# Launching the Erasmus+ Global SA-IS (Savonia ISCISA) Project

> Erasmus+ Global Mobility project with ISCISA offers unique opportunity to develop cultural competences of students and teachers by using in this project developed joined virtual and e-learning environments in OpenEdu-Savonia platform.

## Project Overview
This article starts the series of publications describing the three-year (1.8.2022–31.7.2025) Erasmus+ Global project between Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA).

The project offers a unique opportunity to develop the cultural competences of students and teachers by utilizing joined virtual and e-learning environments on the OpenEdu-Savonia platform. For ISCISA, the project also provides development and support for learning and training competencies, with development actions taking place during mobilities.

All faculties of Social and Health Care in Savonia and ISCISA are included in this project. Funding enables teacher exchanges for eight teachers from both universities, as well as eight ISCISA students. The exchange of Savonia students is implemented with separate funding.

## Developing Cultural Competence
Cultural competence consists of knowledge (Head), skills (Hands), and attitudes (Heart) for providing culturally appropriate care to diverse populations. In all social and health care processes, cultural competence attitudes involve sensitivity, awareness, interest in, and respect for culture. In this project, teachers are developing an online course on cultural competence for students and teachers on the OpenEdu-Savonia platform.

## OpenEdu-Savonia Learning Environment
Learning and orientation for internships are conducted via the OpenEdu-Savonia learning environment. The environment contains various materials, including:
* Text
* Short videos
* Photos
* Interactive learning material
* 360-virtual tours

This material orients students and teachers to internship placements, cultural competence, and other exchange-related issues. It can also be used for "internationalization at home" for those who do not participate in an exchange. The learning material is collected during exchanges, with students and teachers collaborating to create the interactive content. This environment is the first of its kind for both Savonia and ISCISA and aims to elevate the internship process.

## Progress and Future Planning
During the initial two-week visit, the team gained an overview of the local culture, the ISCISA university, and degree programs in the social and health care area. The team also visited student practical placements and conducted 360-degree shootings in the fields of Biomedical Laboratory Science (BLS) and pediatrics.

Key activities included:
* Supervising staff, teachers, and students in using the virtual/e-learning environment.
* Planning spring exchanges and identifying teacher/student working pairs.
* Recruiting ISCISA students for the project and internships.
* Establishing nursing and BLS as the initial areas for the development process, with other areas to follow based on partner negotiations.

The next milestone is the visit of ISCISA teachers to Savonia in February. During this visit, they will learn about the Finnish health care and education system, participate in e-learning workshops, and observe how Savonia integrates theory and practice. Simultaneously, two students from ISCISA and two from Savonia will participate in internships, study visits, and simulation/skill lab studies.

## Evaluation and Research
The technical and pedagogical usability of the OpenEdu platform will be studied throughout the project. Questionnaires will be administered to students and teachers before and after exchanges to evaluate and further develop the environment and the exchange process.

## Authors
* **Marja Gröhn-Rissanen**, International Coordinator, Senior Lecturer, MSc, Rn. Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health care, marja-liisa.grohn-rissanen@savonia.fi.
* **Anssi Mähönen**, Senior Lecturer, PhD, The head of master degree in BLS and radiography, Project manager in FutureEdu- and VirTech-projects. Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health care, anssi.mahonen@savonia.fi.
* **Leonel Monjane**, Senior Lecturer, MSc, The head of licenciate degree program in BLS, radiography, and Pathologic Anatomy at Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde (ISCISA), leonelfidalgomonjane@gmail.com