45 Korean Nursing students say goodbye to BC

After four months and a hurricane, 45 Korean nursing students completed their global internship program and celebrated with a ceremony and a luncheon. The global internship program which is run by the International Training and Professional Studies (ITPS) department brings students from Korea several times a year to perfect their English language skills and study American health care systems. After intensive English courses, the students are placed as interns in local hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. They are paired with nurses and allowed to observe patient care, record keeping, and medical protocols. According to Dr. Peter Jeong, vice president for ITPS, since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 6,000 students have participated, coming from all over the world. Some of the students live in the residence hall in Newark, and many are placed with local families. In addition to their studies and internship, there are many opportunities for the students to enjoy American culture, such as visits to major cities and sites. This group enjoyed the cities of Boston, Manhattan and Niagara Falls.

The Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korean Council of College Education has agreements with Bloomfield College to send their brightest and best students to the U.S. to learn English in an immersion style setting as well as to learn and understand the American health care systems. They are expected to speak and understand English, not just in conversation but medical terminology as well. According to the college president, Richard Levao, they are learning to be global citizens as leaning another language, culture and way of life will give them the skills and confidence to work anywhere in the world as health care professional. He urged them to be creative in this changing world, learn about the global economy, cultures and use their new knowledge to make an impact. ITPS hosts the global internship program for nursing and IT, the TICKET program (Total Immersion Course for Korean English Teachers) and MAST (Math and Science Teachers). These programs not only benefit the students from Korea, but have a lasting effect on the Bloomfield College community as well as the students make lifelong friends. Seon Yeong Im, one of the student nurses and the chosen speaker for the closing ceremony wrapped it up by saying “Bloomfield College has become our college and our home.” For photos of the ceremony, please click here.