Health & Aging in Switzerland
2009 Exploration Seminar in Switzerland

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLORATION SEMINAR PROGRAM!

Program Director: Basia Belza , Nursing
Dates of Instruction: Aug 24 - Sept 11, 2009

Overview: This course provides a basic overview of aging and health within the context of Switzerland. Socio-cultural, environmental, economic, political and ecological factors that influence aging and health are addressed.  The course is designed to provide students with an experiential learning opportunity in Basel, Switzerland. Two in-person meetings will occur on the UW-S campus in Spring quarter 2009. The on-site course will occur in Basel, Switzerland and will take place from August 24 through September 11. 

Switzerland is a landlocked alpine country of 7.6 million people in Western Europe and is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called cantons. The country's economic centers are Geneva, Basel and Zürich. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita Gross Domestic Product. Zurich and Geneva have, respectively, been ranked as having the first and second highest quality-of-life in the world.   Switzerland is bordered by the countries Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Its health care system meets the goals of good health outcomes and universal health coverage.  Having universal health-insurance coverage permits access to modern health care services. Switzerland is seeing an increase in its aging population. What does aging look like in Switzerland? What factors contribute to healthy aging? How are older adults perceived and treated?  What is the social-political context of aging in Switzerland? These and other questions will be addressed during this Exploration Seminar. 

This course includes a field component in which students will be paired with an English-speaking Suisse older adult who lives in or around Basel. Students will meet with their key informants several times over the course of the seminar to discuss topics related to aging and health.  Arrangements are being made for the class to go on several site visits to health care facilities and community agencies (private, public, non-governmental and/or charitable organizations), health and social agencies, and settings in which older adults congregate.  Regular seminars will be held. Topics to include: consumer directed health care, community-based programs, health promotion and prevention programs, education of health care professionals, health insurance, and home care services.

Host Site: Our local host will be the Institute of Nursing Science (INS) at the University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland.  INS is the first nursing program affiliated with a university in Switzerland.  INS offers a graduate program for nurses.

Course Objectives: At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Tentative Course Schedule
Day 1:             Orientation to the course and introductions of faculty and students
Days 2-13:       Lectures by Swiss colleagues on health, social, and cultural issues; field trips to sites such as local health and social agencies; and key informant interviews.  Potential seminar topics: Health system, approaches to health promotion and disease prevention, the emergence of chronic disease, environmental health challenges, health technology, health professional education, nurse migration, and other. Potential for a visit to Geneva, Switzerland to visit the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or Germany and/or Italy to compare aging and health in bordering countries. 
Day 14-15:       Final paper is due and student presentations on paper topics and summary of experiences. 

Credits: Participants will earn 4 credits of NURS 499 and one credit of GEN ST (General Studies) 392. Please check with your advisor to determine how these credits can count towards department requirements.

Program Director: Basia Belza, PhD, RN, UW-S has travelled internationally to a variety of countries for both personal and professional purposes including Switzerland, Korea, Thailand, Sweden, Taiwan, and Australia.  She has guest lectured in Switzerland and is spending Winter quarter at INS as a visiting scholar.   Students who enroll in her UW-S courses describe her as an instructor with a high level of enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion.

As a member of the School of Nursing faculty, Dr. Belza is nationally recognized for her leadership in promoting healthy aging for community-based older adults. Her expertise involves disseminating evidence-based physical activity programs to community partners.  She has played a key role in the development and teaching of gerontology courses and mentored undergraduate and graduate nursing students, including international students. 

Student costs:

• $3,300 Program Fee
• $200 International Programs & Exchanges Fee

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