Vanier Welcomes Malawi Nursing Faculty and Students

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Vanier College is thrilled to once again welcome two nursing students from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi, who are spending 7 weeks at Vanier as part of Vanier’s long-standing exchange program with Malawi. In addition to the students, Funny Dominic and Ethel Munthali, three Nursing faculty members, Ethel Sonjo and Mirriam Shaba from our new partner institution, The Malawi College of Health Sciences and Pempho Katanga, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, also spent two weeks at Vanier in September to become better acquainted with the objectives of our intercultural/nursing exchange program. Vanier teachers shared several innovative student success projects and tools, including simulation, adjunct class, and mentorship to name just a few.

The students are attending Vanier College classes and nursing labs, visiting hospitals, observing different health care settings, and learning about nursing and medical practices in Quebec. Their visit to Vanier College is part of the Malawi Nursing Exchange program which began in 2010 as part of a reciprocal agreement. The eight Vanier College nursing exchange participants for 2023 were chosen last month. They will spend 7 weeks in Malawi and complete the required number of clinical hours in rural and urban health care settings as part of their stage course between March and May 2023.

The Nursing Exchange was interrupted by the pandemic and forced to go virtual. Forty-two students participated in intercultural workshops and interacted virtually with students in Malawi, while we were grounded. Thanks to a Global Skills Opportunities Grant from the Canadian government Vanier received in 2021, the program will once again include student travel abroad and will receive continued support for the next few years.

“Vanier’s exchange program is unique because, although some colleges and Universities send students to Africa, few reciprocate the exchange by bringing students to Montreal,” says Melodie Hicks, the Nursing teacher who spearheads the exchange and accompanies the students abroad. “From the start, we wanted the exchange to benefit our students and those in Malawi. We are thrilled that after a 2-year interruption, Vanier has welcomed Malawi students and faculty once again and will send our students to Malawi in the spring.”