ENHANCE NURSING STUDENT EXCHANGE THROUGH VIRTUAL MOBILITY

Author: Ferry Efendi1, Lan Thi Ngoc Dang2, Nursalam1, Eka Misbahatul M.Has1
1 Faculty of Nursing
Airlangga University Indonesia
2Vietnam Development Information Center,
Global Development Learning Network Vietnam
Abstract
Virtual Mobility means the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to obtain the same benefits as one would have with physical mobility but without the need to travel. Nursing student exchange programs are an apparent trend in internationalizations context and means for nursing program to respond to the challenge of developing a global perspective in nursing. These programs can use either physical, virtual, or both, mobility. Apart from the contemporary face to face programs, nowadays the concept of virtual mobility has been introduced and applied by various educational institutions. Enabled by the advances of information and communication technologies, more cooperation between institutions internationally has been created. Virtual mobility can offer a valuable opportunity for nursing students to take part in courses at other universities without having to leave their home countries. Moreover, a blended mobility can be used in which virtual interaction will be helpful in preparing and following up physical mobility to enrich the latter and make it even more effective and fruitful. After discussing the forms of inter-university exchange students, the paper proposes the types of virtual mobility, advantages and future impacts on the nursing education system of developing countries. A virtual course or seminar, a whole virtual study programme, virtual internship and virtual support activities in physical exchange could be applied as a part of virtual mobility forms. Pilot program using these methods needs to be devised and tested to enhance the development of nursing education.
Keywords— nursing student exchange, virtual mobility

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *