USF Nursing discusses future exchange opportunities with University of Exeter

The collaborative efforts between USF Nursing and the University of Exeter start to take shape as the University of Exeter launches their new Academy of Nursing.

Staff members of USF Nursing and the University of Exeter recently met to discuss an extension of Exeter’s current academic partnership, initially formed as part of USF’s Global Academic Partners (GAP) Program in 2009. Since then, the two universities have established student exchange programs in Business, and in 2012 the universities established six more faculty-led projects in Archaeology, Education, Engineering, Ethno-politics, Geography, and Sports Science.

“USF already has a strong track record of partnership and collaboration with the University of Exeter,” said Stephen McGhee, MSC, RNC, FAAN, USF Nursing director of Global Affairs. “In terms of the UK, this is a unique development, especially within the context of a Russell Group University. The partnership came about due to the College’s situational awareness of the international nursing landscape.”

“Because we’re starting a new academy, we just want to take that existing partnership into the academy that we’re starting in Exeter,” said David Richards, PhD, PhDhc, B Sc(hons), RN, professor, and director of the University of Exeter Academy of Nursing.

Both nursing programs are discussing their plans for student and faculty exchanges, cooperative projects surrounding research and education, and other joint efforts on a list that Dr. Richards says is “quite long.” The two universities plan to further develop a shared ideology of best practices in education. McGhee believes there is scope for creating simulation facilities and integrating best practice in a nursing curriculum. “Primarily, both colleges are very keen to explore and develop mutual research interests and then look at the possibility of both student and staff mobility agreements,” said McGhee.

The University of Exeter nursing program is expected to launch until 2018, and they have not begun to accept new students.

Story by Nicholas Orlando, USF College of Nursing