PUŠ v delovno okolje 2025/2026

A Step Toward Knee Joint Health – Active Ageing without Pain

Project Title: Problem-Based Learning of Students as a Bridge between Study and the Working Environment at the University of Novo Mesto
Razpis: Public Call for Problem-Based Learning of Students in the Working Environment: Economy, Non-Economy, and the Non-Profit Sector in the Local/Regional Environment 2024–2027 (PUŠ in the Working Environment 2024–2027), 2nd call opening

Duration: Academic year 2025/2026

Project Value: EUR 24,000.00
Funding Information: The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

Academic Mentors: Petra Kotnik, Lecturer, and Bernarda Šuštarič, Lecturer
Contact Person: Petra Kotnik, Lecturer, petra.kotnik@uni-nm.si, 07 393 00 36

Project Description:

The project "A Step Toward Knee Joint Health – Active Ageing without Pain" addresses one of the most common challenges of today's ageing population—knee osteoarthritis (OA). This is a chronic, progressive, and incurable musculoskeletal disease that causes pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and limitations in daily functioning, significantly affecting quality of life. Due to demographic trends and the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, a further rise in prevalence is expected, leading to an increased burden on individuals, the healthcare system, and society at large.

The primary aim of the project is to train students to deliver preventive physiotherapy interventions for populations at increased risk of developing knee OA in southeastern Slovenia. Through work in a real working environment, students will gain practical experience, deepen their professional knowledge, and develop both general and specific competencies required for high-quality clinical practice. The project is carried out in cooperation with a partner from the working environment, the private physiotherapy practice Das fizio from Dolenjske Toplice, which further contributes to knowledge transfer and the strengthening of regional development in a less developed area.

Within the project, students will conduct comprehensive physiotherapy assessments of participants, including medical history collection, measurements of knee joint mobility, pain assessment, and evaluation of functional status, as well as the establishment of baseline conditions for further intervention. Based on the collected data, they will analyze individual needs and prepare targeted preventive exercise programs, which they will also implement under the professional supervision of mentors. Special emphasis is placed on the systematic monitoring of participants' progress and on the evaluation of the knowledge and competencies acquired by students at the conclusion of the project.

The project also includes the preparation of promotional and informational materials (e.g. leaflets) on knee osteoarthritis and recommendations for preventive exercise, and foresees the development of a strategy for incorporating selected content into the study program. In this way, the project not only delivers immediate benefits for the participating population but also contributes to the sustainable enhancement of the educational process.

An important component of the project is the two-way transfer of knowledge between the academic and working environments. The academic mentors will provide the partner from the working environment with professional and scientific insights into knee OA prevention, while the partner will transfer practical experience and effective clinical approaches to the students and mentors. Such cooperation strengthens the quality of student training and enables better alignment of educational content with the needs of practice and the labour market.

The project results will be presented to the general public and the professional community through leaflets, events (Career Fair, Open Day), and at the International Scientific Conference of the University of Novo Mesto. The content will also be published on the websites and social media channels of the participating institutions, and part of the results will be sustainably integrated into study programs. The project thus contributes to greater accessibility of preventive exercise, promotes active ageing, improves individuals' quality of life, and strengthens the link between academia, professional practice, and the local community.