“UPenn lecturers do not come to teach VinUni students for a few sessions and then leave. They respect VinUni's request to build their own program,” Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of the Nursing Program (Institute of Health Sciences), VinUni University, recalls the first days of building the nursing program for VinUni with a team of professors from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) - the world's top university for nursing training.
Each lecture is a co-creation of both UPenn and VinUni.
- It has been 5 years since VinUni officially joined hands with the "giant" UPenn. Looking back at those early days, how did UPenn and VinUni build the nursing program together, Doctor?
It must be said that UPenn supported us very comprehensively, from building standards, admission processes to recommendations on faculty development strategies and faculty selection criteria. In addition, UPenn and VinUni determined output standards, built a program framework, and developed detailed teaching and learning materials. VinUni and UPenn wanted a program that met American standards from content, teaching and learning methods to accreditation and professional certification exams. The biggest difficulty we encountered was how to reconcile the differences in nursing training environments between the two countries.
The US Bachelor of Nursing program began in 1923. Meanwhile, it was not until 1996 that Vietnam had a formal nursing university program. The requirements for US Nursing output standards are very high, and the training regulations are also strict.
To overcome this, we chose a bigger challenge: Both sides "tailored" the program to suit the reality of Vietnam. We established a program development team in which each course was developed by at least two lecturers, one from UPenn and one from VinUni. This was an interesting experience. Imagine a lecturer from a newly "born" school debating with a professor from the world's No. 1 Nursing School on equal terms in both expertise and pedagogy. It would not be easy if both sides did not truly respect and seek advice. Yet we did it! Since then, each VinUni lecture has always been a product of interaction and consensus between both UPenn and VinUni.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long with many dedicated lectures for the nursing industry
- What did you learn at UPenn?
I was fortunate to have Professor Julie Sochalski, former US National Chief Nursing Officer - Vice President for Education at UPenn School of Nursing, directly trained and accompanied me for the past 5 years. We were not only teachers and students, but also colleagues and close friends.
Julie has a very good strategic systems thinking, a very strong evidence-based training mindset. Her advice and questions always make me think differently. For example, when talking about nursing policy, I asked what is the reason for the current nursing shortage in Vietnam. She did not ask that. Instead, I was given two numbers about the nursing shortage 20 years ago and the current nursing shortage, followed by the question: What is the reason for the nursing shortage over the past 20 years, why have we not been able to solve this situation?
The biggest thing I learned from my mentor is that it is not the answers but the great questions that make a great person. Asking a lot and asking different questions is a very effective way to learn.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long appreciates the dedication of Professor Julie Sochalsky from Upenn during the guidance and training process.
VinUni students have good knowledge and attitude towards the profession
- According to you, what difference has the participation of a team from a leading university in nursing training made to VinUni's nursing training program?
The support has brought about a comprehensive transformation. UPenn’s impact is indirect, that is, they help us build good programs, provide appropriate orientation, and train a team of lecturers capable of absorbing and mastering UPenn’s programs. UPenn’s lecturers do not come to teach VinUni students for a few sessions and then leave. They help VinUni build a solid foundation for VinUni to continue building its dream.
With the difference in the program, VinUni nursing graduates have excellent clinical practice skills with critical thinking and evidence-based practice. 100% of students have participated in research activities, published articles and reports at professional conferences during their studies. We also open more opportunities for students in the future with minors in business administration and science and technology. With the similarity in content and compliance with American Nursing training standards, VinUni graduates can take the American practice license exam if they want. With their current capacity, I believe that VinUni students are capable of conquering the practice license exam not only in the US but also in many other developed countries.
- All achievements must be measured by the quality of students. For VinUni students, if you could summarize them in 3 words, what would they be?
If we use the word “talent”, I think this is simply the admission criteria. I always tell my students: “From today, when you step through the gate of VinUni, please temporarily forget the word Talent. Now you are people with potential. You have to study, I train and certainly there is no place where I train without pain”. I see that my students have done exactly that. They have demonstrated intelligence, courage, daring to face difficult challenges to study well and speak up for Nursing. I believe that courage is inspired by the desire to contribute to society and to people.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long hopes to make the nursing program at VinUni a good program, recognized in Vietnam and the world.
- What are your personal expectations for potential students and the nursing profession in the future?
I was trained domestically during my undergraduate studies and then studied abroad for postgraduate studies. I used to be very self-conscious when interacting with colleagues from other countries because I came from a “lowland” in nursing education. But then I asserted myself in front of them and then realized that Vietnamese intelligence is not inferior to my peers. What I need is my own desire and external conditions to develop that intelligence.
I believe that my students have all the conditions to develop at VinUni. My colleagues and I have done and will do our best to train truly different Nurses, who are competent and know how to create change for themselves and for society.
In the shortest possible time, we will make the nursing program at VinUni a good program, recognized not only in Vietnam, but also in the region and the world. Helping students improve and changing society's perception of the importance of a career are not simple tasks. But that is the mission and the reason why VinUni and UPenn are trying every day.
Thank you, Doctor!
PV
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