Activity/project background
Partner: Southern Africa Nazarene University (Sanu) (Private Organization)
The Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) has three faculties: Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Theology. The Faculty of Health Sciences (FOHS) currently offers four programs, including Bachelors of Science in 1) nursing and midwifery (BSNM), 2) nursing anesthesia, 3) medical laboratory science, and 4) a diploma in pharmacy. The counterpart supports the BSNM program, where there is an intake of 40 students each year. Currently, the university is engaged in an exercise to be accredited by the country’s regulatory council, Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC), and has been implored to develop new programs that are diverse but within the health field and required by the industry.
FOHS is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support the development of a new PhD Nursing program. The VSPP will support FOHS in mapping programmatic structure and benchmarks, developing course curriculum outlines, and developing short- and long-term goals to launch the new PhD Nursing program. SANU would also benefit from connecting with other universities who offer similar programs, and therefore, the VSPP will support them with identifying potential institutions who they can contact to gain new insight regarding PhD program development and ensure that the new program aligns with other university programs. The VSPP will not participate in outreach initiatives, but rather support the university with research and the development of an outreach tracking system.
The university has previously worked with Peace Corps Response Volunteers who were instrumental in developing a curriculum for the Master of Science in Nursing specializing in Nursing Education and Leadership and Management. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
- Co-conduct needs assessments and gap analyses for the creation of a new PhD Nursing program
- Co-develop and co-review curriculum materials for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in nursing, focusing on core competencies and current best practices
- Support the mapping of short- and long-term goals as well as required coursework for the PhD Nursing program
- Collaborate with faculty members and subject matter experts to ensure alignment of curriculum with national and international standards
- Support research and co-create a tracking system to document institutions with similar program development for the partner’s outreach efforts
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 10 hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eswatini time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, email, WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in nursing or related field
Experience:
- 3 years of experience in curriculum development and instructional design in a higher education setting
- Experience teaching any nursing course at the university level
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired Qualifications
Education: Doctorate in nursing education or a relevant field
Experience:
- Experience in simulation-based learning and inter-professional education for the health sciences
- Experience launching new programs at the university level
- Experience establishing PhD Nursing programs
- Experience with virtual engagement and communication
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
