Welcoming the world: the Kirkcaldy course fulfilling career dreams

The University of Dundee’s School of Health Sciences campus in the Fife town is welcoming a new intake of learners every month as part of a course that allows international healthcare workers to prepare for work in the UK.

The course is an intense, week-long period of study preparing learners from countries including India, Mali, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. The nurses undertake the training as preparation for their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which they are required to pass to work within health and social care settings. The course is also supporting nurses returning to practice after a period away from the profession.

“The University of Dundee has always provided the highest standard of training for learners from different backgrounds and levels of study,” said Suzanne Bell, Programme Lead.

“This course has the opportunity to empower international healthcare workers to fulfil their aspirations for working here in the UK. Welcoming these learners to our campus here in Kirkcaldy is a great privilege and those we host here speak in glowing terms about the town and the University.

“The course was initially piloted by Dr Kevin Stirling, our lecturer in clinical skills and simulation coordinator, and the benefit to those sitting the Nursing and Midwifery Council exam was quickly apparent. The exam is a rigorous assessment of competency, but we know that we are providing the highest level of training that will assist our candidates through the assessment.”

Before being able to work in the UK, nursing staff who have not been trained within the EU must pass the Nursing and Midwifery Council exam to demonstrate the level of knowledge and clinical skills required to work in health and social care settings.

Teaching staff at the Kirkcaldy campus provide in-depth training, utilising the latest technology to give learners the best opportunity to pass the crucial exam.

Participants reside in Kirkcaldy throughout their period of study, with the University capable of training up to 120 people per year. Given their distance from home and the time away from friends and family – often several weeks - the University devotes a portion of the course to ensuring their mental wellbeing.

Paul Smith, Lecturer in Mental Health at the University, added, “This course has the potential to transform the lives of these candidates. Ensuring they are prepared both practically and psychologically is important and a responsibility that we take seriously as part of the programme.

“Knowing that we are preparing our learners for a new chapter in their careers is hugely rewarding, but also a big responsibility for us. The time these nurses spend here in Kirkcaldy has the potential to change their lives forever.”

An online information event with further details will take place on Wednesday 13 December, with registration in advance required via Eventbrite.