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Monday, 31 October 2011
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify strategies to initiate a global connection among universities.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to develop an appropriate immersion curriculum for a global educational partnership.
Collaborations between International and American universities are encouraged to enhance the health care of people around the world. Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Dallas, Texas joined with Daejeon Health Sciences College in Daejeon, Korea to initiate a learning partnership. The global connection began with an invitation for a Korean nursing professor to reside in Dallas as a visiting scholar and learn the latest technology used in nursing. After the Korean professor had studied at TWU for one year, eleven nursing students from her college in Korea came to Dallas and participated in a month-long immersion curriculum entitled the Different Ways of Knowing Program. The visiting students were required to have a TOEFL over 550, a GPA over 3.8, an excellent community service record, and be in their final year of study. The curriculum began with an intensive two-week session of studying English. The last two weeks focused on the study of cardiovascular disorders, pharmacology, and evidenced-informed interventions. TWU nursing faculty educated the students in English using various teaching modalities which were new to the Korean students. Through the use of computer-based interactive case studies and virtual simulations, the use of high fidelity simulation scenarios, and the application of high level skills, the students were presented with opportunities to demonstrate clinical judgment to increase nursing knowledge. In addition, the students made rounds in five acute care hospitals, participated in a multicultural exchange day with TWU nursing students, and visited local cultural destinations. The students reported that they experienced a growth of nursing knowledge and skills due to the technology-enriched program. They felt a connection with TWU students and faculty who demonstrated innovative ways of knowing. They also reported that their immersion experience would benefit their patients in Korea because they would be able to deliver more competent nursing care.