title: Experiences of student midwives learning and working abroad in Europe: The value of an Erasmus undergraduate midwifery education programme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  universities in the United Kingdom are being challenged to modify policies and curricula that reflect the changing global reality through internationalisation. An aspect of internationalisation is study abroad which the European Commission Erasmus exchange programme is just one means of addressing this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to explore the experiences of student midwives who are engaged in the Erasmus exchange programme and the effect it has on their learning and working in an international context.
  
  
  METHODS
  approval for the small phenomenological cohort study was obtained from two participating universities: the University of Malta and University of Nottingham. Data were collected from 13 student midwives from a total of five cohorts in the form of diaries to explore their experiences of learning and working in another country. Thematic analysis supported by Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software was used to identify five recurrent themes emerging from the data: the findings of which have served further in developing this programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  students valued the opportunity of undertaking study and midwifery practice in another culture and healthcare system, extending their knowledge and development of clinical competence and confidence. For some, this was the first time outside of their home country and adaptation to a new environment took time. Support from their contemporaries, lecturers and midwife mentors however, was overwhelmingly positive, enabling the students to feel 'part of the local university / midwifery team' By the end of the programme, the students recognised that they had become more independent and felt empowered to facilitate developments in practice when they returned home. IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION / PRACTICE: this innovative development embracing internationalisation within the curricula has the potential to increase students' employability and further study within Europe and beyond. It can be used as a vehicle to share best practice within an international context, ultimately making a difference to the quality of care childbearing women, their babies and families experience worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Kingston University and St George's, University of London, United Kingdom; St George's Campus, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.marshall@sgul.kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jayne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008319:Malta; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D064700:Nurses, International / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014195:Travel / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Cultural differences; Erasmus exchange programme; Healthcare students/student midwives; International placements; Phenomenology; study/work abroad