Sep 17 2010 10:00AM
From the 8 to the 14 September, 12 students accompanied by two Professors visited UCS from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. Current students and staff have returned for the tenth visit to benefit from the expertise of lecturers from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Interprofessional Studies.
Japanese students study international health and this visit to the UK provides invaluable experience about the UK health system. The students are provided with a combination of lectures and tours of practice areas during their five day visit. The visit is supported by Nursing and Midwifery School practice partners, in particular Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and the two local hospices. Visits to Framfield Medical Centre, Grove Court Nursing Home, Felixstowe Hospital, Bluebird Lodge Intermediate Care Centre and the Riverside Clinic in Ipswich provide a varied insight into UK health care provision.
The visit is always a memorable one for both the Japanese students and UCS. Organiser Heather Passmore said: "the students thoroughly appreciate lectures from a wide range of professionals and to learn first hand about different professional roles within the UK health care system.”
Professor Koike, who leads the visit from Japan each year, said: “we were amazed at the tremendous growth in the roles, which nursing professionals are playing in the England, and at their active participation in all revel of health care and decision-making."
Miss Kyoko Tada, who is a fourth year student at Keio University, said “My study at UCS turned out to be one of my best memories in life. Especially about Nurse Practitioner, which is the degree we don't have here in Japan. We had classes about the history and their role in medicine, and even got to talk with the nurse about what they actually do. Having those ideas in mind, I want to think about how nursing in Japan should take place in order to solve problems which we are facing to make the best for our country.”
The visiting students thoroughly enjoyed their study at UCS and stay at the new student accommodation, Athena Hall. All students said they will use the knowledge gained and experience to good effect in their future careers.
To celebrate the 10 year collaboration between Keio University and UCS (formerly Suffolk College) there will be a celebratory Symposium on Interprofessional Learning in Tokyo in May 2011 at which Carol Smith, Head of School of Nursing, Midwifery and Interprofessional Studies will present the keynote speech.