MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP OF RiEN AT KRANZBERG GERMANY 29TH OF MAY 2015
Representatives: Orlando Volpe , Ronald Grave, Sue Alma Evans, Hagar Basis, Eduardo Luis, Helga Dittmann, Wanda Bratko, Spiros Dimitrakoulas, Esther van der Haar, Anneke van ‘t Wout
Orlando open this first meeting of a EWG and schools after years and hopes it will be inspiring for the future.
Members of the EWG: Orlando Volpe (vice chair of RiEN), Lambros Stravelakis (GR), Ronald Grave (F) and Helga Dittmann (G) Eduardo Luis (P) They will have regular Skype meetings and will have a meeting once a year before the annual AGM of RiEN. One of them will report the AGM.
Orlando’s wish is that the school will be more involved inside RiEN. He brings forward that it must be a great importance to achieve once a year to be together and discuss how we can make the best deal for Reflexology education in Europe.
He also told the representatives that he will be not present the next time. The next Vice Chair will be his successor from this gathering.
After this housekeeping, there was a discussion about the minimum hours of education. The EWG collected data from schools and member organisation.
At the moment the minimum of foot reflexology lessons is 150 hours (Spain) and this has to be brought forward to at least 300 hours in school. Higher education centres have already 700 hours and more ( Scandinavia) Beside that, one school has school hours from m150-300 and practice, so total: minimum 350 till maximum 1250 hours. There is also a different in hours, clock hours ( 60 minutes) or school hours (45-50 minutes) For homework it will brought up to 350 hours.
Sue reports that in UK are schools that has a minimum of 45 hours” face to face” education. Orlando reports that in Italy CAM registered schools since a couple of years are requested to do 500 hours of education and that all the ones who are not in this time, they are increasing the school hours to be registered as Cam association under a specific law of region Lombardi. FIRP, as the oldest reflexology association is registered already at national level, but in the same time they are increasing their frontal school hours to 500. The first aim is to make a role insight of RiEN what is for every school who is a member of RiEN, we have the same minimum with an upgrade in years for higher standards. The first aim now is to make a standard of RiEN what should be the minimum for every school who is ( or want to be) a member of RiEN. So we will have the same minimum with an upgrade in years for higher standards.
The next item was, what do we mean by reflexology! It can be much more than just foot reflexology. Worldwide we know hand , ear, nose and body reflexology. It is therefore important to we find a definition which encompasses all this subject!
The next item is the Pirjo project. To make us more “credible” we need a common foot map in which we all agree. Of course, everyone can use their own map, but we can better promote ourselves to the politicians with a common foot map. The reason that we have no common feet map, has many reasons. copy right, ego and another different views of projection to feet.
It would be nice if we can put a foot map of RiEN on our website.
It was asked for a list of tutors who have the RiEN qualification. Guidelines: when a member of RiEN wants to be accepted as tutor, he/she must fill in a list and be approved by the board and registered. We can put a list of tutors who have the RiEN qualification on the website. and put this on the website. Goal for the future: School of Reflexology.
Hagar ask for a day for tutors, the most important thing to make a strong RiEN- EWG and recognised is unity !
Sue’s presentation:
Sue is working in Wales, England and Spain, has 20 training centre. All units must do the same. She has a minimum of 150 education hours and will bring this up to 600. They now have 5 units who will work up to 5 levels. Level5 is promoted to work with the MD and working in hospitals. One works in (cancer) hospitals, surgery, large corporations, sport clubs and so on. In 2011the government of the YK changed regulation. Complementary and Natural Health Care and level 3 is now recognised. This level is less than before, just after a few hours of training one can be practitioner. Inspira has level 5 according to EQF ( European Quality Fedreation)
Eduardo’s presentation:
In Madera everything is different. Sinds the Conference last year people know more about reflexology. Eduardo started in Oporto. TCM is working now for 5 years for Reflexology and gives the students 20 hours education per month. The Government gives permission to promote Reflexology. The Government stated that schools who has educated at least 300 hours Reflexology (and APP etc). will be allowed to practice. TCM wants to feel energy and in that way they work different. Eduardo wants to organise a Conference in okt/nov 2016 in Portugal to bring all tutors together to discus and make the basic for tutors in Europe. He also thinks it will be good to exchange students in Europe.
Orlando’s Presentation:
Orlando bring forward that in Italy they work with Reflexology stand alone and now is growing the request to add the acupuncture points as additional knowledge for a reflexologist FIRP has developed a foot chart more than 30 years ago and they teach 400 frontal hours , pls 200 hours of practise at home.
They are increasing the frontal hours to 500 now.
Orlando said that the school hours request by the governments in the future will depend on how the Cam recognition will be done all over Europe.
If the Cam will stand alone, (not under the MD) than 300 or even 500 hours are not enough, most probably an accepted school hours will be more than 1000 hours to be more in line with other recognized profession.
Eduardo agreed with this.
In Italy Cam are considered the profession of Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Physiotherapy together with Osteopathy.
Homeopathy and Acupuncture can be done only by MD.
Osteopathy can be done by Physiotherapist.
The other practise like Reflexology, Shiatsu, Tuina and Ayurveda are considered Bio natural Disciplines (DBN)
In Italy , the only profession who can touch the body as massage are the MD, Physiotherapist and Aesthetics practitioners.
A DBN professionals in case of sanity police control have to demonstrate that their work has nothing to do with MD, physiotherapy or Aesthetics (wellness) work. In many case they have to demonstrate this to the court as the sanity police do not recognize their profession.
This situation has occurred to Orlando and he had to demonstrate to the court that reflexology he was doing had nothing to do with MD, physiotherapy or Wellness profession.
He succeeded in this demonstration and he can work without problem.
By the way, this is a potential problems that all DBN practitioner have to face every day until a professional recognition.
Ronald’s presentation:
CREER is a school and Association and they work close together with FFR. They have to work on a France legal system. They have worked with the RiEN level but knows that is has to brought to a higher standard.
Hagar’s presentation:
The course is Level 5 ( Centralia Reflexology Mastership) and therefore identical to that of Sue Evans. Level 5 is 150 hours Face to face (full 60 minute hours!) and a minimum of 480 guided learning hours. .
Level1-3 90 hours each level
1) Anatomy, technics topography
2) Physiology in relation with Reflexology CPD points
3) Pathology plus clinic
After that they have another 300 hours for certificate. Hagar warns us that we must be vigilant for the wellness, because they otherwise will take over Reflexology. Hagar ask us to watch the website of EQF. The EQF recognises eight different levels: primary education secondary education secondary or Partially Completed first degree secondary education vocational post-secondary training Bachelor Master Doctor. It is very important that all of us have a look where we as schools are on this website
We have to deal with the BOLOGNA AGREEMENT: all European countries got together and agreed about the levels in every co8untry. So, the level 3 in one country can be lower of higher than in another country ( may be 2 or 4) this levels of different countries are enshrined in the European Qualification Framework
Helga’s presentation:
Helga explain that in Germany they work following the Hanna Marquardt system. There are two different possibilities: in one organisation the students are trained by MD’s and other associations accept all reflexologists. Healing is allowed under the umbrella as an MD and when one has a Heilpraktiker certificate. Practitioners without this certificate are not allowed to heal. The schools have a low time of training of 145 hours and 60 hours practice and after that, sometime 58 hours for extra workshops
Wanda’s presentation:
After 10 years the school got the recognition of the Government. the school in Poland exist 20 years and recognized.
The lessons are given per weekend and every student has to tread 40 people. The students must do 120 treatments and work on the whole foot during six months. After that they have a special workshop. They start not from the point illness, but have to give good health through the feet.
She is educated by Dwight Byers. Her passion is reflexology, she was already several times on TV and is well known..
After that they have special training programmes for instants . women problems
Spiros presentation:
In Greece they don’t have a law for CAM. Everybody can open a school or clinic. They have a 680 hours education in Reflexology and practise in two years. They got 150 hours theory and 130 hours practice face to face. Students are certified by the government. Only physiotherapists are allowed to touch the body.
After this presentations there was a discussion how to make things more legal and reflexology understandable insight Europa.
For instance, are we talking about a reflex or about reflexions
- Do we need one definition
- How many education hours are the best for Europe, this is the first item to work in, if Europe decides that we can work with 45 hour education it will be a disaster! Greece says 600, Madeira goes for 100,Pland says 300 is enough.
All has the intension to come together next year and to make really Reflexology the place it deserves
BOOT CAMP
In the afternoon Orlando lead a Boot Camp where all reflexologist had the chance to exchange practise. This was a very nice time allowing us to see the practise techniques our colleagues use around Europe.
This experience has to be kept for future meetings.
As sight up by Anneke van ‘t Wout, Esther van der Haar