Blog Article The Centre for International Health Partnerships within the Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences has had a successful health partnership with the Ministry of Health in Zambia for over a decade now. Projects encompass a range of subjects and in this blog, we reflect on the impact of BCU Nurse Lecturers working with colleagues in Zambia and how they have translated the outcomes of their international work into their UK practice. CHRIS CARTER AND JOY NOTTERProfessors in Health, Education and Life Sciences The Centre for International Health Partnerships within the Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences has had a successful health partnership with the Ministry of Health in Zambia for over a decade now. Projects encompass a range of subjects and in this blog, we reflect on the impact of BCU Nurse Lecturers working with colleagues in Zambia and how they have translated the outcomes of their international work into their UK practice. As nurses, we recognise that Birmingham has a rich, diverse, and multicultural society, which is reflected in our students, colleagues, communities, and patient groups. Our projects have enabled participating faculty to gain skills that leave them better prepared to deliver multicultural education and give them the confidence to open the door to future opportunities. This approach was designed to facilitate bi-directional learning which has enabled faculty to gain international experiences which has promoted sustainability and global citizenship within our UK curricula and research. Paul Nix is a Lecturer in the College of Nursing and Midwifery and has been delivering virtual lectures on cardiac nursing for critical care and cardiac students in Zambia. Paul recognises the importance of sharing expertise on a wider basis: "When I learned about the opportunity to support the delivery of nurse education to critical care nurses in Zambia, I was immediately drawn to help and be involved." Paul saw this as an opportunity that: "Resonated with commitment to global health and the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses, which advocate for active engagement in global health issues. The opportunity to contribute to such a significant cause was something I could not turn down." Paul has been involved in curriculum development specifically in cardiovascular nursing, delivering lectures, and providing remote support to international colleagues. Paul was aware that when working virtually with another country and health system, it was important "To collaborate with peers to tailor the educational content to meet the specific needs of critical care nurses in Zambia and to get different participants perspectives." As with other Faculty members, for Paul, working on the Zambia project: "Profoundly influenced the approach to teaching at Birmingham City University. It has heightened awareness of global health challenges and the importance of culturally sensitive care." "Integrating these experiences into my lectures, I now place a stronger emphasis on global health and encouraging my students to think beyond their local context. This shift has not only enriched the learning experience for my students but also helped to foster a deeper understanding of the interconnections of health systems worldwide." In conclusion, Paul said: "I encourage anyone with an interest in volunteering or linking with international projects to take the leap, you will gain far more than you can imagine." Hannah Mosley, Senior Lecturer within the College of Nursing and Midwifery had the opportunity to participate in both in-country and virtual activities in Zambia. Hannah’s main role was supporting teaching and clinical supervision for students who were completing the Critical Care Programme at both BSc and MSc level. This built upon her background in neuro-critical care and experiences of working in under and post-graduate nurse education in the UK, combined with the experience of working internationally (as a student in Malawi, and in as a Registered Nurse in Australia). Hannah said "I was very excited to be part of this project … expect the unexpected is the best piece of advice I can give anyone wanting to work internationally... "Despite having many conversations about what to expect, the lack of resources that I would see, and how this impacts daily working for nurses in ICU, I didn’t appreciate the difference in clinical environments until I was there experiencing it." One of the things Hannah found hardest was that: "I saw nurses who cared deeply for their patients, but were restricted by what they could feasibly do. The result of this was of course frustration, but also - intuition, innovation, and resilience." The practicalities of working and living with limited resources, for example: "Load shedding leading to intermittent electricity and warm running water means you’re always on your toes trying to make sure devices (phone, laptop, dongle) are sufficiently charged and there’s hot water in the flask in case you want a cuppa!" "Teaching in Zambia has undoubtedly helped with my current teaching in the UK, I can appreciate from a very realistic standpoint how digital poverty and digital illiteracy can be barriers to success for some students." One of the most important outcomes for Faculty is Hannah says: "Being able to talk about my experiences in Zambia in the classroom in the UK brings another layer to some discussions, particularly when discussing social determinants of health." Overall, Hannah summarises here experiences with this statement: "I went to Zambia to teach but I learned a whole lot!" Laura Maguire is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for the Neonatal Pathway. Laura spent 2024-2025 mentoring two neonatal nurses from Zambia, as part of the BCU Remote International Mentorship Partnership Scheme. Prior to this project, she had mentored a neonatal nurse from Rwanda so was already aware of some of the barriers and benefits. Laura says for her the: "Rewards are great and have an impact on my own teaching… and have adapted my teaching style to mentor international nurses that face both similar and different challenges to those in the UK." Perhaps one of the most important outcomes is that Laura says: "I have gained a global perspective which I now share when delivering teaching to students attending the neonatal pathway." Laura recently successfully approved two new neonatal courses and to do this she had to demonstrate global citizenship. Laura used the evidence and experiences from international mentoring to do this and was a lead author in an article regarding international collaboration. From a professional development perspective, Laura used examples that were highly praised as part of successful her Senior Fellowship application with Advance HE and reports that her international work has "enhanced my teaching career". Perhaps the best reflection of using knowledge, education, and sharing to unlock potential comes from the word Ubuntu "I am because we are", we do not stand alone, we are one community of practice. If you would like to know more about the Centre for International Health Partnerships please contact CIHP@bcu.ac.uk