China

Lead Faculty:  Dr. Fuqin Liu

Background

TWU College of Nursing has offered a women’s health elective course — NURS 6903 Special Topics: Women’s and Family Health in China: Millennium Transitions in Policy & Practice, biennially. This graduate-level special topics course explored research, policy, and practice in relation to the health of women and families in China. An eleven-day field trip to China was required to complete the objectives of this course. The itinerary was a balanced mix of conference experiences, hospital tours, an exploration of the community, and cultural engagement.

In 2013, a total of 10 participants (8 students and 2 faculty members) participated in this education abroad experience (Travel dates: March 8 to 19, 2013). Drs. Fuqin Liu and Judith McFarlane were the lead faculty. The group visited Hangzhou Normal University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang, Tonglu Women and Children’s Health Center, Tonglu Marriage Registrar’s Office, Tonglu Chinese Medicine Hospital, and different factories in Tonglu including textile, pen, and decorative glass. Dr. Liu was born and raised in Tonglu county. During the trip, focus group meetings took place with students, nurses, migrant workers, village public health workers, factory workers, and local farmers. Both students and faculty had a very rich experience.

In 2015, a total of 10 participants (7 students, 2 faculty members, and 1 family member) engaged in the education abroad experience (Travel dates: March 13 to 24, 2015). Drs. Fuqin Liu and Judith McFarlane were the lead faculty. TWU students forged relationships with the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Zhejiang University City College, Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine and the Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou as well as visited women’s factory work sites in Tonglu county. Additionally, our students received a special lecture from the Director of Health Policy for Hangzhou City. This cultural immersion experience helped students to have a better understanding of policy and practice in relation to the health of women and families in China.

In 2017, a total of eleven participants (6 students and 5 faculty members) participated in this education abroad experience (Travel dates: March 9 to 19, 2017). Drs. Fuqin Liu and Sandra Cesario were the lead faculty. The itinerary was a nice mix of conference experiences, hospital tours, an exploration of the community, and cultural engagement. We visited Beijing Hepingli Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. In collaboration with Beijing Hepingli Hospital, we held a half day seminar on Eastern and Western ways of women’s health care. Two TWU faculty and two Chinese doctors presented at the seminar. In collaboration with the Division for International Exchange of the China’s International Health Promotion Association, we held a two-day conference on building nursing scholarship. The conference was attended by over 200 nurse leaders/educators from throughout northern China. All five TWU faculty did oral presentations and all 6 TWU students did poster presentation at the conference. In addition, two TWU faculty also gave a lecture at the Beijing Nurses Association which was attended by over 50 nursing directors/educators from Beijing. During the trip, the group interacted well with our Chinese hosts, establishing a strong foundation for future collaboration. The trip was very successful.

From all the contacts we made in China, Zhejiang University City College is the only institution for which we have initiated paperwork for a formal MOU. However, the MOU was not finalized because of recent leadership change at Zhejiang University City College. The MOU process will be revisited in the future.

Page last updated 10:41 AM, December 4, 2019