Internationally-renowned guests inspired by Faculty's research goals

Following last year’s successful visit, members of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) re-visited the Faculty last week (1-4 September 2015).

The ISAB provides expert evaluation and recommendations on research programmes through annual visits and reports.

The Board are:

• Professor Helen Edwards, Assistant Dean (International and Engagement), Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
• Professor Hugh McKenna, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), University of Ulster
• Professor Kristen Swanson, Dean, College of Nursing, Seattle University 
• Professor Joan Bottorff, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia
• Professor Helena Leino-Kilpi, Head of Department of Nursing Studies, University of Turku 
• Professor Guifang Guo, School of Nursing, Peking University
• Professor Nancy Glass, Associate Dean for Research, School of Nursing, John Hopkins.

It was a unique opportunity for the Faculty to share ideas for future collaborations, participate in career development workshops and get support from some of the world’s leading academics in nursing and midwifery. It was also the first time that each of the Board brought an academic and PhD student as guests to explore collaboration opportunities within the Faculty.

Some of the highlights included a presentation from Professor Hugh McKenna (Chair of Research Excellence Framework panel, units of assessments 3) who spoke about what can be learnt from the REF in preparation for 2020, and how important it is to strive for world-class outputs.

Professor Nancy Glass spoke about how her work in pig farming was promoting mental health and reducing the incidence of intimate-partner violence in West Africa.

Nancy’s participatory action research showed how creative nurses and midwives are as researchers and the power of truly multidisciplinary and collaborative research to change many people’s lives for the better.

Following their visit, the Board will be writing their report and the Faculty Executive will consider their recommendations.

Professor Alison Metcalfe, the Faculty’s Dean of Research said: “Given the success of our ISAB colleagues within their own countries and internationally, it is a testament to the Faculty’s reputation that we are able to attract these exceptional academics. We are grateful that the Board was able to give a week of their time to spend it with us.

“The Board and their guests said they felt extremely welcome during their visit, and left feeling inspired and excited by the Faculty’s ambitious research activities.”

Images by Jo Mieszkowski