Korzhina, Yulia, Phd student, Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Health Sciences, Finland
The project “Accelerating Master and PhD level Nursing Education Development in the Higher Education System in Kazakhstan – AccelEd” seeks to reform nursing science and research in higher education system of Kazakhstan, focusing on modernization of governance, management and functioning of healthcare and physical-sciences-related higher education practices in Kazakhstan. Specific objectives of the AccelEd project Work Package 2.1 include among others internships of Master students in nursing as it is an important part of the project when it comes to achieving its aims and outcomes.
In the beginning of October Åbo Academi University in Vaasa, department of Health Sciences, welcomed two internships students from Astana Medical University Nagashybek Gulzhaina and Mamyrbekova Makpal. During the first week of their stay in Finland the students got the introduction to the system of academical education in Health Sciences at Åbo Akademi University. The internships also got the opportunity to become familiar with the modern nursing and caring science theories and how these could be applied in the different clinical fields. As we know the nursing and caring theorists and their theoretical works are very important as they stimulate phenomenal growth in the nursing literature and enriches the professional life by guiding nursing research, education, administration, and practice. This growth continues as one analyzes and synthesizes their work, generates new ideas and develops new theories and applications for education in the discipline and for quality care in the profession (1). The participants expressed that they had increased the understanding and knowledge of the theories and also got a deeper understanding of the importance of the theories as they have attended one master seminar, several bachelor courses and got acquainted with several ongoing projects at the department of Health Sciences. The internships have also met the teachers who work at the department of Health Sciences. During these meeting the internships got the opportunity to discuss the questions concerning the process of mentorship and supervision of the students. These discussions have been of importance because as the study suggests the teachers who provide mentorship to students do influence students’ decision to pursue academic careers (2). The internships have had an opportunity to observe networks meeting outside the university (Sällskapet för vårdvetenskaplig forskning HTTS ry Vasa lokala kommitte´). They have also got acquainted with the work of The Students Union and the activities that it offers to all its members. Thereby the got the students’ view of studying at the university. During the rest of the internship which is going to take seven weeks the internship students are going to participate in several ongoing master and PhD courses and seminars as well as in several courses outside the Health Sciences education at Åbo Akademi University. They are going to participate and assist in different research and project activities at the department of Health Sciences. Speaking about project activities these are among others FarmAInteraktion, Hanken MOOC and Redisote projects, as well as Loneliness Amongst Adolescent and Young Adults and Kreativ Personcentrerad Vårdkonst. The students are going to visit and get acquainted with the work of several members of the regional health care sector that have ongoing actual research and development projects ( Vasa Central Hospital, Välfärdsområde) as well as participating in study visits to local healthcare organizations and other Universities (Folkhälsan, Härmän Kuntoutus, Novia University af Applied Sciences). We do hope that the internship period in Finland will help the internship students to get solid knowledge and inspiration in how nursing science and research in higher education system of Kazakhstan could be improved focusing on modernization of governance and management of healthcare and physical-sciences-related higher education.
References:
1) Alligood, M. R. (2018). Nursing theorists and their work (9th ed.). Elsevier.
2) Fang, D., Bednash, G.D., Arietti, R. (2016). Identifying barriers and facilitators to nurse faculty careers for PhD nursing students. J. Prof. Nurs. 32 (3), 193–201.
Korzhina, Yulia, yulia.korzhina@abo.fi
Coordinators
Jūratė Macijauskienė, project coordinator
Živilė Kepežinskienė, project manager
Editorial team
Dinara Kozhakhmetova, responsible for WP4 Dissemination
Baituganova Aizhan, responsible for WP4 Dissemination