In a timely move as it expands health promotion programs, CQUniversity has strengthened ties with some of Sweden's leading specialists in this field.

Sweden has a long history of health promotion activities and education, so Bundaberg-based academic Dr Wendy Madsen made the most of the chance to meet staff and students from University West in Trollhattan, as part of an ongoing relationship between the institutions.

Dr Wendy Madsen pictured with Jan Winroth from University West in Sweden. LINK to larger image

"Discussions with staff focused on student exchange and furthering opportunities to work on teaching and research projects. In particular, University West staff have a strong commitment towards Work Integrated Learning and this is likely to form the focus of future collaborative plans," Dr Madsen said.

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In related news, one of Dr Madsen's nursing courses has been selected as one of the 'top ten Moodle (online delivery) sites' by a  panel comprising Faculty, international campus and Office of Learning and Teaching reps. The decision was based on the site's overall layout and navigation, with particular regard to its effectiveness from a student perspective.

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As some classes in Sweden are taught in English, the CQUni academic took part in teaching a couple of classes to first and second-year health promotion students. She spoke about the development and status of health promotion in Australia and research in health promotion, respectively.

Dr Wendy Madsen reflects on her trip back in Bundaberg

According to Dr Madsen, the students were very keen to come to Australia as part of an exchange, although some were a little apprehensive due to perceptions about ‘dangerous animals' in Australia.

The logistics of how CQUniversity and University West health promotion students could take part in exchange activities are currently being worked on, given the very different teaching and program structures between the universities.

However, the flexible delivery of the Bachelor of Health Promotion courses offered by CQUniversity - as well as the planned internal offering of some of these on the Bundaberg campus from 2011 - will assist in this process.

"One of the advantages of promoting student exchange activities recognised by both CQUniversity and University West staff is developing in students a broader understanding of the different perspectives of health promotion within various countries and contexts," Dr Madsen said.

"Sweden has taken a much more salutogenic and local community approach to health promotion practice and education than is evident in Australia, which has a long history of being influenced by the medical model of health, and public health in particular.

"Despite these differences, there is a strong commitment from both countries towards the principles outlined in the Ottawa Charter and in particularly focusing on the determinants of health as outlined in the WHO Commission's (2008) report, Closing the gap in a generation. Indeed, these documents provide the common basis of health promotion throughout the world."

Furthermore, Dr Madsen has been invited to join an international network of health promotion practitioners and educators who meet every one to two years to discuss the similarities and differences in approaches to health promotion and to work on ways of advancing the practice of health promotion globally.