TNMU Expands International Cooperation: New Opportunities for Nursing Education in Partnership with VIVES University of Applied Sciences

In March 2026, a delegation from I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University paid a working visit to VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Bruges, Kingdom of Belgium), marking an important step in strengthening international partnership and integrating the university into the European educational space.

The delegation included Vice-Rector for Science, Education, and Clinical Affairs, Stepan Zaporozhan, and Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Nursing, Svitlana Danchak. During the visit, the delegation also participated in professional educational events, including a workshop titled “Who is a Ukrainian Patient?” conducted by VIVES lecturer Svitlana Musina. The event focused on the specifics of providing medical care to Ukrainian patients under current challenges and contributed to deepening intercultural professional understanding.

As part of the visit, official meetings were held with representatives of VIVES University of Applied Sciences, during which the parties discussed strategic areas of cooperation. These included harmonization of educational programs in line with European Union standards, development of academic mobility for students and faculty, improvement of clinical training for future nurses, implementation of modern competency-based approaches in nursing education, and participation in international programs, particularly Erasmus+.

During the visit, Svitlana Danchak, Director of the Institute of Nursing, delivered a lecture for students and faculty of VIVES titled “Education and Practice in Ukraine in Times of War: Challenges and Resilience.” The TNMU delegation also ознакомилася with VIVES University’s modern educational infrastructure, including its simulation training center and clinical training bases for nursing students.

As part of the visit, signed copies of the Memorandum of Cooperation were exchanged, confirming the development of institutional partnership between the universities.

As a result of the visit, the university significantly strengthened its international partnerships, demonstrated significant development in nursing education, outlined new opportunities for academic mobility for students and staff, and identified promising areas for participation in international educational and research projects.