Cardiff School Of Health Sciences Increases Outward Mobility Through Visits To China And Lebanon
Staff and student outward mobility has been boosted in Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Health Sciences (CSHS) this summer as a result of European grants and internal university funding. CSHS staff members have visited colleagues in Lebanon and students from CSHS have embarked on a field trip in China.
Cardiff Met lecturers from CSHS, Victoria Gould and Henry Dawson, visited Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS), Cardiff Met’s transnational education (TNE) partner, to discuss partnership collaboration. The visit to MUBS consisted of meetings with key academic and support staff, lectures to demonstrate UK teaching styles, visits to health centres in Beirut, as well as a tour of campus facilities.
This staff exchange was funded by an Erasmus+ grant from Key Action 1 International Credit Mobility. These grants are financed by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Programme and contribute towards travel costs and subsistence allowance.
Vicky Gould, Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, at Cardiff Met, commented on the visit to the University’s partner university in Lebanon: “This Erasmus+ funded opportunity has given me the chance to work with peers from a different culture and consider the ways in which our universities may collaborate effectively to benefit both staff and students in Lebanon and the UK. I am impressed with the commitment and dedication the staff at MUBS have and feel that working together in future will be a fantastic experience.”
In addition, Cardiff Met funded a short term mobility student trip to China for undergraduate Food Science and Technology students, who were accompanied by lecturers, Dr Vitti Allender and Mr Simon Dawson. The group took part in cultural activities in Beijing and visited Tianjin Agricultural University (TAU) in Tianjin, where they were greeted by TAU buddies to help them during their stay. At TAU, the students were able to exchange information about cultures, universities, courses and hobbies, as well as attend a Chinese banquet where they their gained an understanding of how Chinese food and table cultures differed to the UK. The students were also taken to a food factory called Gobuli (‘Go Believe’), which produced steamed buns, and were given a tour and took part in a workshop where they appreciated the convergence of modern technology and traditional production processes.
Dr Vitti Allender noted the importance of this trip in relation to student development: “This was the first visit to Asia for many of the students so the cultural exposure was as important as the academic learning. Students were able to learn about China’s history, interact with the Chinese students, improving their networking skills, and increase their knowledge and understanding of international food.”
Dr Colin Powell, Associate Dean (International), Cardiff School of Health Sciences, encourages outward mobility in the School: “I have received positive feedback from students and staff that have undertaken a period of study or work overseas; they have their perspective altered in relation to their studies and their outlook on work and employment is increased on a global level.”
The visit builds upon a longer term plan with TAU that aims to enable Cardiff Met staff to teach on the Food Science degree in China and TAU Students to complete the final year of their studies in Cardiff.
There are still opportunities available for staff to go on mobilities overseas through Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility.
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