2024 Activity Report vol.33:Otemae University

The Otemae University Faculty of Global Nursing invited eight participants from the Lao People's Democratic Republic (hereafter "Laos") between February 24 and March 2, 2025. The participants included two faculty members, four nursing students from the University of Health Sciences of Laos（hereafter "UHS"), and two nursing clinicians from the Mahosot Hospital. The program aims to strengthen the knowledge of nursing education, learn teaching methods to ensure mastery of nursing skills, and mutually learn collaboration between clinical practice and research. This program included both on-campus activities at the Otemae University Faculty of Global Nursing, and off-campus observational training at hospitals and social welfare facilities.

On the first day of the program, an opening session, including orientation, was held in the morning, followed by lectures and practical nursing exercises in English by faculty members from Otemae University in the afternoon. In the lectures, participants examined the challenges of the healthcare system in Japan. In the exercises, they learned about practical nursing education using information and communication technology (ICT) and shared the differences between Japan and Laos.

On the second day, through lectures given by faculty members from both Otemae University and UHS, participants shared information on collaboration between the nursing education curriculum and clinical practice in both countries. In the afternoon, participants visited the Osaka International Cancer Center and deepened their learning of career education for nurses at a practical level through lectures by clinical nurses.

On the third day, the participants toured a facility at Fureai Kyoseikai "Mokuren," a social welfare corporation, where they learned about the current status and issues of welfare for the person with disabilities and deepened their understanding of the roles of nurses and caregivers. In the afternoon, they interacted with nursing students from Otemae University's School of Nursing and enjoyed sightseeing in and around Osaka Castle as well as activities to introduce Japanese culture.

On the fourth day, while enjoying morning tea, a lecture on evidence-based empirical research was given, and clinical nurses who have conducted such research introduced actual cases. In the afternoon, participants engaged in lively discussions with faculty members and graduate students in the state of nursing education in both countries and in the future direction of nursing research.

On the final day, the participants visited the Osaka Municipal Abeno Disaster Prevention Center (Abeno TASCAL), where they learned about disaster prevention and mitigation in Japan by experiencing a disaster using a simulator. In the closing session, all eight participants showed their Laotian traditional costumes and gave a presentation on what they had learned in this program. At the closing ceremony, the president of the university presented the participants with certificates of completion.

The trainees who participated in this program showed a strong interest in and positive attitude toward learning about high-quality nursing practice based on the development, maintenance, and improvement of Japanese nursing skills. At the same time, the smiles and words of gratitude shown to faculty members, volunteer students, and graduate students showed their gentle and warm hearts as nurses. Through the exchange in this program, we, the organizers, were able to realize once again that the attitude of cultivating rich humanity and high ethical standards as nurses is the same as in Japan, regardless of language and cultural differences.

The day before the program, the nursing students served as hosts for a one-day home visit. During the program, they also had opportunities to experience and share Japanese life and culture, such as a stamp rally at Osaka Castle, an okonomiyaki party, and Ayatori (a traditional Japanese game of a cat's cradle).

On the last day, there were many occasions when participants regretted their farewells. Learning from this program has been widespread. This was a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, staff, students, and graduate students to deepen their understanding of diverse cultures. We hope to continue to build on this valuable international exchange experience with the University of Health Sciences in Laos, with which we have concluded an MOU on academic cooperation and deepen our role as an international nursing school in terms of global and steady research and educational practice activities.