Three Japanese learning institutions have entered into agreements with the University of the Philippines College of Nursing (UPCN), aiming to provide invaluable community nursing experiences to their students. These partnerships will allow students to experience real-world medical scenarios in barangay health centers and rural health facilities. Through these collaborations, students will gain practical skills and insights that will enhance their nursing education and prepare them for the challenges of
modern healthcare practice. Gunma University Members of the academe and students from the Gunma University in Japan paid a courtesy call to UP Manila Chancellor Michael L. Tee last March 5, 2024.
During the meeting with Chancellor Tee, the students, fresh from their community immersions, eagerly shared their insights and experiences gained in the field. Meanwhile, Takatoshi Makino, the Coordinator of Gunma University’s International Study Program (ISP), extended heartfelt gratitude to UPCN for the invaluable assistance provided to Gunma University students.
“I’m happy you’re here. But don’t just study nursing, study the people, UP Manila Partners with Japanese Learning Institutions for Community Nursing Training learn our culture so you can be our ambassador to Japan that you learn here, that you are welcome in the Philippines and it’s a good place for Japanese to come here,” Chancellor Tee told the visiting nursing students. Also in the meeting were UPCN ISP Coordinator for Gunma University Asst. Professor Kristine Joy Tomanan and Asst. Professor Josephine E. Cariaso.
The representatives from Gunma University together with the Filipino nurse participants, joined the NurseLEAD Summit organized by UPCN last March 14, 2024 in Clark, Pampanga. This was followed by a field visit in the Municipality of Bamban, Tarlac to let the visiting students from Japan observe the NurseLEAD activities with the IP (Aeta) residents.
Dokkyo Medical University (DMU) and Nagoya University (NU) Visit
Chancellor Tee shared a nugget of wisdom during the courtesy visit of representatives from DMU and NU last March 19, 2024 at UP Manila, “In immersing oneself to PGH (Philippine General Hospital), you’ll interact with people from different societal classes. We treat them the same. We give them the best service we can, regardless. You’ll also see different religions, some Christians, some Muslims. You don’t look at the class, gender, religion, they are all the same. Just treat them with dignity and respect. Everyone is taken care of according to their needs,” he said.
The thirteen nursing student representatives from DMU and NU were accompanied by UPCN ISP Coordinators for Nagoya University and Dokkyo University Kenny-lynn Baccay and Laurence Lloyd Parial, NU faculty Shigemi Iriyama, DMU faculty members Junko Ishikawa, Takafumi Noguchi, and Miki Konishi.
NU has been in partnership with UPCN since 2015, recently renewing the MOU between them. On the other hand, DMU has been linked with UPCN since 2016, making this their 8th visit in UPCN to date.
The UPCN Integration Experience
Throughout their two-week commitment at UPCN, the Japanese students actively engaged in a diverse range of educational and cultural activities, including immersive community integrations. These experiences were designed to provide insights into both hospital and community settings, emphasizing the importance of patient care and clinical pedagogy.
In the words of Natsumi Tagawa, a nursing student, “The education setting in Japan only revolves around the four corners of the classrooms and in the hospital. We never thought that a community approach would be included in our exposure here in the Philippines.”
The partnerships signify a continued dedication to the advancement of education, research, and international cooperation between UP Manila and its partner Japanese education institutions, setting the stage for further academic achievements and cross-cultural understanding.
Text by: Ehcel S. Hurna
Photo by: Joseph A. Bautista
