A picture of radiography education across Europe

The academic radiography workforce: Age profile, succession planning and academic development

“…Alternatively, universities could choose to support fewer radiography academics to undertake research and the increasing use of teaching only contracts may have a potential negative effect on the profession and subsequently the evidence base which underpins practice. In such a situation, radiography as a discipline might become unattractive to those higher education institutions, which are underpinned by 11 and while equivalent data is not available for the UK alone, it is probable that not all 24 HEIs delivering radiography education offer doctoral studies.…”

Radiography education funding – Crisis or opportunity?

“…Recent developments in Malta and Portugal showed a trend towards the merging of separate, discipline-specific programmes to a 4 year combined programme. 9 This merging of specialties and qualification to practice in multiple disciplines was also highlighted in a survey on behalf of the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists. 10 Perhaps we should consider these models, particularly to support 'hard to recruit' disciplines such as therapeutic radiography?…”

“…Here we can learn much from alternative models of radiographer education delivered successfully around the world. In a recent survey of HEIs representing 21 European countries, 9 the majority offered a combined Medical Imaging, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine programme; 'single specialism' programmes were in the minority. Recent developments in Malta and Portugal showed a trend towards the merging of separate, discipline-specific programmes to a 4 year combined programme.…”

Establishing a radiography research culture – Are we making progress?

“…1 While there is limited information regarding doctoral radiographers in other countries, a survey of radiography education in Europe showed that access to postgraduate study in many countries was challenging, with only 14.6% of radiography university departments offering doctoral study. 3 In many cases the opportunities for radiographers to study at doctorate level falls behind the opportunities available to graduates from medicine, nursing and other healthcare professions. 3 So why does the number of radiographers with doctoral awards matter?…”

“…3 In many cases the opportunities for radiographers to study at doctorate level falls behind the opportunities available to graduates from medicine, nursing and other healthcare professions. 3 So why does the number of radiographers with doctoral awards matter? Of course, a doctorate "is not an end in itself but the starting point of a post-doctoral research career" 4 and it is expected that these radiographers will continue to drive research forward and to support and mentor new doctoral students.…”