Course Information
Upcoming course: 17 March - 23 October 2025
Registration from 1 February 2025
ICF Facilitators’ Course
Unlock Your Expertise with the ICF Facilitators’ Course
Join our transformative course on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), proudly presented in partnership with the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Collaborating Centres in The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and South Korea.
Why Choose This Course?
Are you eager to enhance your understanding of ICF and its practical applications within interprofessional practice, education, statistics and research? Look no further. Our comprehensive course is designed to cater to a diverse audience, with a special focus on professionals in the health and health-related sectors. You’ll benefit from the extensive knowledge and experience of seasoned ICF and interprofessional collaborative practice experts.
What to expect
This immersive six-month course guides you through a series of assignments, culminating in a final project where you will apply the ICF principles and classifications in your own context. You will review your own practice through an ICF lens and design/redesign the way you record and measure functioning to improve your services. Our course materials include a comprehensive study guide and a wealth of online resources. You’ll also engage in valuable online group meetings, including two half-day sessions at the course’s inception and shorter sessions at the start of each module. The course concludes with a Zoom video conference presentation of your final assignment.
Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will gain the competencies necessary to educate others on effectively utilising ICF in their specific contexts. Our objectives include:
- Familiarising you with the language, structure, and philosophy behind ICF.
- Providing you with an introduction, description, and practical application of ICF.
- Promoting ICF as a universal language bridging all professions.
Specific Aims of the Course
Throughout the course, we aim to:
- Deepen your knowledge and insight into ICF.
- Solidify your understanding of the core principles and content of ICF.
- Explore the potential and limitations of ICF’s practical applications.
- Demonstrate your ability to transfer acquired knowledge and insights to your area of expertise.
By the course's end, you will be fully equipped to apply ICF in your practice, whether in an educational, clinical, or research setting.
Interactive Learning
Logistics
Expect a schedule of online contact sessions, including two half-days at the outset and shorter sessions at the beginning of each module. Outside of these sessions, you should allocate approximately two hours per week for assignments. The breakdown is as follows:
- Zoom (Initial sessions): Approximately 8 hours
- Zoom (Module beginnings): Approximately 12 hours
- Module Assignments: Approximately 20-30 hours
- Final Assignment: Approximately 10 hours
Total estimated time commitment: Approximately 50-60 hours. It may take longer if you are a slower reader of if English is not your first language.
Course Cost
- EUR 750 per person (with a minimum of 10 participants) (discount available for participants from LMIC countries – contact us)
Continued Education Units
For those in need, we offer Continued Education Units (CEUs) issued by the WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre in South Africa:
- 30 General CEUs
- 5 Ethics CEUs
Upon successful course completion, you will receive a certificate from the Dutch WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre.
Upcoming course: 17 March - 23 October 2025
Registration from 1 February 2025
Course Topics
Our course begins with two half-days of introductory lectures covering essential information about ICF, including its history, position within the WHO-FIC Family, structure, definitions, content, areas of application, and implementation. Students are encouraged to reflect on their existing knowledge of ICF in various application areas.
Over the course of the program, we delve into the following topics:
Module 1: Introductions and reflection on present knowledge
In this module, you will assess and reflect on your existing knowledge of the ICF. What were your prior insights, and what new knowledge have you gained through the course?
Module 2: Introducing the ICF and finding your way about
This module focuses on positioning yourself within the ICF framework at the component level. Understanding ICF requires the ability to describe yourself in terms of ICF, and this module will guide you in doing just that.
Module 3: Coding with ICF
In this foundational exercise, you will learn to categorise terms and phrases within ICF components and classes. You’ll also explore the reasons behind classification and the methods involved.
Module 4: The basics of using ICF in a clinical setting
This module you will learn how to analyse a practical case and use the ICF browser for classification. The emphasis is on gaining insight into the structure of ICF and learning how to navigate it effectively.
Module 5: WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC)
In clinical practice, you may need to code health conditions (ICD-11) and health interventions (ICHI). This module provides a brief introduction to these classifications, expanding your knowledge beyond ICF.
Module 6: ICF as catalyst for interdisciplinary collaborative practice
We will utilise case examples from around the world on how to organise ICF data for interdisciplinary collaboration
Through global case examples, you’ll discover how to organise ICF data to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing your ability to work across different domains.
Module 7: ICF in the context of ethics, human rights and legal frameworks
Engage in robust discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of using ICF. Learn how to leverage ICF as an advocacy tool to drive positive change.
Module 8: ICF in measuring instruments
Develop critical thinking skills when it comes to code sets and their application.
Module 9: Contextualising ICF health record and data collection forms
Evaluate and enhance your own data forms to seamlessly incorporate ICF principles.
Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to choose one of three electives
Elective 1: Teaching about the ICF
Elective 2: Applying ICF in clinical practice
Elective 3: Develop an ICF based data collection
Meet your coaches
Huib Ten Napel
Coach
Dr. Huib Ten Napel, the pioneer behind the ICF Facilitators Course in Dutch, served as the Head of the World Health Organization-Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Collaborating Centre for the Netherlands. He previously held a senior researcher position at the University of Nijmegen's Department of Primary and Community Care. Dr. Ten Napel specializes in health classifications, terminologies, and medical informatics. Since 2018, he has led a WONCA consortium for the development of ICPC-3. Additionally, Dr. Ten Napel actively participates in research endeavours aimed at exploring the usability and potential implementation of ICF in Primary Care and General Practice settings.
Stef Snyman
Coach
Dr. Stef Snyman (South Africa) is a certified Occupational Medicine Practitioner and Health Professions Educationist. He's a member of the WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre in South Africa and contributes to the WHO's Functioning and Disability Reference Group. Stef's impactful initiatives include founding and facilitating AfrIPEN, the African Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice Network. He's also a co-founder of a global collaboration aimed at creating a mobile app for assessing human functioning based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). In addition, Stef is a co-founder of FIRE for Life, an online program designed to support individuals with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance-related conditions in achieving freedom from diseases, medications, and despair. This interdisciplinary team employs a unique person-centered, bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach rooted in ICF principles to effectively reverse diabetes and related insulin resistance conditions.
Catherine Sykes
Coach
Catherine Sykes MSc (Rehabilitation Studies) Chartered Physiotherapist (UK) is an honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, where she works on classifications for health information systems. Catherine worked on the development of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. As a member of the Australian Collaborating Centre she continues to have a role in the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Network as a member of the Functioning and Disability Reference Group (FDRG). Catherine teaches about the ICF and its implementation through presentations, workshops, and online education including for Ministries of Health, Non-governmental organisations, Organisations of Disabled People and Health Professional Associations.
Michelle Janse van Rensburg
Coach
Dr. Michelle Janse van Rensburg (South Africa), an occupational therapist, holds a Master's in Public Health from Wits University and a PhD in Family Medicine from the University of Pretoria. She has extensive experience in under-resourced community settings since the mid-1990s and transitioned to academia in 2003, with a focus on community-based academic service-learning. Currently, Michelle serves as a senior researcher at the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Research Unit, University of Pretoria. Her research revolves around Community Health Worker (CHW) training, substance use in harm-reduction programs, and pathways out of homelessness in Tshwane's inner city, all firmly rooted in the ICF framework. As a 2016 Sub-Saharan Africa-FAIMER Regional Institute (SAFRI) Fellow in health science education, she's pursuing a Diploma in Health Professions Education and Leadership at the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD). Michelle is deeply committed to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborative education, research, and practice.
Haejung Lee
Coach
Haejung Lee, a professor at Silla University's Department of Physical Therapy in South Korea, specializes in musculoskeletal conditions and physiotherapy professional issues. Drawing from her extensive clinical experience in both Korea and Australia, she places a strong emphasis on clinical education in her research and teaching endeavors.
Beyond academia, Haejung plays a pivotal role in shaping international standards in physiotherapy. She has served as a reviewer for the accreditation of physiotherapist professional entry-level programs for World Physiotherapy since 2017. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise as a review board member for overseas qualifications in Physiotherapy at the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute since 2013.
Haejung’s significant contribution extends to her involvement in the WHO-FIC network's Functioning and Disability Reference Group since 2013, where she continues to actively contribute. She has also been working on ICF implementation in the healthcare system in Korea since 2013. Her dedication underscores her commitment to advancing global standards in healthcare and improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Guest lecturers
Throughout the course, we may invite various guest lecturers to contribute their practical expertise or provide specialised guidance to participants. Notable past guest lecturers have included distinguished professionals such as:
- Professor Peter Rosenthal from Canada
- Professor Matilde Leonardi from Italy
- Professor Olaf Kraus de Camargo from Canada
- Professor Jerome Bickenbach from Switzerland
These individuals have shared their valuable insights and experiences, enriching the learning experience for our participants.
If you’re ready to embark on this transformative journey and unlock the power of ICF, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to helping you achieve your professional goals.