PLANNING PROCESS

Minutes of the meeting: June 18^th to June 19^th in Witten, Germany

At the Institute of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine,

Private University Witten/Herdecke

Participants: Paivi Astedt-Kurki, Audrey Bryan, Andreas Buescher, Elke Donath, Edward Freeman, Marie-Luise Friedemann, Marco Guistini, Christine Haufe, Rita Kerr, Vesa Korhonen, Corinna Kronsteiner, Sabine Metzing, Eija Paavilainen, Julita Sansoni, Irma Schmincke-Blau, Wilfried Schnepp

Day 1: June 18^th 2001

Welcome and introduction

Collection of issues that have to be discussed during the meeting

Presentation of Courses (see outlines)

Ø      so far, there is one U.S. and one European version for each of the three big courses

Ø      course contents differ, especially the culture course and also the family course

Ø      following the overall aim of this transatlantic program, there is the wish to come up with ONE course for each of the three courses

Ø      work, that has been done so far should be understood as pilot work that still can be changed

Ø      the Finnish partners plan to offer mainly web-courses, and if there is a specific demand, practical phases individually. Same approach will be chosen from the Italian partners

Day 2: June 19^th 2001

Agreements:

Ø      combination of courses: the partners that have been working on the same course will work together via email during the next weeks to come up with a final version. There may be little variations depending on who will teach it.

Ø      Cultural Course: This course should include the topic of “immigration”. Wilfried Schnepp will make specific literature  available to the partners.

Ø      Practicum: individual organization depending on students needs and preferences; we will try to offer practical experience in areas, that students are not familiar with

Ø      Final Course schedule: planned to run until August 2002 (see attachment # 2)

Ø      Educational Methods: This is still an ongoing discussion between the partners responsible for the specific courses. It was agreed that using the interactive tools as educational instrument of the web courses is important and that those partners who would like to use a more research oriented focus and those who are more interested in a clinical oriented focus should add their elements in the course.   A problem not yet finalized is the question about how to construct the courses in a way that students with different levels of competence can start courses based on their level of knowledge.

Ø      Language: the courses will be taught in English; each European country will make individual decisions for students that are not so familiar with English

Ø      Evaluation of process and outcome for students out of the transatlantic program.

Ø      Questionnaire: Ed Freeman will put together a questionnaire to assess the level of competence of the students at the beginning of the program and at the end of each course and at the end of the whole programme.

Ø      Publications: it should be possible to write a descriptive article on theoretical aspects at this point (for example: what does interdisciplinary family-focused health care across cultures mean); in December (in Muenster), we all will bring a few pages with ideas on meaningful topics for publications

Ø      Web: most partners will use WebCT. At Capital University Blackboard will be used. It is planned to have common discussion groups, native discussion groups, tutorial groups on the Web.

Ø      Student numbers (so far):

Finland: all together about 15 students

Italy: 3 or 4 English speaking students + 20 Italian speaking students

Germany: all together about 10 students

Columbus: 1 student for the culture course, 1 in the interdisciplinary course

Eau Claire: 1 student in the interdisciplinary course

Miami: 2 students in the interdisciplinary course, ? in the culture course

Ø      Student exchange 2001:

1 student from Wisconsin Eau Claire => Witten/Herdecke

1 student from Columbus, Ohio => Witten/Herdecke or Tampere

1 student from Miami, Florida => Tampere

1 student from Florida => Rome

Ø      Term differences: individual solutions for students will be possible; flexibility within the program;

Ø      Certificate: common certificate with all signatures; will not be official for Eau Claire and FIU; Rita will check with FIPSE; Paivi will check with the European sponsors

Ø      December meeting Sigma Theta Tau: Rita invited the whole group; Europeans will probably not be able to come due to the small budget. Rita offered to support memberships for the Insititute of Nursing Science, Witten/Herdecke.

Ø      Literature: Especially for the cultural course students should get a bibliography in advance which includes bellesletters which shows day to day life.

Ø      General admin agreements: CVs of the students who go abroad should be send to the hosting university early in advance together with a list of their subjects of interest .

Ø      Copy Right of the Web Courses: The Finish Program leader will clarify with the EU Commission issues about ownership and copy right of the Web courses after the official end of the joined program.

Students have to sign an official agreement before they start the program