Global Health Office Welcomes Niigata Delegation for Annual Learning Exchange

Two professors and four undergraduate students from Japan’s Niigata University attended this year’s annual Niigata Study Tour from March 18-25. The GHO continues to work toward developing and strengthening connections with institutions like Niigata, exploring new opportunities for collaboration and research.

Each year, the visit provides a valuable learning exchange, offering participants the opportunity to see problem-based learning (PBL) in action and explore cultural differences in teaching and learning methods in health sciences. 

This was the first visit for Professor Naoya Takahashi, a radiological technology professor, who was joined by Professor Kayoko Sekijima, a nurse and midwife, who was pleased to return to McMaster. Two of the four students visiting are in their second year of nursing. The other students, both in their third year, are studying radiological technology and medical lab sciences, respectively.

“We were impressed by McMaster’s educational equipment,” says Takahashi, who also commented on the effectiveness of the tutorial-style setting. “It was eye-opening to see the ways in which McMaster students are able to prepare for the clinical situations they will face in the hospital setting – through the use of state-of-the-art machines, as well as the nursing simulations.”

The group, accompanied by four translators attending different hours each day, received tours of the Hospital (MUMC), Core Laboratory in MUMC, Health Sciences Library, the Centre for Professional Practice, as well as the Clinical Practice Collaboratory for Interprofessional learning in the Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS).

Dr. Ruth Lee was the lead faculty hosting the delegation, who also had the opportunity to connect with and hear from other faculty members across health sciences.

 Global Health News