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Eastern University and Centre for International Health (on behalf of UNN/UiTø/HiTø) have agreed upon a collaboration for the establishment of a Bachelor of Science Degree programme in Nursing at the Faculty of Health Care Sciences at EUSL.
The agreement includes improvement of school premises, set up and equipment of a Nursing Demonstration Laboratory, academic strengthening and support, visiting lecturers and “training of trainers”.
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| Mr. Olaf Jacobsen at the Clinical Skills Laboratory (photo: S. Wiesener) |
The skills laboratory includes modern medical training equipment, and it is the first and best equipped of its kind in Sri Lanka. During the visit in March 2006 the nursing demonstration laboratory was equipped and put in use. Lecturers from Tromsø, Mr. Olaf Jacobsen and Mr. Oddvar Hagen, experienced teachers in emergency and disaster medicine, arranged a workshop for the teachers called “Teaching in Nursing and Demonstration laboratory”.
(8 participants was announced, 25 participants attended)
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| Mr. Oddvar Hagen instructing (photo: N. Foss) |
In Sri Lanka the highest degree in nursing has been a diploma level. EUSL is in front starting up a study at Bachelor degree level. From 2007 universities in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna plan to start similar nursing study programmes.
Due to this there is a clear need of additional teaching staff. The collaboration between Tromsø and Batticaloa includes visiting lectures and support in the recruitment process of teachers from Sri Lanka.
Mr. Jacobsen and Mr. Hagen conducted teaching and demonstration training with the student group and the teachers. Heading for the teaching was “Emergency and first aid nursing”.
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| Sister Josepha Josephs in the new library (photo: N. Foss) |
The library was also established in March. Both the medical education, which will be established this year, and the nursing education will benefit from the library for common use. There are also plans for a computer student laboratory for use of the internet.
The establishment of a Bachelor of Nursing programme and a skills laboratory of this kind created great interest among the Sri Lankan authorities, other universities and health workers. The press and television attended the opening ceremonies and several meetings in Colombo and Kandy were organized to discuss with SIH how this collaboration is working.
Despite the very difficult situation the Sri Lankan population has to deal with, they are doing an impressive daily work at the Eastern University and Teaching Hospital in Batticaloa and Trincomallee. The Norwegian team is very proud to be allowed to be a partner in this work.
Head of Nursing at EUSL, Josepha Joseph and project Manager Guy Rajendram have done a great job to establish this education. Together with Norwegian project leader Nina Foss and director Solveig Wiesener at SIH meetings with Ministry of Health, Norwegian Embassy, WHO and others were organized to inform about the activities and introduce future activities in the collaboration between Sri Lanka and Tromsø.
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