Collaboration in welfare technology - students´ horizon scanning and integration in municipal elder care

Purpose and goal:

The objective was that the nursing education should contribute to increased use of welfare technology in elderly care. Sub-goal was to collaboratively design course activities on campus and during clinical practice. In addition to this, we intended to describe the interaction of actors around placements in municipal care.

The goals have been reached by jointly developing learning activities that have been implemented in the nursing program. Teaching in welfare technology and the examination part were integrated into the course and the students´ final municipal practice. Expected results and effects:

Quality in professional education is based on collaboration between the university and actors in practice. However, it risks to become "us and them", which inhibits development and educational quality. Learning objectives are often perceived as too abstract and students experience differences between what is taught and what they encounter in practice.

During our 2-year project, workshops have formed an arena where differences, needs and characteristics have been discussed has created stronger conditions for continued collaboration. Approach and implementation:

The design with recurring workshops with actors from the University and municipal care/care has been successful. Together, we have identified needs and a way forward regarding knowledge and implementation of welfare technology in elderly care where the university´s students can be a catalyzing factor. A student was recruited as project partner to secure the student perspective in addition to students´ participation in workshop and focus group.