The P4PLAY Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (MSC ITN) was a European Joint Doctorates (EJD) programme in Occupational Science for Occupational Therapists. P4PLAY was a collaboration between four academic institutions and partner organisations from across Europe and the USA including government play policy advisors, NGO advocacy groups and designers of play materials. A new joint PhD programme in the discipline of Occupational Science was established in collaboration with the four academic partners, University College Cork (Ireland), Lulea University of Technology (Sweden), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland) and Queen Margaret University (Scotland). The PhD in Occupational Science programme was formally approved at University College Cork, Ireland which provided the theoretical foundation for the research. The doctoral programme was centred on training a new generation of early-stage researchers (ESRs) to drive innovative research and practice in occupational science and therapy, given significant shortage of researchers in this area across Europe. This EJD programme responded to this challenge in occupational therapy career development across Europe through the study of play from an occupational science perspective. The eight ESRs in P4PLAY were provided with the transferable skills necessary for careers in academic or research-based practice via collaborative interinstitutional research projects, international mentorship and access to expertise and training. Their individual research projects addressed four fundamental areas of play (People, Place, Policy, Practice [P4Play]) which align with the overall goal of the research programme – to progress a rights-based agenda for all children at risk of play deprivation.
Informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), the foundational rationale for P4PLAY is to combine the needs of children at risk of play deprivation and their families and communities, with the research skills of academics who are experts in occupational science. The overall research objectives were to develop new knowledge on the occupation of play and play deprivation; outline the impact of physical, socio-cultural, and policy environments on play provision; and develop solutions to address barriers to play provision in diverse community settings. This research responds to the societal challenge of ensuring health, well-being and equality for children (UN Sustainable Goals 3 & 10), and the expected outcomes aim to benefit children, families, and communities.
The main achievements and conclusions of the actions are as follows:
- All eight Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) successfully completed the P4PLAY training programme, with three ERS now in full-time employment and one in part-time employment.
- A structured PhD in Occupational Science programme, both full-time and part-time, has been approved (offered by University College Cork, Ireland from 2024). Steps have been taken to ensure the sustainability of this programme going forward.
- The overall research objectives of the programme have been met, with discussions and action plans ongoing about applying for further funding to advance the findings from P4PLAY.
