Abstract
Introduction
Universities need to prepare graduates to be effective global citizens equipped to engage cross-culturally in an internationalised world. Industry partnerships for mobility experiences provide critical depth using in-country knowledge and networks to facilitate experiential learning. Monash University is collaborating with Scope Global to deliver interdisciplinary immersion experiences for health professional students in Asia. The overarching aim of this program was to develop graduate attributes in-line with University priorities and discipline specific competencies including collaborative and communication skills, resilience, and work readiness.
Objectives
This paper aims to share the learning outcomes of this innovative program from both the students and staff perspective.
Approach
In 2016/17 an innovative student mobility and health immersion program was developed and piloted, collaborating with four facilities in Vietnam, and expanded in 2018 to include five facilities in Cambodia. The program embraces principles of Interprofessional Learning and collaborative health care with students from Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine and Public Health Science. This study collected data at three time points: i) prior to departure, ii) end of 4-week program, and, iii) 3-6 months post program. Data collected included reflections from students and staff across each discipline.
Practice implications
Implications for practice based on key findings:
• Formation of new relationships between education providers and industry partners provide students with immersive international learning experiences that would not be possible independently.
• Cultivate students’ global identities through engagement in international collaborative practice, and develop cultural capabilities to enhance global work readiness.
Conclusion
Initial findings demonstrate that this program has elicited strong interest from students and staff across several disciplines in a desire for seeking meaningful and unique extended activities that deepen students' professional development, preparedness for work, and cultural sensitivity, attributes that are required for the dynamic nature of contemporary occupational therapy practice.
Universities need to prepare graduates to be effective global citizens equipped to engage cross-culturally in an internationalised world. Industry partnerships for mobility experiences provide critical depth using in-country knowledge and networks to facilitate experiential learning. Monash University is collaborating with Scope Global to deliver interdisciplinary immersion experiences for health professional students in Asia. The overarching aim of this program was to develop graduate attributes in-line with University priorities and discipline specific competencies including collaborative and communication skills, resilience, and work readiness.
Objectives
This paper aims to share the learning outcomes of this innovative program from both the students and staff perspective.
Approach
In 2016/17 an innovative student mobility and health immersion program was developed and piloted, collaborating with four facilities in Vietnam, and expanded in 2018 to include five facilities in Cambodia. The program embraces principles of Interprofessional Learning and collaborative health care with students from Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine and Public Health Science. This study collected data at three time points: i) prior to departure, ii) end of 4-week program, and, iii) 3-6 months post program. Data collected included reflections from students and staff across each discipline.
Practice implications
Implications for practice based on key findings:
• Formation of new relationships between education providers and industry partners provide students with immersive international learning experiences that would not be possible independently.
• Cultivate students’ global identities through engagement in international collaborative practice, and develop cultural capabilities to enhance global work readiness.
Conclusion
Initial findings demonstrate that this program has elicited strong interest from students and staff across several disciplines in a desire for seeking meaningful and unique extended activities that deepen students' professional development, preparedness for work, and cultural sensitivity, attributes that are required for the dynamic nature of contemporary occupational therapy practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 89 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Australian Occupational Therapy Journal |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue number | Suppl 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2019 |
| Event | Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference and Exhibition 2019: Together Towards Tomorrow - International Convention Centre, Sydney, Australia Duration: 10 Jul 2019 → 12 Jul 2019 Conference number: 28th http://www.otaus2019.com.au/events/occupational-therapy-australia-28th-national-conference-and-exhibition-2019/event-summary-de4c35633e774e10beab607c7ad481cf.aspx |
