February 15, 2019
The 2018 inbound short-term study abroad program at the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, the "Global Leader Development and International Nursing Student Exchange Program," was held for five days from Monday, February 4 to Friday, February 8.
A total of 19 students studying nursing and medical care from four of our partner universities—Eulji University (South Korea), Fudan University (China), Suffolk University (UK), and the University of Washington (USA)—participated in this program, along with 23 students from the Keio University Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care.
This year, the program focused on population aging as a common global public health issue. Participants studied the case of Japan, which is considered to have the world's most rapidly aging population, and compared it with the demographic characteristics of their own countries. They also discussed the role of nursing professionals in this context.
Participants also observed advanced medical care in Japan's super-aged society during a practicum at Keio University Hospital. In addition, they learned through hands-on experience about responses to aging in the health and medical care fields through a practicum in home-visit nursing care at an external institution.
During the program, all participating students stayed overnight in the residential building of the Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) on the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC), where they also experienced the appeal of SFC.
The participating students were divided into mixed-university groups, with Keio University students and international students forming one-on-one pairs to communicate throughout the program. It was a fulfilling five days of discussing how nursing professionals can work in a wide range of fields while embracing diversity, showing empathy for different cultures, and maintaining a global perspective.
Commemorative photo after the program's opening ceremony at Shinanomachi Campus
A session at the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care Building on SFC
Practicum at Keio University Hospital
Home-visit nursing care practicum with nurses from a home-visit nursing station
The final day's presentation of results
Commemorative photo with certificates of completion on the final day