“UPenn lecturers do not come to teach VinUni students for a few sessions and then leave. They respect VinUni's proposal to build their own program," said Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of Nursing Program (Institute of Health Sciences), VinUni University, recalling the first days of building a nursing program for VinUni with a team of professors from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) - the world's leading university in nursing training.
Each lecture is a co-creation of both UPenn and VinUni
- It has been 5 years since VinUni officially shook hands with "giant" UPenn. Recalling those early days, how did UPenn and VinUni build a nursing program together, Dr.
It must be said that UPenn supports us very comprehensively, from standards development, admissions process to recommendations on faculty development strategies, faculty selection criteria. In addition, UPenn and VinUni determined the output standards, built the program framework, and developed detailed teaching and learning materials. VinUni and UPenn want an American-standard program from content and teaching-learning methods to accreditation and certification exams. The biggest difficulty we faced was how to reconcile the difference in nursing training environment between the two countries.
The US Bachelor of Nursing training program started in 1923. Meanwhile, it was not until 1996 that Vietnam had a full-time undergraduate nursing program. The requirements for the output standards of American nurses are very high, and the training regulations are also strict.
To overcome, we chose a bigger challenge: The two sides "tailored" the program in accordance with the reality of Vietnam. We set up a program development team where each module is developed by at least two instructors, one from UPenn, the other from VinUni. This is an interesting experience. You can imagine a lecturer of a new "born" school arguing with a professor of the world's No. 1 Nursing School on an equal footing in both expertise and pedagogy, it is not easy if both sides are not really respectful and demanding. So we can do it! Since then, each VinUni lecture has always been the product of the interaction and consensus of both UPenn and VinUni.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long with many enthusiastic lectures for the nursing profession
– What did you learn at UPenn?
I am fortunate to have been directly coached and accompanied by Professor Julie Sochalski, former US National Head Nurse - Vice President in charge of training of UPenn School of Nursing. Not only a teacher-student relationship, we are also colleagues and close friends.
Ms. Julie has a very good strategic system thinking, a very strong positivist training mindset. Her advice and questions always make me think differently. For example, when talking about policies for nurses, I ask what causes the current shortage of nurses in Vietnam. She didn't ask that. Instead, I was given two numbers about the nursing shortage 20 years ago and the current nursing shortage, along with the question: What has caused us to have a nursing shortage for the past 20 years, why haven't we been able to solve this situation?
The biggest thing I've learned from my mentor is that it's not the answers that make great people great. Asking a lot and asking questions differently is a very effective way of learning.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long appreciates the dedication of Prof. Julie Sochalsky from Upenn in the process of guiding and training.
VinUni students have good knowledge and attitude towards the profession
– According to Dr., what difference did the participation of a team from a leading university in nursing training make to VinUni's nursing training program?
Support has brought about total transformation. The effects of UPenn are indirect, that is, they help us build a good program, orient it appropriately, and train a teaching staff capable of absorbing and mastering UPenn's program. Upenn's lecturers did not come to teach VinUni students a few times and then left. They help VinUni build a solid foundation for VinUni to continue building its dream.
With program differences, VinUni nursing students have a strong clinical capacity with critical thinking and evidence-based practice. 100% of students have participated in research activities, published articles and reported at professional conferences during their studies. We also open more opportunities for future students with minors in the fields of business administration and science and technology. With the similarity in content and compliance with American nursing training standards, graduates from VinUni can take the American practice exam if they wish. With the current capacity, I believe that VinUni students are able to conquer the practice certification exam not only in the US but also in many other developed countries.
– All achievements must be measured from the quality of students. For students of VinUni, if briefly in 3 words to evaluate, what do you think those words are?
If I use the word “talent”, I think this is simply the entrance criteria. I always say to my students: “From today, when you walk through the school gate of VinUni, forget the word Talent for a while. Now you are the people with the potential. You have to learn, I forge, and there's certainly no place where I've forged without pain." I see my students do exactly that. The children showed their intelligence, bravery, dared to face difficult challenges in order to study well and speak up for Nursing. I believe that bravery is derived from the desire to contribute to society and people.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long wishes to make the nursing program at VinUni become a good and recognized program in Vietnam and around the world.
– What are your personal expectations for potential students as well as the nursing profession in the future?
I was trained in the country when I attended university and then did my postgraduate studies abroad. I used to be very self-conscious when interacting with colleagues from other countries because I came from a "low-lying area" in nursing training. But then I asserted myself before them and then found that Vietnamese intelligence is not inferior to friends. What I need is my own aspiration and external conditions to develop that intelligence.
I believe that my students are fully qualified to develop at VinUni. My colleagues and I have and will do our best to train nurses who are truly different who are qualified and know how to create change for themselves and for society.
In the shortest future, we will make the nursing program at VinUni become a good program, recognized not only in Vietnam, but also in the region and around the world. Helping learners to get better, helping to change society's perception of the importance of a career are not simple things. But that is the mission and the reason that VinUni and UPenn I are trying every day.
- Thank you, Dr.!
PV
