Cross-continental healthcare exploration: Coleg Ceredigion's journey to Canada and Canadian students journey to Ceredigion
A visit to Alberta in Canada to explore health care services and education has been highly beneficial for Coleg Ceredigion students and staff.
Funded by Taith, the visit saw level three health and social care students join access to higher education health sciences students, to immerse themselves in the healthcare education system at NorQuest College - leaders in healthcare studies.
The visit was designed not just as an academic exercise but as a holistic exploration of healthcare practices and indigenous studies.
Sara Jones, lecturer in health science at Coleg Ceredigion said: “Despite its vast geographical expanse, Alberta is a region that shares many similarities with Wales in terms of population, challenges in rural and remote care delivery, indigenous perspectives, and healthcare budget constraints.
“Over the year, students have delved into the intricacies of funding and operations within our health and social care systems, pinpointing the unique challenges associated with delivering these essential services in the rural regions of mid-Wales.
“To further enrich their understanding of international healthcare practices, the students were provided with an opportunity to travel overseas to visit an international partner college and to investigate challenges that are also experienced in healthcare service delivery in other areas of the world.”
Over the eight days, students took part in getting-to-know Edmonton activities, visited Métis Crossing exploring the indigenous Métis community and gaining insights into indigenous health practices.
Students spent five days of academically intensive days at NorQuest College and its surrounding healthcare facilities where they were exposed to the intricacies of healthcare education, indigenous health services, and simulated healthcare environments at the Olson Centre for Health Simulation, which uses simulation to improve patient safety, quality of care, health care, and human services education.
Further visits included the Alberta Legislature Building and the Telus World of Science, enhancing the group’s understanding of political history, science, and technology in healthcare.
To end the visit, students were given the opportunity of exploring the city of Calgary before their journey back to Wales.
Sara Jones added: “The trip unfolded over eight eventful days, each contributing to a rich tapestry of experiences that went beyond traditional classroom learning.”
Since the visit to Alberta, the team at Coleg Ceredigion has hosted NorQuest College’s Faculty of Health Studies staff and Licenced Practical Nursing and Healthcare Aide students.
The college helped facilitate the Canadian college’s exploration of healthcare education and health service delivery in mid-Wales.
This reciprocal visit, funded by Taith, aimed to foster mutual learning and collaboration between the Welsh and Canadian institutions and involved the Future Workforce team at Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDdUHB) who assisted and provided visitors with a tour of Bronglais Hospital.
The HDdUHB Welsh Language Services team also delivered a presentation to give the students an insight into bilingualism and the importance of the Welsh language within the health board and their services.
Sara Jones, lecturer in health science at Coleg Ceredigion added: “The collaboration between Coleg Ceredigion’s health and social care courses and the Faculty of Health Studies at NorQuest College is a testament to the power of international partnerships in enriching healthcare education.
“NorQuest College’s focus on indigenous studies and our emphasis on bilingualism in healthcare present unique opportunities for integrating these critical aspects into our curriculum.
“By comparing indigenous studies and bilingualism’s impact on healthcare practices, we aim to develop a more comprehensive and culturally responsive healthcare education framework.
“Our journey to Alberta and the subsequent collaboration has laid the groundwork for a future where healthcare education transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.”
Student Beci Harrison said: “Not only are the landscapes breath-taking and everyone that we met were friendly. NorQuest College in Edmonton provided us with an enriching educational experience that was truly amazing, an unforgettable experience.”
Anna Smaldon-Hill said: “Alberta, Canada, in 10 days was a bit of a whirlwind. I was so enriched with new knowledge and experiences, both educationally and emotionally. It is a time in my life I won’t soon forget; it has made a firm impact on me, and I think I’ll take much of what I learned into my future career.”
Courtney Jones added: “Exploring some of the stunning landscapes of Alberta was a truly amazing experience, and immersing myself in a different lifestyle and culture proved to be incredibly educational. Additionally, learning about the distinct healthcare system and the unique challenges it faces in Alberta was particularly enlightening.”
Lowri Jones said: “The trip proved to be significantly transformative for me. Engaging with the First Nations community and witnessing the enduring lifestyles of these indigenous peoples deeply enriched my cultural understanding of some of the barriers that are faced when accessing healthcare services.”
