Examination of academic's opinions on therapeutic recreation education

In this study, it was aimed to examine the current state of therapeutic recreation education in Türkiye based on academics' perspectives, to propose solutions to the identified challenges, and to contribute to the development of the field. A phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed. The research group, determined through maximum variation sampling, consisted of 21 academics from five different regions of Türkiye who taught and conducted research in the field of therapeutic recreation. Data were collected through a personal information form and a semi-structured interview form prepared by the researcher. Online interviews were conducted via Zoom, with an average duration of 33 minutes and 42 seconds. The data were analyzed through content analysis and visualized using the NVivo 10 software. The findings indicated that theoretical knowledge in therapeutic recreation education needed to be supported by practice-based experiences. Participating academics emphasized the critical role of applied courses in developing professional competencies, while limited practical opportunities were reported to negatively affect the quality of education. This highlighted the necessity of standardization across faculties and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. In terms of employment, therapeutic recreation was found to present broad potential. The growing demand for services among individuals with special needs, increasing social awareness, and the development of social policies were identified as factors that enhanced the visibility of the field. However, the limited recognition of the profession and the absence of an official occupational definition created uncertainties in employment processes. On the other hand, the interdisciplinary nature of the field offered opportunities for interaction with health, education, and social services, thus generating significant employment prospects. In conclusion, it was recommended that future research conduct comparative analyses of educational models across universities. For institutions, it was suggested that the professional definition of therapeutic recreation specialists be established and their employment in relevant institutions be encouraged, which would enhance the quality of services provided to individuals while ensuring job security for graduates.