Global Virtual Engagement

This is a development and implementaion grant project to be conducted virtually with Moi University School of nursing in Eldoret, Kenya. It is proposed to enhance intercultural competence among nursing students via virtual exchanges between The University of Texas School of Nursing in Austin, Texas (UT SON) and Moi University School of Nursing (MOI U) in Eldoret, Kenya in similar nursing clinical nursing courses. The project lead (myself) will work with the lead midwifery faculty at MOI U to set up a series of asynchronous virtual conversations between UT and MOI U nursing students. The development phase of the grant includes exploring logistics and equipment use for the following implementation phase. The implementation phase in subsequent semesters is  proposed to include a global virtual exchange classroom activity is a series of asynchronous virtual exchanges of approximately 30-60 minutes in length between 20 -30 students; approximately ten (10) or more MOI U Nursing students and ten (10) to twenty (20) UT SON Austin students. The exchange will take place in a perinatal clinical nursing course  in the US during the UT SON Fall 21 semester in Austin, Texas, which correlates with an intrapartum nursing / midwifery course at MOI U in Eldoret, Kenya. There is an eight (8) to nine (9) hour time difference. The virtual exchanges will be focused on anecdotal current clinical experiences and related to an assigned set of articles and / or topics. The order, timing, and specific subject matter in the current evidence-based peer reviewed literature will be determined by MOI U and UT SON faculty during the development phase of the project. Virtual equipment needs will also be determined at that time.