Description/Overview: This symposium focuses on an innovative transatlantic partnership between two Universities with very different histories and ambitions. The partners comprise the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), a University which prides itself on its tradition of pioneering work in international education and research, and Birmingham City University (BCU) from the UK which brings pedagogic standing to the partnership through its Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). The presentations in the symposium will explore the partnership development and how the leaders continue to ensure the partnership’s success. It will recognise that the initial connection was through chance, but that the partnership has been driven and embedded through a great deal of perseverance on both sides. These sessions will guide you through the process by which the relationship developed and how the leaders created a shared vision. The initial focus for the vision was simulation education in nursing curriculum, but through discussions and opportunity this collaboration expanded to student exchanges and joint research. The symposium will highlight some of the highs and lows and provide varying leadership perspectives as to why this partnership has worked. It will also provide some hints as to where we hope to take the partnership in the future. The symposium will include a partnership presentation on the key focus that brought the partners together; the curriculum benefits of employing simulation in nurse education. However, the symposium will follow a key theme of how the leaders in the project ensured institutional support and drove the changes that were required. The final presentations will review how externally perceived leadership in this area ensured that the partners attracted strategic regional funding to research and scope a vision for skills and simulation education.

Learner Objective #1: understand how the partners created a shared vision and led the significant change that took place in both organisations

Learner Objective #2: recognise how the partnership has grown and consider the benefits of investing time and resources to reap long term rewards