Five third-year students from the Department of Nursing, College of Nursing at Asia University participated in a one-month “Multicultural Health Care” overseas internship and learning program at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) in Singapore this summer. Supported by the University’s Sprout Project and institutional funding, the students engaged deeply in community nursing and care services at Singapore’s community care centers and the SG Enable Village. Through these experiences, they not only broadened their international professional perspective but also strengthened their global mobility.

Dean Wu Hua-Shan of the College of Nursing noted that the Nursing Department at Nanyang Polytechnic is an international partner institution under an MOU with Asia University. Since 2023, and under the coordination of Assistant Professor Ching Yung-Chieh, both institutions have established reciprocal exchanges and internships for faculty and students. This collaboration enhances professional knowledge while cultivating competencies in cross-cultural health care. In October this year, NYP sent six students to Asia University for the third consecutive year to participate in a three-week “Smart Care Observation Program,” further deepening bilateral academic exchange.

During this year’s overseas internship, AU nursing students were placed at KYDZ International LLP, SG Enable Village, and St. Hilda’s Community Service Center. A notable highlight of the program was the addition of an eight-day hands-on practicum at St. Hilda’s, where AU students joined Singaporean community nurses in home visits and community-based nursing work. Students shared: “In multicultural communities where various ethnicities and cultures coexist, we observed how Singaporean community nurses promote health care, patient education, and health promotion activities. This allowed us to see how cross-cultural care is truly practiced.”

At SG Enable Village, the students gained insights into Singapore’s comprehensive support system for persons with disabilities. They observed and assisted with vocational training programs in fields such as food services, housekeeping, and the arts, as well as job readiness assessments and employment matching. These experiences offered a deeper understanding of Singapore’s integrated care model that connects health care with community service systems.

In addition, the AU students participated in simulation-based learning in NYP’s professional skills laboratories, where high-fidelity simulation equipment was used to recreate clinical scenarios and strengthen their nursing competencies. They were also paired with NYP local students as buddy learning partners, attending several advanced nursing courses together and experiencing the seamless integration of NYP’s foundational curriculum with its professional clinical training.

The participating AU students remarked that this international internship not only enhanced their clinical and professional abilities but also deepened their understanding of and commitment to international nursing.