The BSc(Hons) Nursing programme, run collaboratively between the Gibraltar Health Authority School of Health Studies and the Kingston University and St George's, University of London School of Nursing, was successfully re-approved on the 7th June.
A panel of senior members of the University and an external expert from the University of Derby were in Gibraltar earlier this week and were extremely impressed by the Gibraltar provision. They commended the strength of the collaboration, the quality of the teaching and support provided to students. Dr Clarissa Wilks, Dean of Learning and Teaching at Kingston University, who chaired the event, said: "The students interviewed by the panel were a credit to the course. We were impressed by their values and passion to become part of the nursing profession in Gibraltar."
Dr Julia Gale, Head of the School of Nursing at the University, who developed the collaboration in 2008, commented: "I am delighted with the success of the course and the way in which it has developed over the last eight years. We have an outstanding team, led by Dr Ron Coram and Professor Ian Peate, who work brilliantly together and that’s reflected in the students’ learning experience."
Lecturers, other staff, students and clinical staff of the GHA who contribute to the training course were all commended.
The Minister for Health, the Hon John Cortes, commented: “When I see an achievement like this it makes me very proud of our staff working at the GHA, who have yet again met and exceeded the incredibly high standards for delivery of accredited and recognised higher education courses in the field of nursing; our backbone of health services. They deserve our praise and gratitude for the tremendous efforts made. Training of nurses in Gibraltar to such levels is crucially important in developing our own model of healthcare. I wish to add that this validation, approval and acknowledgement by our friends and partners at the University of Kingston, London and St George’s (University of London), comes as a real testament of our own journey and professional commitment towards ensuring that ultimately, any benefit is passed on to our service users: namely, our patients. I am very pleased that we are able now also to contribute our expertise and share our pride as an Associate Campus of the University of Gibraltar”.
