Two nursing students from the Department of Nursing at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Ms Andiswa Nzama and Ms Phakamile Zuma left for Finland on Monday, 28 February 2022, to be part of a student exchange programme at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences for the next three months.
Nzama (24) from Port Shepstone, South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and Zuma (30) from Inanda, North of Durban are ecstatic after been given an opportunity and a once in a lifetime chance to travel to Finland to represent the DUT and work towards enhancing their studies.
Nzama enrolled at DUT in 2017 to study towards her Honours Degree in Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nursing. She enrolled for the extended programme which is five years. Her strong bond with her grandmother who was a nurse by profession made her to also pursue a career in nursing.
Meanwhile Zuma who is completing her last year in nursing revealed that her love for nursing dates back to when she was a little girl who used to enjoy helping her family members whenever they were not feeling well.
“This trip is based a student exchange programme. Which is within the same field of study nursing. We will be doing 3 modules which has 15 credits in total. These modules are inclusive of emergency care of which I really enjoy working in. This is a very great opportunity to improve and explore how emergency care procedures are conducted abroad. I am going there with a very open mind, willing to learn more about the field I have been studying for the past five years. I also plan to share my knowledge and experience I have gained throughout the course. All the learning and practicals will be taking place in the next three months, from the 1st of March till the end of May 2022,” said Nzama.
Prior to her departure, Nzama who travelled for the first time on an airplane mentioned that she spent hours on YouTube watching videos about how people live in Finland. She is grateful for the love and support she received from her family and friends after sharing these exciting news with them.
“This opportunity will help me to grow as a person and academically. It will equip me with new knowledge and skills that can be shared with junior nursing students at DUT and at a facility where I will be working as a professional nurse,” said Zuma.
Zuma who also travelled for the first time on an airplane indicated she had to calm her family down after they expressed their fears about her travelling for the first time on an airplane and travelling abroad.
“I convinced them of how important this is for me and that they don’t have to worry since it is safe and that I will be provided with accommodation, food allowance, insurance and air tickets. The support that DUT and Metropolia have given to me, it shows that I am in good hands. I would like to thank the Nursing Department for trusting me to represent DUT. I wish to say that that they will not regret sending me, I will make sure that I make them proud by raising the name of DUT and my department high,” added Zuma.
The two young ladies are proud to be the first two nursing students from DUT to go abroad on an exchange programme and are planning to create lifetime memories.
Pictured: DUT nursing students, Ms Andiswa Nzama and Ms Phakamile Zuma.
Simangele Zuma
