Fredericton, Canada – As part of the academic collaboration between Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the University of New Brunswick (UNB), the second cohort of seven students commenced the MAHE-UNB Preceptorship program, a key component of UNB's Summer Institute. This initiative, aimed at earning a dual nursing degree, qualifies students to practice in both India and Canada.
The preceptorship program began with a warm welcome ceremony on June 17 at the Harriet Irving Library on UNB’s Fredericton campus. The students, accompanied by faculty members Dr. Linu Sara George, Professor, and Mr. Vinish V, Assistant Professor-Senior Scale, were greeted enthusiastically.
The dual degree program represents a significant opportunity for India and Canada to enhance their healthcare systems through preceptorship pathways. Each cohort at MAHE consists of 25 students, with the program's first cohort accepted in 2022. A third cohort, also comprising 25 students, is set to begin in August 2024.
Graduates of this dual degree program are qualified to work in both India and Canada, and Indian students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), expediting their accreditation process in Canada. During the two-week preceptorship, students will gain practical training and observation experience by working alongside nurses at Horizon Health Network and Shannex Incorporated care facilities. This immersive experience allows them to understand the nuances of Canadian healthcare while sharing insights from the Indian healthcare system.
UNB President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paul Mazerolle highlighted the program’s international recognition and the strong partnership it has fostered between MAHE and UNB. He also noted a joint publication in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership on the dual degree model.
Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health Sciences at MAHE, addressed the gathering via video link, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration to tackle healthcare challenges and the joint research opportunities arising from the partnership.
Siddhartha Nath, Consul General of India in Toronto, reassured the students of the consulate’s support and acknowledged New Brunswick’s welcoming attitude towards its growing Indian community. Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training & Labour Greg Turner underscored the government’s commitment to recruiting and retaining nurses, praising the initiative for its potential to reduce employment barriers for immigrant nurses and offer immediate job opportunities to graduates.
During the ceremony, Dr. Linu George, along with Turner, Nath, and Dr. Mazerolle, presented the seven students with red lab coats bearing the UNB logo.
The event saw attendance from prominent figures, including Dr. Lorna Butler, Dean of UNB; Margaret Melanson, President and CEO of Horizon Health Network; Michel Rod, UNB Vice Provost Strategic Enrolment; Catherine MacPherson, COO of Shannex Incorporated; Kate Sheppard, Interim CEO of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick; Dr. Judith Angelitta Noronha, Professor and Dean at Manipal College of Nursing (via video link); Dr. Petra Hauf, UNB Provost and Vice President Academic; Eric Megarity, Councillor Ward 6, Fredericton; and Cheyenne Joseph, UNB Piluwitahasuwin and Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Engagemen.
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