Ami-machi, Ibaraki, Japan
June 23, 2021
Professor Christian Timmreck, president of Hochschule für Gesundheit Bochum of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Professor Matsumura Akira, president of Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further academic collaboration in the fields of medical and health sciences between the two universities at an online ceremony today.
As a pioneering institution in the shift to more academically-oriented four-year university courses for the teaching applied health sciences in Germany over recent years, the department structure and range of courses at Hochschule für Gesundheit Bochum provide an excellent match with Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, and with this commonality in mind the two universities have decided to formalise their collaborative relationship.
Under the agreement, through joint research, exchange programs and collaborative research using IT technology the universities will promote the development of next-generation rehabilitation techniques and new concepts in nursing and other care methods, contributing new solutions for health and social care and medical technology and underpinning advancement in the research fields of health sciences.
On the occasion of the signing, President Timmreck commented, “As the current Corona pandemic shows, diseases do not stop at national borders. Therefore, effective local health care also requires global coordination. In addition, we can learn a lot from each other when it comes to ideas for securing and improving health care.”
Professor Kerstin Bilda, who in her role as academic director of the International Office of the Hochschule für Gesundheit initiated the cooperation with the university added: “Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences is an exciting cooperation partner because it offers a very similar portfolio of study programmes in the health professions as the Hochschule für Gesundheit.”
In response, President Matsumura commented, “The importance of improving academic education for healthcare professionals at university level is becoming increasingly recognized in Japan and Germany. Hence, it is timely that both leading institutions have this opportunity to develop a mutual collaboration and exchange for developing better healthcare systems in both countries and further on a global level.”
In the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, collaboration will focus for the time being on online activities between the staff, students and researchers of each university. However, anticipating improving conditions post Corona in the not-too-distant future we look forward to deepening relations through a variety of activities such as exchange visits, collaborative research programmes and symposia.
The current agreement runs from June 23, 2021 until June 22, 2024, with extension expected.
About Hochschule für Gesundheit Bochum
Location
Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Federal Republic of Germany
Established
November 1, 2009
President
Christian Timmreck
Student body
Approximately 1,600 (as of 2020)
Departments and Courses
Department of Applied Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy,
Midwifery Sciences, Applied Health Sciences
Department of Community Health
Community Health Care, Health and Diversity Studies,
Health and Diversity at Work, Health and Data Digitalisation
Department of Nursing Sciences
Nursing, Evidence-based Nursing Practice,
Education of Health Professionals in Nursing, Clinical Research Management
