Graduates possessing global competencies cultural understanding and ability to work within diverse workforces and environments (Department of Health 2014) are rated by employers worldwide. Indeed the benefits from volunteering studying/working abroad are widely agreed upon for both UK and overseas health care delivery development and the growth of individual students and qualified staff (All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health 2013). While in reality pedagogical and practical challenges can prevail (UK Higher Education International Unit 2012).
Within this paper there will be an opportunity to explore how one School of Nursing in Wales in just a four year period has met the strategic and professional vision to increase international student mobility in order to enhance global health competence of student nurses. In so doing they also enhanced the student experience. Strategies utilised to overcome well documented multi- dimensional challenges will also be explored. The evaluations of over 120 students over a 4 year period will be presented to include the significant professional and personal rewards students gained alongside the challenges and how the students managed those challenges. Example of such rewards includes enhanced confidence communication and cultural competence. Challenges encountered by students included for example overcoming professional differences and practical challenges. Students’ personal reflective accounts will be presented offering an invaluable insight of their experience and learning gained. Finally the collaborative learning gained and outcomes will be offered to enable development of future students’ global health competencies.
