Erasmus staff mobility: Evaluating the experience of nurse teachers

Warn, Clive; Yates, Sue

Abstract

Aim of Paper: To disseminate knowledge from an evaluation of the experiences of nurse teachers following a period of Erasmus staff mobility, and contribute to the development of similar activity within nurse education.

Abstract: Erasmus student and staff mobility was established in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of the West of England (UWE) in 2006. Since then the number of partnerships and activity with European HEI’s has steadily increased mirrored by a simultaneous growth in teacher mobility. Whilst Erasmus student mobility is relatively well known, there is a dearth of literature that evaluates staff experience of mobility suggesting the need for a better understanding of such experiences. The European Commission identify a range of objectives for staff mobility and it is timely to consider to what extent these are achieved (European Commission 2012). This concurrent session will present the findings from a study designed to evaluate the experiences of nine nurse teachers from UWE and HEI’s in Norway and Finland returning from a period of staff mobility or ‘cultural immersion’ (Hanvey 1979). A short written questionnaire was sent to all teachers following their visit and content analysis was used to identify emerging themes, namely;

• The practice of teaching nursing
• Self and professional development
• Cultural learning and consciousness
• Developing partnership

The findings from this study will be explored and highlight benefits and challenges of staff mobility for the teacher, and for the organisation in relation to workforce development, service improvement and internationalisation. The opportunities evolved through Erasmus staff mobility can contribute significantly to the development of staff and the organisation.This presentation, in the midst of changes to higher education and nursing in the UK, will outline clear benefits in the development of closer relationships with other European HEI’s through Erasmus staff mobility.



References:

European Commission (2012) ERASMUS Staff Mobility [online]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/doc1067_en.htm [Accessed 28 March 2012].

Hanvey, R.G. (1979). Cross-cultural awareness. In Smith, E.C. and L.F. Luce. (Eds.), Toward internationalism: Readings in cross-cultural communication (pp. 44-56). Longman Higher Education.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. Gain an increased understanding of the experiences nurse teachers engaging in Erasmus staff mobility or ‘cultural immersion’.
2. To reflect on the outcomes of an evaluation of nurse teacher experiences.
3. To consider how staff mobility can be further developed in nurse education to promote internationalisation.

Recommended Reading:

1. Taylor A.F. & Fry J. (2010) International collaboration: Erasmus teacher exchange to Sweden. British Journal of Midwifery 18 (7): 451- 455.
2. European Commission (2009) Higher Education [online]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/higher_en.htm [Accessed 28 March 2012].
3. Wood M.J & Aitkins M. (2006) Immersion in Another Culture: One strategy for increasing cultural competency. Journal of Culture Drivers 13 (1):50-54.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: IXth European Conference of Nurse Educators: European Federation of Nurse Educators (FINE) with the RCN Education Forum International Conference 2012
• Start Date: Oct 3, 2012
• End Date: Oct 5, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: erasmus, international, staff mobility, nursing
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/943035
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : IXth European Conference of Nurse Educators: European Federation of Nurse Educators (FINE) with the RCN Education Forum International Conference 2012