In May and June, nursing students from Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand spent three weeks at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (FHSS USB). Their programme focused on professional education, the exchange of experience in healthcare, and the promotion of multicultural collaboration among students. Mgr. Hana Hajduchová, Ph.D., from the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Care, described the wide range of activities and experiences the students took part in during their stay:
The students Kanyaphat Luangkum, Puttatida Thammawong, Deki Yangzom, and Karma Thinley Tshomo completed an extensive professional and cultural programme. As part of their professional visits, they explored the psychiatric ward, transfusion department, ENT department, neonatal and paediatric units, long-term care department, as well as specialised centres for pain management and hyperbaric medicine at České Budějovice Hospital. Their programme also included a visit to the Centre for the Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases, participation in public health promotion events, and practical training in the simulation centre focusing on clinical skills, patient safety, and teamwork.
The students from Thailand also had the opportunity to learn about the provision of home-based palliative care and patient communication during a professional visit to the Kleofáš Hospice in Třeboň, which serves as a clinical training site for FHSS USB. They showed great interest in virtual reality resuscitation training and in workshops with FHSS USB students, where they shared experiences from clinical practice and discussed differences between the healthcare systems of the Czech Republic and Thailand.
An important part of the programme was the intensive cooperation with academic staff and students of the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Care at FHSS USB. Faculty members were involved in organising the professional programme, delivering lectures, providing practical instruction, and accompanying the students during visits to clinical workplaces. They introduced the students to the Czech healthcare system, the principles of nursing care, and the operation of specialised healthcare facilities, while also creating opportunities for professional discussion and the exchange of international experience.
FHSS USB students also played a very active role in the programme, accompanying the visiting students during both academic and leisure activities. Together, they participated in workshops, health promotion events, simulation-based training, and socio-cultural programmes. Czech students helped their international peers navigate both the university and the city environment, introduced them to Czech culture, and at the same time had the opportunity to improve their communication and language skills. The shared activities led to the development of many new friendships and valuable experiences, contributing to stronger international cooperation and greater mutual understanding.
