Carmela Miniscalco, Phd, SLP, has evaluated the Sahlgrenska Academy’s speech and language pathology programme. The evaluation was part of obtaining her readership position at the Academy. A questionnaire was sent out to all students who completed the programme 1996-2006.
How did you carry out the study?
‘We sent a paper questionnaire to all 156 students who completed the programme 1996-2006. 146 of them responded, so the response rate was an impressive 94 per cent.’
What did they respond?
‘Most of them were very satisfied, both with the programme and with their choice of profession. 76 per cent would choose the same occupation again.’
After graduating, how secure did they feel in their professional role?
‘We asked several different questions about this. For example, over 90 per cent stated that they feel comfortable diagnosing clients, providing treatment and representing professional competence in teams.’
Was there anything they wished they had learned more about?
‘Yes, neuropsychiatric diagnoses, for example autism spectrum conditions and ADHD linked to language and communication impairments. They also said they would have liked more training on project management and leadership. And they wished they had learned more about what speech therapists can do in relation to reading and writing assessments in schools.’
Will the evaluation affect the design of the programme?
‘Yes, it is important that we listen to the advice of the alumni so we can prepare our students for their future careers in the best possible way. We will therefore keep sending out the questionnaire and are also hoping to develop a national, web-based questionnaire in cooperation with the other programmes of this type in Sweden.’
MORE ABOUT CARMELA MINISCALCO AND HER EVALUATION
Carmela Miniscalco’s evaluation project, written in Swedish and titled Alumners åsikter om logopedprogrammet – en enkätundersökning av sju årskurser som utexaminerades år 1996-2006, was presented at a seminar in May. Professor Lena Hartelius supervised Miniscalco’s work.
Here is the evaluation in pdf format.
Carmela Miniscalco also serves as clinical lecturer at both GNC and the Division of Speech and Language Pathology, University of Gothenburg. She has worked clinically with children with language impairments for over 25 years. Since 2008 she is one of the directors of the AUDIE project (AUtism Detection and Intervention in Early life), carried out at the unit for child neuropsychiatry (BNK) in cooperation with the child welfare centre (BVC) and habilitation services in Gothenburg.
