The ProInCa project (Promoting the Innovation Capacity of Higher Education in Nursing during Health Services’ Transition), coordinated by JAMK University of Applied Sciences, was granted an Erasmus funding of nearly one million euros to develop the higher education and research in nursing in Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, the co-operation between researchers and working-life interest groups in transforming the health service system requires further development. The three-year-long project involves creating permanent mechanisms to support the dialogue between these parties and to share evidence-based nursing practices. The aim is to strengthen the position of higher education and to develop nursing education to meet the needs of today’s working life.
- The ProInCa project aims at supporting the reform of the nursing system and developing the management and education systems in nursing, says Johanna Heikkilä, Senior Advisor, JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
- The development of evidence-based nursing also improves the quality of the care that patients receive, as well as patient safety, Ms Heikkilä adds.
The project will be launched towards the end of 2017. The ProInCa consortium consists of European (JAMK and Lahti University of Applied Sciences from Finland, Hanze University of Applied Sciences from the Netherlands and Angela Boskin Faculty of Health Care, Slovenia) and Kazakh (Astana Medical University, Karaganda State Medical University, Nazarbayev University, Semey State Medical University and West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov State Medical University) HEIs, and 13 associated partners representing a variety of different stakeholders. The Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development support the project that JAMK coordinates.
- During the first year, local partners will familiarise themselves with European operating models and practices. In the second year of the project, the focus will be on local development and on building the necessary mechanisms. During the final year, the results will be put into practice on a national level, Ms Heikkilä continues.
The ProInCa project is a continuation of long-term strategic work to develop nursing in Kazakhstan. A network of Finnish universities of applied sciences has been collaborating with the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s educational institutes since 2012. The project, which is funded by the World Bank, has developed a nurse education standard that meets EU requirements, for example. The Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of Kazakhstan has chosen JAMK University of Applied Sciences and Lahti University of Applied Sciences as its strategic partners for the development of nursing education in 2016–2019.
On 21 August 2017, JAMK will host a healthcare VIP day event in the Finnish Pavilion at the Astana World Expo 2017. The event will present the development path of the Finnish nursing education, the nurse’s role in basic health care and the research and development of nursing in Finland to the guests, and the foundations for future collaboration between Finland and Kazakhstan in developing nursing are laid in the event.
For more information, please contact:
Johanna Heikkilä, Senior Advisor, +358 (0)40 848 8623, [email protected]
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, School of Health and Social Studies
