A total of twenty-nine (29) nursing students went for a study tour during the Special Term for their international clinical and cultural immersion program. A group of nineteen students visited Gyeongju University (GU), Korea last May 31 to June 4, 2017, while nine went to Tottori College of Nursing in Japan from July 9-16, 2017. Asst. Prof. Dyan Dee Tiongco joined the group for Korea, while Asst. Prof. Genecar Pe-Benito, joined the group for Japan. Joining them, too, was Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Cortez, RN, MAN, Internationalization Coordinator.
The visit was a rich experience of academic and cultural backgrounds. School officials, faculty and students from the host institutions warmly welcomed the UST group which included the following:
President Keiko Chikata, PhD, RN – President of Tottori College of Nursing, Japan
Director Yamada- Head of the Glocal Center of TCN
Dean Maeda- Dean of The College of Nursing, TCN
Professor Koo Bon Ki, PhD – acting President of Gyeongju University, South Korea
Professor Chang Soo Park- Director, International Cooperation Center Gyeongju University
Discussed during the meetings were future plans in strengthening ties between both institutions: exploring possibilities of future academic exchanges between faculty and students; post-graduate programs; the nursing educational program of UST and that of host institutions; best practices to achieve academic success.
Among the activities participated by our students were: visit of the leading national and local Hospitals (Asan Medical Center Seoul, Pohang St.Mary’s Hospital; Misasa Onsen Hospital, Japan); Elderly Facilities; skills and knowledge sharing with host students and faculty regarding nursing procedures in the Clinical Laboratories; use of the Simulation laboratory; industrial and occupational nursing; some cultural activities and tours. The UST students were also featured in the local newspaper of Japan.
