Two officials of Edith Cowan University (ECU) - the newly designated Executive Dean of ECU, Professor Karen Strickland and Dr. Tania Beament, ECU Director International - participated in the information session on November 18, 2022 organized by the Arellano University International Nursing Program [AU-INP] headed by Dr. Emerita Mendoza, Director of the program. Likewise, the two guests paid a courtesy call on the Arellano University Chairman and CEO, Mr. Francisco P.V. Cayco, who welcomed them and gave the assurance of a continuing partnership between the two universities.
The guests also visited the ECU partner communities in Masalipit, San Miguel, Bulacan and in Pangil, Laguna together with Dr. Emerita Mendoza and Ms. Bernardita Navalta, AU Community Coordinator.
The information session, entitled Nursing Education Beyond Borders: The International Nursing Program Leading to a Bachelor of Nursing Degree was held at the Juan Sumulong Campus of AU. The activity was attended by AU administrators, AU-INP Nursing Faculty and INP students and their parents. This ECU-INP collaboration involves three years of study at AU and 2 years study at ECU, where they earn the diploma in nursing degree.
During the information session Dr. Emerita Mendoza emphasized it was a momentous event for AU since it was the first face-to-face program held on campus since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In her message Prof. Strickland shared a deep insight into what are likely to experience when studying abroad, as well as how ECU can help them in their education to prepare them as globally competitive nurses. Dr. Beament presented the must-knows of ECU and its various campuses in Perth, Western Australia.
In the open forum, parents and students asked about university life, student support and work opportunities in Perth. The guests assured them that they will be guided in their career paths once they become ECU students.
A short video clip of two former AU-INP students and ECU alumni shared their lived experiences as ECU students; they are now Australian registered nurses.
The INP partner communities in San Miguel Bulacan and Pangil, Laguna are the immersion areas of ECU nursing students for their Community Clinical Placement Program [CCPP]. Through their immersion program the ECU students were able to donate handwashing areas and hygiene kits to the students of Masalipit Elementary School in San Miguel, Bulacan. To show their gratitude, Mr. Noel Castro, Principal of the school awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Prof. Karen Strickland for their assistance to the school. The guests also got the chance to visit the carabaos which were also donated by ECU nursing students.
In Pangil, Laguna Ms. Jocelyn Gualberto and other Rural Health Unit staff welcomed the two officials who visited several care areas that were improved through donations of previous CCPP participants. Similarly, in previous community immersions ECU nursing students donated medical equipment and initiated the construction of a breast-feeding facility in one of the market areas in Pangil. ECU also supported aspiring midwives through scholarship programs; they even met one of the current scholars.
The partnership between Arellano University and Edith Cowan University started in 2017. Since then, over 30 students have earned their Australian BSN degree through this unique nursing program. – By Carla May C. Gonzales, RN, MAN
