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Introduction to Study Abroad

WELCOME to the East Carolina University College of Nursing international webpage on the international study abroad initiatives.

According to the "UNC Tomorrow Report" (2007), "UNC should educate its students to be personally and professionally successful in the 21st century, and to do so, should enhance global competitiveness of its institutions and their graduates." (4.1)

As early as 1977, steps were taken by Drs. Brown, Kirkpatrick, and Koldjeski to begin the internationalization of the curriculum by having every student in their classes communicate with a student from another country via e-mail (Journal of Nursing Education, 1999; Nurse Educator, 1998). In that same year, students from the College of Nursing went abroad for the first time to Oulu, Finland.

Other ways in which these three faculty were promoting the internationalization of curriculum were to promote the reading of literature by international authors. Today there are study abroad programs in Europe, Guatemala and Mexico with many faculty going abroad annually to present at international conferences.

However, the globalization of the campus, faculty and student body has a new initiative with the formation of the East Carolina University International Task Force (ECU-ITF) and the Curriculum for the International Curricular Initiative (CICI) which began in 2007.

Join us by beginning your global journey with a look at the ECU College of Nursing International Studies brochure, the "Cultural Considerations for Internationalization of the CON: A Self-Directed Learning Experience" presentation and Office of International Affairs webpages. (Please Note - The downloading of any of these presentations may take a few moments.  It will be worth it.) These presentations will provide the resources for Best Practice Guidelines on client centered and cultural competence, cultural competence certificaition, CLAS standards and a host of other information and resources for study abroad and globalization. In addition, the presentation by Dr. Mary Kirkpatrick and Ms. Cheryl Elhammoumi has been added.

For more information, please visit our peripheral website for the ECU College of Nursing Global Health Advisory Council

"Global Readiness" begins with YOU!