The NextStep Project presented its vision for advancing prosthetics and orthotics education during the Second Conference on Climate Change and Health in the Arab Region, known as CCHAR-II 2026.
Organised by the University of Jordan and held in Amman from 24–26 August 2026, the conference brought together researchers, academics, policymakers and health professionals to examine how scientific evidence can be translated into policies and practical interventions.
The event was opened by HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society, and was held under the theme of “Policy Translation and Implementation”.
The NextStep – Pioneering Innovation and Training in Smart Prostheses project was represented through a dedicated roll-up display introducing its objectives, international partnership and planned contribution to P&O education in Jordan and Egypt.
Although NextStep did not form part of the principal climate-health research programme, its presence gave the project an opportunity to reach a wider academic and professional audience and build connections beyond the conventional rehabilitation sector.
Building P&O capacity through international cooperation
NextStep is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project focused on strengthening prosthetics and orthotics education, training and institutional capacity.
The partnership connects higher-education expertise in Jordan and Egypt with European partners in Finland and Romania. Through international knowledge exchange, the project aims to support:
- Modernisation of P&O education and training
- Greater integration of digital technologies
- Development of institutional teaching capacity
- Training in 3D design and manufacturing workflows
- Collaboration between universities and rehabilitation stakeholders
- More innovative and sustainable approaches to prosthetic care
The project is particularly relevant as digital methods become increasingly important across prosthetic and orthotic practice. Three-dimensional scanning, computer-aided design and digital manufacturing are changing how devices can be designed, documented and produced.
Introducing these technologies into education requires more than purchasing equipment. Universities need updated curricula, trained teaching staff, suitable laboratories, quality procedures and opportunities for students to connect digital methods with clinical decision-making.
NextStep’s capacity-building model is intended to address these connected requirements through cooperation between participating institutions.
Connecting rehabilitation with sustainability
CCHAR-II 2026 focused on climate-related health challenges facing Jordan and the wider Arab region, including extreme heat, water scarcity, air pollution, dust storms and pressure on health systems.
According to the Jordan News Agency, the conference included 12 specialised sessions and approximately 68 scientific and research presentations. Its objective was to strengthen cooperation between researchers, policymakers and organisations responsible for implementing health and climate interventions.
For prosthetics and orthotics, sustainability is becoming an increasingly relevant consideration. Device production involves materials, energy, transport, clinical visits and waste, while patients require reliable access to repairs, replacement components and long-term professional support.
Digital workflows may contribute to more efficient documentation, repeatable production and knowledge sharing, but they must be introduced responsibly. Technology should strengthen the role of trained prosthetists and orthotists rather than separate manufacturing from patient assessment, prescription, fitting and follow-up.
NextStep’s participation in a climate and health conference therefore encouraged dialogue about how rehabilitation education can respond to broader questions involving resource use, health-system resilience and sustainable access to assistive products.
Visibility beyond the P&O profession
Presenting the project at CCHAR-II enabled NextStep to introduce P&O education to researchers and decision-makers who may not routinely engage with the profession.
This cross-disciplinary visibility is valuable. The future of rehabilitation depends on connections with engineering, digital health, education, environmental planning, public policy and health-system development.
It also provides opportunities to explain that smart prosthetic practice is not defined only by advanced components. It requires qualified professionals capable of assessing users, selecting appropriate technology, managing digital information and supporting devices throughout their working life.
As NextStep develops, dissemination at regional events will help the partnership share progress, attract institutional engagement and ensure that its educational work remains connected to wider health priorities.
Its presence at CCHAR-II 2026 reflects the project’s central message: connecting expertise across Jordan, Egypt, Finland and Romania to build capacity and advance prosthetics and orthotics together.
- NextStep Project Official Website
- About the NextStep Project
- CCHAR-II 2026 Official Website
- CCHAR-II 2026 Conference Programme
- University of Jordan
- Royal Scientific Society
- Jordan News Agency: CCHAR-II 2026
- Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education