UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
Strategy for Internationalization
Department of Nursing in Svendborg, Vejle and Odense,
University College Lillebaelt
Internationalization with insight and outlook
1. Introduction
Internationalization is a strategic focus area in the Nursing Education Programme and is consciously used to
brand the education. The international strategy is contributing to further increase focus and strengthen our
international profile and define a joint vision and direction for the international work.
Students, staff, researchers as well as public and private companies are part of the globalized world and all
move towards and collaborate more and more across national borders. This demands that we are able to
act on the international scene and understand other cultures. The Nursing Education Programme must
contribute to give Danish young people high professional competences, a cultural understanding and a
global outlook.
The Danish government’s objectives for education programmes with a global perspective are:
More students are going on exchange stays abroad to gain international insight and a broader
cultural understanding,
It should be attractive for highly qualified foreign students and lecturers to come to Denmark
Educational institutions must continue to further develop attractive professional environments to
contribute to attract and retain highly qualified labor and companies in Denmark (Danish government’s
globalisation strategy "Fremgang, fornyelse og tryghed" (Progress, innovation and safety) 2006)
The national curriculum for the Nursing Education Programme says:
”the purpose of the possibility for international education efforts within nursing education is to teach
students to act professionally within the field of nursing in a globalized world”.
”’The Nursing Education Programme aims at giving students intercultural and international competences
including knowledge of and respect for other cultures as well as the ability to reflect on own cultural values
and understand how these influence the practicing of nursing” (Ministerial Order on the Bachelor of Science in
Nursing Programme 2008)
The 2020 strategy for University College Lillebaelt (UCL) and the document ”Vejen mod 2020” (”The road
towards 2020”)focuses on internationalization: At least three education programmes cooperate with
international partners on joint degree programmes, the Nordic collaboration concerning education is
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
expanded, international study elements/educations are established, 25% of the academic staff have
competences to use e.g. English as a teaching language and 20% of the students go on an exchange stay
abroad. (Strategy 2020, Vejen mod 2020 University College Lillebaelt)
Vision
The vision of the Nursing Education Programme at UCL is to be one of Denmark’s leading education
programmes initiated by internationalization, which plays a prominent role at all levels of the education
programme.
The graduates from the Nursing Education Programme at UCL are educated to act professionally in a
globalized world through internationalization, intercultural understanding and global outlook.
The Nursing Education Programme initiates and supports international research and development activities
to develop the education programme and the nursing profession.
The purpose of the internationalization strategy is to:
Define a common vision and direction for our development of and work with internationalization in the
Nursing Education Programme
Support the existing work with internationalization
Initiate new research and development activities to ensure growth and development of the Nursing
Education Programme
Ensure the quality of internationalization activities
Develop and inspire new initiatives within the field of internationalization at the Nursing Education
Programme.
2. Objective
To inspire nursing students to consider exchange stays and Internationalization at Home (IaH) as a natural
part of their education programme and give the students the best possibilities for giving their education an
international toning. Moreover, to establish the best framework to realise these objectives.
To contribute to acknowledge competences acquired abroad during exchange stays both within the
theoretical and the clinical fields.
To have focus on and establish a vibrant international study environment to the benefint of own students.
To have focus on ensuring an international environment for (our) international students.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
To ensure optimal conditions and possibilities for students conducting both clinical and theoretical studies
abroad.
To inspire staff to consider exchange stays and on a long-term basis to take part in international
development and research activities.
To contribute to enable staff establish and conduct IaH activities.
To ensure development of staff competences to conduct international activities.
To contribute to enable staff to establish and participate in international collaborations and to be good
ambassadors for internationalization both internally in the organization and externally.
To create possibilities for developing education programmes to be exported internationally.
To work towards UCL being seen as an attractive business partner internationally.
To continue to profile the qualities and international profile of the Nursing Education Programme in
national and international media; publications and contributions to conferences are prioritised.
A prioritisation and strengthening of externally-focused international activities with partner institutions
considered relevant for mutual collaboration. Other partnerships are established to assess the possibility
for export of education programmes.
The Nursing Education Programme at UCL must be an attractive education for international students.
3. Target groups
The target group covers both the students at the Nursing Education Programme and (our) international
students who will be given the opportunity to make their education more international.
In recent years, the student body has become more diverse, the group of younger students has grown but
there is also a tendency that relatively older students apply for the Nursing Education Programme. The
younger students are more focused and expect a different service than we have experienced previously. A
study from 2009 made by an agency in the Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education
showed that students experience several important barriers to go on an exchange stay during their
education, including private issues (e.g. housing and family obligations) and students experience that it is
difficult to organize an exchange stay (studie-og praktikophold i udlandet. Undersøgelser af studerendes udbytte
og anbefalinger til en styrket indsats på området ”Styrelsen og International Uddannelse 2009) (Studies and practice
abroad. Surveys on students’ outcome and recommendations for a strengthening of the area ”Committee and
International Education 2009”)). Generally, the diversity in the student body requires different study
conditions. It requires that the educational institution offers different possibilities to acquire international
and intercultural competences such as varying length of exchange stays, clinical and theoretical courses and
IaH activities.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
The Nursing Education Programme currently receives a considerable number of international students and
this strategy is a way to increase the number of students also coming to Denmark for a prolonged stay. The
group of our own students going abroad is relatively large; we wish to maintain and increase this group
through this strategy. Considering the growing diversity in the student body, it is a focus area to
differentiate our international offers to both international and Danish students.
The target group also includes staffs who wish to develop their international competences both in Denmark
and abroad.
Among the staff it is only a few who have been at a prolonged stay abroad. The Nursing Education
Programme wishes to increase this number focusing on both education, counselling, project work and
development and research collaboration with partner institutions outside Denmark.
4. Objectives and efforts
The objectives must be met considering the efforts described in the plan of action 4.1.
A. Increase number of students wishing to go abroad; in 2020, 20% of a class will go on an exchange stay.
B. Increase number of foreign students participating in both theoretical and clinical education. The target,
among others, is for international students to acquire 30 ECTS points.
C. Increase number of students participating in IaH activities such as modules taught in English and webbased education with international lecturers.
D. Create learning networks to facilitate dialogue and create the possibility to expand competences
among own students and staff and between international students and international staff.
E. Contribute to increase staff mobility, both by exchange stays, acting as counselors and lecturers.
F. Establish international interdisciplinary courses equivalent to 10 – 15 ECTS points at UCL (health
education programmes) within the next three years.
G. Ensure quality in the international offers, including education, administration, information and
documentation.
H. Develop education programmes for export using e.g. blended learning.
I. Establish development and research collaborations with institutions abroad.
4.1 Plan of action
Ad A. Exchange stays abroad
At study start there will be focus on the possibilities for an exchange stay abroad during the course of the
education. The new students will from the first semester be introduced to exchange stays as a part of their
education.
In connection with student talks the students will be informed continuously of the possibilities for study
and clinical placements abroad.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
Written information with a step-by-step guideline for students must be available to help and inspire the
students and give specific reference to further help.
All staff will be explicit about the international work as a part of e.g. the lectures, counselling and career
sessions, including possibilities for post-graduate and further education and training.
There is more focus on alternative possibilities for internationalization e.g. participation in conferences,
presentation at conferences, study observations, summer schools, IaH and shorter theoretical and clinical
stays abroad.
”Pre-packed” arrangements for students who want to go abroad should be further developed, and
differentiation in education/classes in the Nursing Education Programme and internationalization should be
integrated.
Students who have been abroad previously are used actively in the marketing effort as an inspiration and
motivation for potential and already enrolled students.
The application procedure should be constantly revised to make it as easy and simple as possible. It will
continuously be assessed how to simplify and standardize procedures when relevant.
In connection with exchange stay, there will be focus on the nursing professional and cultural outcome, the
professional and intercultural perspective.
It should be possible to go on exchange stays in both theory and clinical settings equivalent to up to 30
ECTS points.
Ad B. Effort for foreign/incoming students
The possibilities for offering a full education programme in nursing taught in English must be investigated
and described.
All relevant material for incoming student and potentially incoming students must be available in English
and accessible online, both externally and internally.
There must be ongoing quality assurance and visibility of offers to international students in accordance
with the joint quality model and accreditation criteria for the field of internationalization.
Minimum requirements and guidelines concerning our programmes taught in English and joint degree
programmes must be available.
Ad C. Efforts concerning IaH
Further attention should be paid to alternative possibilities for internationalization such as international
conferences in Denmark, summer schools and IaH.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
Further development and quality assurance of Nursing Europe and a continuous effort to focus on
development potentials.
It is important that information used to plan new education programmes taught in English contributes to
shed light on and ensure quality of our offers to both own and international students.
Focus on development of new and alternative IaH offers.
Ad D. International learning networks
Establishment of room for reflection together with other professions for students returning from a stay
abroad.
Establishment of a room for reflection, either physical or virtual, for own students returning from a stay
abroad.
Development and establishment of international learning network for students.
Development of existing and new international learning network between staff and international
collaborators.
Ad E. Efforts concerning staff, including development of international competences
English language competences among staff should be strengthened on the basis of planned programmes
for competence development, English courses and individual support.
There should be incentives for staff and a clear framework for participating in international conferences,
research and development activities, intensive programmes etc.
The possibilities for mobility must be made visible and the terms must be motivating.
Further efforts should be made to include staff in IaH.
Staff competences must be optimised to enable them to act as ambassadors for the field of
internationalization both nationally and internationally.
Planning and completion of seminars for staff on themes such as ”How do we increase staff mobility and
how can the individual member of staff contribute to develop and ensure the quality of the field of
internationalization?”
Development of a competence profile for lecturers and key staff with an international profile.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
Ad F. Efforts concerning interdisciplinary programmes and the connection between international
offers and knowledge sharing
An international interdisciplinary education offer should be made to both international and own students.
Establishment of an interdisciplinary room for reflection and knowledge-sharing for students returning
from a stay abroad.
Establishment of mentor collaborations for students across the various education programmes offered at
UCL.
Ad G. Efforts to ensure the quality of the international work
The efforts which are part of the strategy are evaluated systematically. Depending on the type and content
of the effort, evaluation is made after 6 to 12 months upon completion.
The overall focus of evaluation activities is that the Department of Nursing UCL ensures compliance with
the accreditation criteria (in accordance with the current accreditation).
The international coordinators are responsible for evaluating the individual efforts.
The international coordinators have a joint responsibility for meeting the accreditation criteria.
In addition, current and new activities launched in connection with the strategy for the international area
must be continuously evaluated for example considering:
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If the effort has met the defined objective
If the effort can be improved and how including subsequent implementation
If the effort should continue, be changed or terminated.
Ad H. Development of education programmes for export
It should be investigated and described if it is possible to establish education programmes as blended
learning with relevant collaborators.
It should be investigated and described if it is possible to establish education programmes as joint degree
programmes.
Ad I. Development and research collaboration
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT
Department of Nursing, Odense
Potential international collaborators who could enter into development and research projects with staff at
the Nursing Education Programme should be identified.
As a minimum, a partnership agreement concerning development and research should be established by
the end of 2014.
A development and research collaboration project (a specific project) is identified involving an international
partner in collaboration with the profession.
Strategy for internationalisation, Department of Nursing, University College Lillebaelt
Head of Department Lena Busch Nielsen, Department of Nursing, Odense, June 2013.
TS-dok.nr. 295487
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