Students of the International Midwifery degree HSB Hochschule Bremen - City University of Applied Sciences (#HSB) visited the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos) in Sao Leopoldo (Porto Alegre) and #UFN Universidade Franciscana in Santa Maria (both in Brazil) at the beginning of May to take part in a scientific symposium on the disciplines of nursing and midwifery and to gain insights into state-organised healthcare in Brazil.
As part of the UAS7 network, 33 professors and students visited the universities UNISINOS in Sao Leopoldo (Porto Alegre) and UFN in Santa Maria (both in Brazil). HSB was represented by four students from the International Midwifery degree programme and the head of the programme, Prof. Dr Barbara Baumgärtner.
Other professors and students came from Osnabrück, Münster and Hamburg. The aim of the excursion was to expand networking between the universities, also with regard to internship opportunities and semesters abroad for students, as well as participation in international symposia and conferences in the field of nursing and midwifery.
In addition to the scientific exchange in the field of healthcare, to which Brazilian, German and Chilean (young) scientists contributed with exciting lectures from their respective disciplines, the programme also included visits to the universities' premises and skills labs. In addition, the participants of the excursion were able to gain an insight into the state-organised healthcare system in Brazil by visiting public hospitals and health posts as well as private facilities and learn first-hand about the objectives and challenges of the Brazilian healthcare system.
The visit to a waste separation initiative that provides the residents of a disadvantaged neighbourhood in Santa Maria with a regular income was also particularly impressive. The visit to a village with an indigenous population, which was organised by the UFN in Santa Maria, will certainly remain a lasting memory for the German participants. The group always encountered proverbially open doors and a great willingness to engage in dialogue and answer the many questions.
A return visit by the Brazilian partners next year was already planned on site. Unfortunately, this had to be postponed in 2022 due to the pandemic and in 2024 due to the effects of the flood disaster in the region of the partner universities.
All those responsible at Bremen University of Applied Sciences are looking forward to welcoming a Brazilian delegation to Bremen in 2026.
About the UAS7
Seven research-oriented German universities with a strong international focus
have joined forces to form the ‘Seven Universities of Applied Sciences - Alliance for Excellence’ (UAS7) network.
The UAS7 universities work together to develop quality standards for studying and teaching, promote national and international exchange in science and support the transfer of knowledge between universities and companies.
