UCLan and German university of applied sciences extend health sciences partnership

24 July 2019

New contract signed on UCLan campus

  • Blossoming partnership formalised through new three-year agreement
  • UCLan’s Dr Hazel Roddam to receive honorary award in recognition of her work to strengthen academic collaboration
  • German physiotherapy students to undertake placements at Royal Preston Hospital
  • Staff from German partner to undertake PhD-level study at UCLan

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has signed a three-year agreement which strengthens its international presence with a leading German university in the field of health.

UCLan’s Faculty of Health and Wellbeing signed the contract with Hochschule für Gesundheit (hsg) in Bochum, Germany, which formalises a collaborative agreement to extend teaching, research and clinical practice over the next three years.  

"Over the last few years our relationship has gone from strength-to-strength in terms of collaborative research and innovation within the fields of nursing, midwifery and allied health."

The new contract builds on the collaborative links which were first formed in 2015 when UCLan’s Dr Hazel Roddam helped hsg Bochum develop a master's programme for speech and language therapists. Hsg Bochum, is the first state-funded university for healthcare in Germany, specifically for nursing, midwifery and health sciences.

Professor Nigel Harrison, UCLan’s Executive Dean in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, said: “Over the last few years our relationship has gone from strength-to-strength in terms of collaborative research and innovation within the fields of nursing, midwifery and allied health. We are now at the point where we want to take our partnership to the next level for the mutual benefit of both universities, our students and of course the public in both countries who will be the long-term beneficiaries. We are particularly excited to be welcoming hsg Bochum physiotherapy students to UCLan where they will undertake their placements at Royal Preston Hospital.”

In recognition of her work to establish and sustain the collaborative partnership, hsg Bochum are to award Dr Roddam the highly prestigious honorary title of ‘Associate Member’, the first such award to be made by the institution. She will receive the honour at a special ceremony in Bochum during November which coincides with hsg Bochum’s 10th anniversary.

Commenting on this recognition and the future of the partnership Dr Roddam added: “It is a huge honour to receive this award not only for me personally but for everyone connected with this blossoming partnership. Last year we held our first joint conference in Germany and we are now looking forward to even closer collaboration in teaching and research.”

Professor Dr Anne Friedrichs, President at hsg Bochum, added: “Hsg Bochum as a still young university with a strong focus on health sciences so this cooperation represents a huge opportunity as UCLan has an established academic and international reputation in the field of health sciences and research. The partnership is enabling us to sharpen our academic profile and build on our international network.”

Both UCLan and hsg have several new collaborative ideas in the pipeline that will enhance both institutions’ teaching, learning and research. For instance, a connection has already been established between the partners’ two occupational therapy courses involving live link-ups and discussions during academic sessions between respective partner students.   Staff exchanges will also take place with hsg Bochum academics enrolling on UCLan PhD programmes, elements of which will take place in Preston, and on 2 September 15 staff and postgraduate research students from hsg Bochum will arrive at UCLan for a joint academic symposium.

Picture above: L-R: Professor Dr Kerstin Bilda Vice President (Research) Hsg Bochum; Professor Nigel Harrison, UCLan’s Executive Dean within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing; Professor Dr Anne Friedrichs, President, Hsg Bochum and Dr Hazel Roddam, Reader in Allied Health Practice.