciplines address critical knowledge gaps in workforce education. 

Occupational therapy students routinely visit the Department of Systems & Control Engineering, whereby Prof. Alexandra Bonnici explains various ongoing works related to human to computer interaction, such as eye-gaze tracking and EEG, the use of thermal imagery, human-motion capturing, robotics, and augmented reality. The scope of the visits is to exchange ideas on how these technologies could assist practitioners in occupational therapy.

Members of staff and graduates from the Department have been making waves by sharing their professional experiences on various local social media platforms. Their stories continue to highlight the breadth and versatility of the occupational therapy profession, demonstrating how it empowers individuals of all ages to overcome challenges, achieve independence, and live life to the fullest.

Dr Vickie Gauci, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disability Studies within the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, has recently been featured in a video by the Occupational Therapy Public Relations Malta Page. In the video, Dr Gauci demonstrates how she applies her expertise in occupational therapy to navigate and overcome her own personal challenges, offering an inspiring example of the profession’s impact both professionally and personally.

Mr Matthew Zammit, a proud graduate of the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Malta, has also been featured in a compelling video series by Allied Health Services Malta. In the series, he shares his first-hand experiences working in the trauma ward at Karin Grech Hospital, offering valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of practicing occupational therapy in a high-intensity healthcare setting.

Together, let’s celebrate the dedication, compassion, and expertise that help individuals overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and thrive in all aspects of life.