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International Research Center in Cross-Cultural Nursing,
Nagano College of Nursing
--Background, Philosophy, and Purpose--
Since
its opening in 1995, Nagano College of Nursing (NCN) has enjoyed a reputation
for establishing and fostering special relationships with distinguished
international institutions. Among others, the collaboration with Komagane
Training Centre (KTC), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
has encouraged us to undertake a variety of projects and activities in
international settings. In addition, in July 2001 we developed a collaborative
program with the National University of Samoa to exchange faculty members
and students, so that we may build an even deeper cross-cultural understanding
in theory, practice, and research of nursing and the corollary principles
specific to Samoa and Japan.
Regarding
international conferences and professional meetings, NCN has so far sponsored
forty-one International Nursing Forums on campus inviting world-wide eminent
scholars and leaders in nursing and other disciplines such as sociology
as key-note speakers, among whom were, Dr. Lin Ju Ying, the former president
of the Chinese Nursing Association, and Dr. Miriam Hirshfeld, Chief Scientist
for Nursing of WHO, Geneva. Our faculty members and students also have
made frequent contributions to international nursing conferences. NCN held
a special symposium session at ICN in 1999 (London) and in 2001 (Copenhagen),
and our students attended ICN in 1997 (Vancouver) and in 2001 (Copenhagen)
as representatives of Japanese nursing students.
NCN乫s international programs continue to grow and develop. One characteristic of NCN乫s dramatic growth in the last few years has been the development of an increased number of joint projects in cross-cultural research. In various fields of nursing NCN has conducted international comparative research projects with researchers of Hong Kong, Thailand, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Brazil, etc. New programs and further joint project opportunities are also under discussion and review. NCN乫s sponsorship of international programs attracts researchers and students from around the world. NCN has accepted and hosted short-term and long-term visiting researchers and students from China, the United States, Norway and Denmark. Several of these colleagues came as post-doctoral fellows funded by the Japan Society for the Advancement of Science.