Description/Overview: This symposium focuses on the creation of 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 between the Pitt School of Nursing and the BCU Faculty of Health. It will recognise that the initial connection was through chance, but that the partnership has been embedded through genuine commitment, collaboration, and perseverance on both sides. These sessions will guide participants through the process by which the relationship developed and how technology was engaged from the outset to establish effective communication. It will highlight some of the highs and lows and provide varying 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 contain presentations from BCU and Pitt on the key focus that brought the partners together, that is the benefits of using simulation technology in nurse education. These presentations will provide an insight into what each University is achieving with simulation; will demonstrate what each University brought to the partnership and what they each hope to gain from the continuing dialogue that has been created. The symposium will provide the opportunity for the presenters and delegates to learn from each other on the generation and sustainability of partnership. In particular we intend to discuss the use of technology and the opportunities it presents.

Learner Objective #1: Explore how technology can be employed to establish and develop international collaborations.

Learner Objective #2: Engage, through examples, with the way that collaborations commence as very focused trials and then grow in the most exciting and unexpected ways.