University News & Events

The Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing in Bangladesh opened its doors to its first cohort of 40 students on Sunday February 28.  

A special welcome ceremony was held, attended by CEOs of the Grameen Organisation. This week will include introductions to all subject areas including English and computer skills, and on Saturday students will enjoy a picnic in the Dhaka Botanical Gardens.

The college was created by GCU in conjunction with Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus to address the health needs of society's most disadvantaged. Bangladesh currently has more doctors than trained nurses and high maternal and child mortality statistics. The college will help by developing nursing and midwifery standards in Bangladesh to an international standard, drawing on GCU’s strong track record in delivering high-quality nursing and midwifery education in emerging nations, and from professional experience as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre.

Professor Barbara Parfitt, Director of Global Health Development at GCU, is Principal of the College. During the last six months, she has been working with a team of staff from Bangladesh to set up the college from scratch. This has included the refurbishment of the building as well as setting in place all the policies and systems needed to run an educational organisation.

Barbara says: “Our Nursing College will seek to prepare future leaders for the nursing profession here in Bangladesh. Students are from Grameen villages and borrowers from the bank which means they are all from economically poor homes. They will be taught advanced English skills and computer skills in addition to a nursing programme at an international standard.”