The course, focusing on healthcare and social services across the lifespan, provided students with insights into elder care, child policies, and various healthcare systems.
The course, focusing on healthcare and social services across the lifespan, provided students with insights into elder care, child policies, and various healthcare systems.
A 10-day study abroad program in Sweden, focusing on social services across the lifespan, has recently offered invaluable international insights to 24 students from the United States. Hailing from Utah State University and Indiana University-Southeast, the students embarked on an educational journey at Jönköping University’s Institute for Gerontology.
The course, entitled “Healthcare and Social Services Across the Lifespan,” has been conducted biennially for over a decade. Led by Beth Fauth, a professor in Human Development and Family Studies at USU, it covers a broad spectrum of topics including elder care, child and family policies, dementia care, and more.
This year’s cohort consisted of undergraduate and graduate students studying various disciplines such as nursing, psychology, and sociology. While the program has traditionally emphasized gerontology, recent iterations have expanded its scope to appeal to those with interests beyond elder care.
Anna Perez, one of the participants, spoke about the personal significance of the trip. As a first-generation student, she expressed the accomplishment of traveling internationally with her university, saying it showed her that “anything is possible if I put my mind to it.”
The program’s itinerary was packed with enlightening experiences. The mornings consisted of lectures from U.S. leaders and Swedish experts in various areas of healthcare and social services. Interactive discussions allowed students to critically analyze different healthcare systems, and case studies provided specific insights into topics like Medicare and Social Security.
Afternoons were dedicated to site visits to locations like nursing homes, hospitals, and preschools, providing students with hands-on exposure. Such experiences were eye-opening, with some students, like Perez, finding clarity in their professional aspirations.
Cultural immersion was also an integral part of the experience, with students enjoying Swedish customs like fika, a social coffee break, and exploring local landmarks including a historical village, a castle, and museums.
Fauth, who has been instrumental in leading this study abroad program, reflects on its influence on her education as she originally attended the course as a doctoral student. She expressed her excitement about offering the same enriching experience to her students, emphasizing how the trip’s teachings will have a lasting impact on their future practice.
In addition to academic learning, the course has affected students’ personal growth. Perez summed it up by emphasizing how the trip allowed her to recognize the richness of perspectives outside her own culture, stating, “A lot of other places have amazing things to offer.”
The study abroad program in Sweden exemplifies a holistic approach to education, merging academic learning with cultural awareness.
