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International immersion experiences for health-care students have increased over the past 10 years. Students and faculty expect these experiences to increase cultural competency; however, research on outcomes of these programs has lacked rigor. Over a 4-year period, groups of nursing and other health professions students spent 3 weeks in Peru providing primary care and health education. Students attended pre-departure seminars addressing personal travel health and safety, culture and health care in Peru, working with interpreters, and ethics of international health care. Student participants ( N = 77) completed an instrument assessing self-perceived cultural competency before and after the experience. Results of pre- and post-immersion scores showed significant increases in perceived cultural competency and increased self-efficacy in cultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes for four groups of students. Implications and future directions are discussed and recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of changes which have been made to educational models used in gerontology and geriatric education in countries across the globe in an effort to respond to changing global demographics linked to an increase in older citizens. A discussion of several modern geriatric and gerontology education models, including network-based gerontology programs, intensive gerontology training programs and partnerships between individual universities, is presented.

The World Health Organization's World Report on Disability underscores the need to identify and address barriers that limit people with disabilities from having access to services. Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013) consider the impact of that report on people with communication disabilities (PWCD). Over the past 5 years, the authors have worked together in Ghana to address the needs of PWCD. With only about 10 university-trained speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Ghana, the barriers to PWCD receiving services are quite high. The authors are working together and with others to establish the first speech-language pathology program in Ghana. The authors also work to identify ways to share with PWCD and their families knowledge and skills on how to improve the communicative function of PWCD. In doing so, the authors have learned valuable lessons about the role of an SLP, especially when considering under-served PWCD, lessons that are applicable to both Majority and Minority World countries. This commentary describes the authors' work over the past 5 years, and describes initiatives that have had some measure of success in reducing barriers to access to information and services needed by PWCD and their caregivers and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the United States' population changes and the increasing impact of globalization, international context and experience in the MSW curriculum are essential. Gaining popularity as a vehicle for such experience are short-term international courses, defined as educational trips outside the United States lasting from 1 to 3 weeks. To achieve desired outcomes, courses must include both strong course curriculum and pedagogical approaches that support learning from experience and critical reflection. In this article, we describe our short-term international MSW school-supported course methodology. We use three critical incidents to illustrate tensions and challenges inherent in MSW study abroad programs. Finally, we offer three pedagogical approaches to deepen and enhance learning in short-term international courses: experiential learning, transformative learning, and decolonizing pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a growing emphasis on international offerings within social work education, researchers have conducted few outcomes studies regarding the implications of these courses for students' professional development. This study addressed this gap by analyzing data from a survey of 122 social work students at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, before and after they completed (a) a guided study-abroad course or (b) an on-campus course on international social work. Results indicated that students in both courses demonstrated gains across multiple domains, including self-rated skills, understanding of international service, identification as a global citizen, and empowerment. Students in the study abroad courses demonstrated greater gains in self-rated skills than students in the on-campus course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social work profession has a long standing commitment to human rights and social justice, bridging the divide between national and international interests. There is a call for social workers to understand the global community that awaits our service. Yet international experiences are not within the grasp of nor embraced by all. Students of color are underrepresented participants in the growing trends of internationalization. Through addressing participation barriers, this article uses a case study approach that emphasizes how a social work program at Howard University designed a mission-guided international service learning model that resulted in increased participation for students of color through multiple strategies, while giving primacy to human rights and social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of U.S. students studying abroad has been growing, particularly those participating in short-term trips. However, literature on the effect of these short-term trips is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess quantitatively the effect on bachelor students' cross-cultural adaptability using a pre-post design. Significant changes were found on all subscales as well as on the total score, thus supporting the use of these short-term trips for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have questioned the validity of universal social work values and the manner in which international welfare interventions manage basic needs without affecting structural change. This article examines a class on engaging with sex workers in India that was informed by the critiques of normative international welfare engagement. The analysis drew on qualitative interviews with 18 participants, students' written responses, and the instructor's field notes. Results indicate that structural factors, the class material, and the class format helped students immerse themselves in community life, challenge preconceptions about the community, validate beliefs and ideologies that emerged out of the lived experience of sex workers, and engage in social change. Implications for international social work education and pedagogy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How might U.S. social work students' perceptions of HIV/AIDS differ from those of social work students in sub-Saharan Africa? Furthermore, what can students learn from hearing how students from other countries view them? Social work students in the United States, Botswana, and Malawi were video- recorded; they then viewed the videos of students at other sites and responded. The African students had personal experiences of HIV/AIDS, whereas those in the United States had little contact with people living with HIV/AIDS. Students in all locations revealed culturally constructed meanings and beliefs in associated myths regarding HIV/AIDS. The process of viewing students of different cultures is illustrated as an effective pedagogical approach toward increasing students' global learning and could be replicated using discussion of other international challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Steve Trygged an Bodil Eriksson on migration and student interest in global and international social work, one by Wen-Jui Han et al. on social work in China and one by Dorothy Gamble on globalization and social work.

Trilingualism plays out in interesting and powerful ways in an arts-integrated cultural exchange project. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

International field placements are a unique educational opportunity for social work students to develop the skills they need for social work practice in a globalized world; however, outcomes of international placements have not been rigorously studied. This article reports on the International Volunteer Impacts Survey (IVIS), a 48-item survey administered to 983 respondents that measures perceived outcomes of international service. Using factor analysis procedures, the authors assess factor structure and reliability of major outcomes of international service including international contacts, open-mindedness, international understanding, intercultural relations, life plans, civic activism, community engagement, media attentiveness, and financial contributions. Further development of the IVIS and the implications for using it to assess student outcomes in international social work field placements are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four-year student exchange project took place between Canadian and EU universities that engaged in a reciprocal agreement between social work students, social service agencies and universities. Sixty-four students completed their practicum through this program. The article gives an account of the students’ learning experiences and their evaluation of this program. It concludes with a discussion of their learning experiences in cross-cultural exchanges and future recommendations for enhancing international social work field exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Schools that want to implement health promotion (HP) are often confronted with obstacles that they cannot overcome by themselves and therefore need support from their environment. However, the issue of which kind of support is needed for HP implementation is complex. A systems approach suggests that the individual logic of each school be considered and that supporting strategies be flexible to specific needs. This article pursues the question which types of support for health promoting schools are offered on a provincial level in Austria. Using a grounded theory approach, 18 in-depth interviews with representatives of provincial organizations and 26 documents relevant for school HP were analysed. As a result, five different strategies of supporting health promoting schools have been identified in Austria: (i) organize exchange among schools, (ii) establish certification and quality control of school health efforts, (iii) offer consultation and information, (iv) carry out a specific HP programme and (v) coordinate HP actors and information. These strategies are usually combined and rarely occur in their pure form. It was also determined that the coordination of the different strategies and human resources for HP are missing for schools in Austria. It is argued that each of these supporting strategies has benefits and limitations for schools and the providers, and that they all have the potential to respond to the school as a complex social system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on topics discussed at a round table discussion which featured several social work professionals, including Christine Fewell of the School of Social Work at New York University, Dorie J. Gilbert of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas and S. LaLa Straussner of the School of Social Work at New York University. Topics included international social work, the treatment of addictions and the role that social work can play in the treatment of substance abuse.

The article offers European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR) news briefs which includes information on how to contact ESNR board members, a calendar of ESNR congresses and conventions, including the annual meeting of Human Brian Mapping (HBM) in Quebec, Canada from June 26–30, 2011, and ESNR courses, including the European Course of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Pierre Lasjaunias ECNR 2010-2012 in Tarragona, Spain from October 28-November 1, 2011.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's social work in Ghana, wherein she looks into the cultural differences in exchange programs between Ghana and the U.S.

Background Many major public health issues today are not confined by national boundaries. However, the global public health workforce appears unprepared to confront the challenges posed by globalization. We therefore sought to investigate whether the current UK public health training programme adequately prepares its graduates to operate in a globalized world. Methods We used mixed methods involving an online cross-sectional survey of UK public health trainees on the international content of the Faculty of Public Health's written examination, a qualitative review of the Faculty's 2007 training curriculum and a questionnaire survey of all training deaneries in the UK. Results We found that global health issues are not addressed by the current training curriculum or in the written examination despite trainee interest for this. Many of the deaneries were also unreceptive to international placements. Conclusions Despite the recognized educational legitimacy of global health placements and the favourable UK policy context, the opportunities and international content of public health training remain limited. In order to retain its position as a leader in the field of public health, the UK needs to adapt its training programme to better reflect today's challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article adopts a Marxist framework for examining the class bases of racism against guest workers in Taiwan, focusing on the legislative and administrative mechanisms adopted by the state to racialise and recompose the labour market and to politically repress immigrants, largely for the benefit of capital accumulation. It examines the ways in which racism against immigrants has constituted an important element of Taiwan's civic nationalism; an ideology which depicts guest workers' resistance as a source of social instability in the nation-state. The article also considers the ways in which the state has adapted to immigrants' struggles, together with the immigrants' and local workers' efforts to unite in solidarity against wage exploitation and racism. The article brings together evidence supporting the contention that Marxist analysis is the most effective means of explaining both racism and anti-racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in global health and opportunities to conduct clinical research at international sites have increased markedly for health profession trainees. With this increase in demand comes an increase in the need for mentors at international and home institutions to provide guidance with designing, implementing and analysing clinical research projects that benefit both the trainees and the research site. In this article, we provide an overview of our insights gained through mentoring in the international setting and suggest a series of key points to help ensure an enjoyable and productive international clinical research experience for both trainees and mentors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key lessons in leadership can be obtained from visiting other places and people and learning from their experiences. An exchange visit was undertaken by five orthopaedic trainees and their consultants to a renowned orthopaedic institute in Rizzoli, Bologna. Throughout the trip, the trainees were encouraged to think about the leadership values and styles they encountered, the differences in practice between the institute and the National Health Service and to think of areas where the things they had seen could be translated into service improvement back at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As the demand for cultural awareness in the provision of nursing care continues to increase, nursing programs must develop creative and effective teaching strategies and curricula to address this need. The evaluation of a five year, funded, North American nursing exchange project developed and implemented by six partner universities in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America is described in this article. The project was designed to enable nursing students to increase cultural awareness, redefine their role relationships with nurses from the partner countries, and increase knowledge regarding the health care systems and role of the nurse in those countries. Findings provide evidence that teaching nursing through a prism of cultural awareness, using both a jointly taught online course and student and faculty exchanges across the three countries is an effective strategy to increase the level of cultural awareness in nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a brief description of short-term study abroad (STSA) programs, a step-by-step description of STSA program development and potential benefits of an STSA program to the athletic training student. An STSA program involves travel to another country to explore aspects of the country's language, culture, history, society, environment, architecture and art. The planning stage and finalization of program design are detailed.

Academic exchange programs provide students and teachers with the opportunity to study or work temporarily at educational institutions abroad. For exchange programs to be successful in promoting intercultural education, they must be designed with their participants in mind. The present study constitutes an investigation of attitudes and expectations of students and teachers with respect to a German--Algerian university exchange program. Germany and Algeria belong to separate cultural spheres--the Western/European and the Arabic/Islamic--and almost no academic exchange has taken place between them to date. The survey's four participant groups were German (n = 270) and Algerian students (n = 214), and German (n = 24) and Algerian teachers (n = 43). The study revealed large differences in the hopes and fears that German and Algerian university students and teachers attach to reciprocal academic exchange. The study's ramifications for the future planning of a German--Algerian university exchange program are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on information concerning the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). A brief calendar of conferences is presented including the conference of The World Congress of Neuroradiology. Upcoming courses include one in Computer-Assisted Radiology and Surgery. A report on a neuroradiologist's experience in the ESNR Exchange program is presented.

A number of organizations have a mission of encouraging peace throughout the world by enhancing young people’s knowledge and understanding of other countries and cultures. One strategy used to further this mission is international or intercultural exchange programs. Most evaluations of exchange programs gather data only from the direct participants who traveled to another country. But these programs have the potential to have impacts that expand beyond the direct participants—or “ripple effects.” Thus, a more appropriate methodology to evaluate exchange programs is “360-degree feedback,” which gathers data from multiple sources. This study uses 360-degree feedback to evaluate a youth peacebuilding and exchange program by gathering data not only from the exchange students but also from chaperones, host families, and students and teachers in the host school. ANOVA analyses finds that the program had positive impacts on the exchange students and, in many cases, even greater ripple effects on indirect participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the internationalization of 29 hospitality and tourism management programs in Guangdong Province, China. The current situation and problems of internationalization of tourism higher education were investigated from various aspects including internationalization of faculty, students, research, and exchange programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented wherein the recounts his experience on the exchange research program with aims of studying carbon elements, nature and the potentials of graphene oxide for various applications.

The article focuses on the youth exchange project between community-based youth centers Purple Thistle Centre in East Vancourer, British Columbia and K'asho Got'ine Youth Centre in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories. The exchange project is designed to generate native/non-native conversations, experiences, and friendships. It views on the attitudes presented by youth who participated the project. It also explores the contributions of native/non-native exchanges to move past tolerance of youth, hospitality, and understand their lives.

Objective To trace the growth of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the United States since 1994–95 and assess the current state of SEPs. Methods Annual surveys of US SEPs known to North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN). Surveys mailed to executive directors with follow-up interviews by telephone and/or e-mail. Response rates have varied between 70% and 88% since surveys were initiated in 1996. Results The numbers of programs known to NASEN have increased from 68 in 1994–95 to 186 in 2007. Among programs participating in the survey, numbers of syringes exchanged have increased from 8.0 million per year to 29.5 million per year, total annual budgets have increased from $6.3 to $19.6 million and public funding (from state and local governments) has increased from $3.9 to $14.4 million. In 2007, 89% of programs permitted secondary exchange and 76% encouraged it. Condoms, referrals to substance abuse treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) counseling and testing and naloxone for overdose were among the most commonly provided services in addition to basic syringe exchange. Each of these services was provided by 40% or more of SEPs in 2007. Conclusions While syringe exchange has remained controversial in the United States, there has been very substantial growth in numbers of programs, syringes exchange and program budgets. Utilizing secondary exchange to reach large numbers of injecting drug users and utilizing SEPs as a new platform for providing health and social services beyond basic syringe exchange have been the two major organizational strategies in the growth of SEPs in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the results of a Fulbright Alumni Initiatives Award 2005–8, which provided resources and support for an international school police officer exchange programme between officers in the United States and the United Kingdom. This multi-year exchange programme had several outcomes including exchange opportunities for 11 officers from London and Colorado; the development of a school/ community safety curriculum; international collaborative school safety research project planning and implementation; and programme dissemination opportunities. Extensive knowledge and idea sharing resulted from this exchange programme and current as well as future school policing programmes around the world can benefit from the details outlined in this case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Network for Asylum Reception Organisations (ENARO), representing 11 European countries, has organised staff exchange visits since its establishment in 2002. Although the exchange programme has been successful in itself for more than five years, new dynamics are necessary to keep the programme vital and geared to the future. To achieve this, the University of Kent and ENARO have joined forces in an EU-funded project called the ENARO Knowledge Transfer Hub, hereafter called the HUB. The aim of the HUB is to provide benefit to the staff exchanges on several levels. The project included the two exchanges in the year 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR. Details of the society's congresses, board and committee members are presented. It also outlines the course, the European Exchange program as well as the awardees of the 31st congress of ESNR held on September 13, 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland, including the Best Oral Presentation and Best Scientific Posters.

The purpose of this study was to explore American student perceptions of caring for Korean patients during a 2 week exchange program. Perceptions of Korea/Koreans focused on five areas: respect, hospitality and gift giving, ability to speak English, hierarchal relationships, and being protective. Their perceptions of personal change focused in four areas: valuing personal cultural experiences, increasing cultural awareness and compassion, seeing people from other ethnic groups as individuals and developing interest in oriental medicine. Four areas of importance identified when caring for Korean patients included showing respect, importance of family, food, and care for post-partum mothers. Differences were experienced between an individualistic, low-context society (United States) and a collectivistic, high context society (Korea) where the influence of Confucianism is pervasive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information about the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). Some of the members of the ESNR are Jordi Ruscalleda, Martin Schumacher, and Olof Flodmark. ESNR Congresses will be organized during September 13-16, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. European Courses in Neuroradiology are being organized by the Committee of the ESNR and the European Board of Neuroradiology during October 2006 to February 2007. The ESNR has also organized an exchange program for training European Neuroradiologists. Its aim is to offer training in topics not available in home institutions.

The article presents news briefs relating to neuroradiology. The European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR) announces the names of the board and committee members, meeting information and schedule of congresses. An exchange program for training European Neuroradiologists has been initiated by the European Society of Neuroradiology. The European Society of Neuroradiology announces its search for the next Lucien Appel Prize awardee.

The article provides information on the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). It includes information on how to contact the ESNR, committees, congresses and conventions, membership information, and official journal. The aims of the ESNR on engaging to an exchange program for training European Neuroradiologists are detailed.

The article presents news related to the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). The ESNR has initiated an exchange program for training European neuroradiologists with the aim to foster future leaders in neuroradiology by supporting and developing mobility and communication between fellows and residents training in neuroradiology in Europe. The rules for establishing eligibility to sit for the oral examination include conditions like the candidate must have sufficient ability in the English language to communicate with patients, foreign colleagues, to study international literature and to master the examination.

Focuses on the visa-less exchange program and its impact on alleviating opposition among South Kuril residents to transferring the islands to Japan. Details of the visa-less program; Background on the agreement to conduct visa-less exchanges; Implications of the program for Japanese irredentism.

The article focuses on the intercultural competence and its role in the selection and training of expatriate business personnel. The concept of intercultural competence is discussed, including several different approaches incorporating personality, attitude, and communicative behavior. The selection criteria and training programs for expatriate personnel are also examined, such as traditional culture-specific training and experimental culture-general training.

The article focuses on an article "Evaluating Exchange of Persons Programs," by Elmo C. Wilson and Frank Bonilla that was published in the journal "Public Opinion Quarterly." During the last five years, International Research Associates, under contract to the Department of State of the United States, has carried out a number of evaluation studies of exchange programs in different countries among students, specialists, and groups of civic and opinion leaders from abroad. In this paper the authors discuss the research approaches utilized in those studies, point out the usefulness and shortcomings of each as these are reflected in major findings, and suggest some of the areas in which future research seems most urgently needed.

Explores the problem of the brain drain that arises because of the simultaneous operation of the Exchange Economy. Impact of the problem on flow of productive factors; Useful purpose of the discussions of the brain drain.

Background and Objectives: International electives can provide experiences for medical students to learn about health systems and foster critical self-reflection. So far, little is known about the status of Japanese students' engagement in international electives. We sought to provide information about the internationalization of Japanese medical education by clarifying the current situations of international electives. Method: We undertook a cross-sectional national 17-item questionnaire survey of program officers in all medical schools in Japan in February 2010. Results: Sixty-five (81.3%%) of 80 Japanese medical schools responded to the questionnaire. 462 Japanese medical students (3%% of all students in their clinical years) travelled to North America (45.5%%), Asia (25.0%%), or Western Europe (24.4%%) to study abroad. The number of students who participated in international electives was significantly increased when academic credit was available (median 6 vs. 1, p < 0.001) and institutional affiliations were present (median 7 vs. 2 students, p < 0.001). Most students were evaluated by means of written assignment on return. Discussion and Conclusion: About 3%% of Japanese medical students participate in international clinical exchanges. Academic credit and institutional affiliations appear to promote greater utilization of international exchange opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). It had Executive, Standing and Ad Hoc Committees and will hold Congresses in Poland and in Greece in 2008. Its global meetings will be in Great Britain from December 13-14, 2007 and in Spain from June 25-28, 2008. Its exchange program for training European neuroradiologists aims to offer support and communication between fellows and residents and established cooperation between Institutions of Neuroradiology.

Background: Most international electives in which medical students from high-income countries travel abroad are largely unstructured, and can lead to problematic outcomes for students as well as sending and receiving institutions. We analyse the problems of unstructured medical electives and describe the benefits of an elective experience that includes more organisation and oversight from the sending medical school.Results: A number of structured elective programmes have been developed, including those at the Medical School for International Health, Israel and the University of Dundee, United Kingdom. These programmes provide significant pre-departure training in global health and the ethical dimensions of electives, support and monitoring during the elective, and post-elective debrief. Crucially, the programmes themselves are developed on the basis of long-term engagement between institutions, and have an element of reciprocity. We further identify two major problems in current medical electives: the different ethical contexts in which electives take place, and the problem of 'voluntourism', in which the primary beneficiary of the activity is the medical student, rather than the receiving institution or health system. These two issues should be seen in the light of unequal relations between sending and receiving institutions, which largely mirror unequal relations between the Global North and South.Conclusion: We argue that more structured elective programmes could form a useful corrective to some of the problems identified with medical electives. We recommend that medical schools in countries such as the UK strongly consider developing these types of programmes, and if this is not possible, they should seek to further develop their pre-departure training curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the international exchange program related to the studies in neuropathology between Great Britain and Japan. There is a long history of professional and personal relationship among the neuropathologists of both the countries. The Japanese colleagues regularly participate in the meetings of the British Neuropathological Society. During the same period of time, British neuropathologists also received invitations for attending meetings and to give lectures in Japan.