The kick-off meeting of the 𝐓𝐂𝐂𝐖𝐁 project was held in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Faculty of Medicine University of Zenica, on 11-12 June, 2024. Partners from Belgium (ODISEE) 🇧🇪, Albania (Universeti Shkodres Luigj Gurakuqi, Universiteti „Eqrem Çabej“ i Gjirokastës) 🇦🇱, Finland (Turun Ammattikoreakoulu Oy) 🇫🇮, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Javna ustanova Univerzitet u Zenici Universitas, Sarajevo susret kultura, Univerzitet Džemal Bijedić u Mostaru, Fondacija fami – Zaklada fami, Univerzitet u istočnom Sarajevu) 🇧🇦 attended the 2-day meeting.
Transcultural competencies in the Western Balkans (TCCWB) is a capacity building project that aims to support HEIs in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Albania to develop material to enable nursing students in the region to deliver culturally congruent (nursing) care to all care recipients, including those with migration backgrounds or on the migratory routes through Europe. Cooperation between EU and non-EU countries is also important for facilitating the integration of migrants into their host societies. Understanding the differences between cultural values, peoples’ morals, and national versus EU legislation can reduce the likelihood of ethical problems, disappointments, and illegal activities.
🎯 The aim of these transcultural educational programs is to promote a more humane and sustainable approach to the nursing care and education of migrants. The goal for the programs is to ensure that nurses have the knowledge, attitude, and skills to treat the migrants fairly when providing basic healthcare services for them. In line with the regional priority to “support innovation and reform within the education sector that address the skills needs for the […] labour market of tomorrow”, the cocreation of a new study programme focused on transcultural competence, implemented in nursing curricula in beneficiary HEI in the WB will benefit both the educators and the students. This new curriculum will also support students in caring for new populations and people on the move, as well as students with migration backgrounds entering studying in WB.
