Student delegations from Japan

From August to September, we had the honor of receiving two Study Groups from Tokai University: One from the Department of Health and one from the Department of Nursing.

The delegation from the Department of Health:
This Study Group consisted of two teachers and nine students who stayed at our facility from August 25th till September 1st. Their general focus during their stay was on the Danish society’s way of managing public health, welfare and elderly care. Their Study Program was therefore aimed at these subject and it included visits to:

• Krogerup Folk High School – Here the students were taught about the life as student at a Danish Folk High School and were able to talk to students there as well. They were also introduced to one the school’s new courses, which focuses on regenerative agriculture, and it’s benefits for both our health and the planet’s.

• The Nursing Home Pilehuset, which specializes in dementia – The students were introduced to the facilities and their special pedagogical nursing methods, which are used to enhance the life quality and expectancy of their patients.

• Taga School, an education for students with special needs – Here the Study Group received an introduction to the school’s system, the school student’s individual educational plans, and learned about how the school attains its most important goal: to have each student develop into a capable and confident adult and choose a path suitable for their needs and abilities.

… and many other places.

The students also partook in various social engagements, such as a social exchange gathering with students at Copenhagen University, a Garden Party at TUEC, as well as a visit to the homes of a selected group of Danish elderly citizens. These activities allowed them to both practice their English language skills, as well learn about Danish culture. After their stay here at TUEC the Study Group continued their program in Aarhus where they visited VIA College and Aarhus University.
 
The delegation from the Department of Nursing:
This Study Group arrived shortly after the former one and stayed at TUEC from August 29th till September 5th. This group consisted of one teacher and ten students. We had also arranged a Study Program during their stay which was mainly focused on Danish nursing and elderly care.

Our great partners at University College Deaconess (UCD) once again made it possible to make a great program for the students, as they (co-)arranged several parts of it. The program itself included a visit to UCD, with an extensive tour of the school, as well as a thorough explanation on how they teach nursing to their students. The Study Group from Tokai also did a presentation on their studies and everyday life in Japan in front of students from Deaconess. Following this, they all discussed the differences and similarities between Denmark and Japan in these regards.

Other parts of the Study Program included, amongst others, visits to:

• The Danish Nursing Organization – The students were informed on how the organization operates and impacts nursing in Denmark.

• Nursing home Ingeborggården – Here the students learned about the facility and how the staff works to ensure the well being of their elderly patients.

• Frederiksberg Rehabilitation Clinique – The group was introduced by the staff to their rehabilitation methods and their connection to other hospitals and institutions.

 
As with the Department of Health Group, the Department of Nursin Study Group also participated in the Garden Party at TUEC. This allowed them chance to talk with fellow students from both Denmark and Japan, socialize and share ideas together.
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We’re very grateful for the experience with these intercultural and cross-sectional exchanges during the stay of both Study Groups from respectively Tokai’s Department of Health Management and of Nursing. In the future, we hope to have many more of such arrangements where each staff or faculty member and student can share their personal understandings with one another to help broaden each other’s viewpoints and collaborate better.