Almost 200 nurses and midwives are converging on Medicinareberget in June to discuss leadership, learning and research. The Institute of Health and Care Sciences is hosting the conference, which has attracted participants from all over the world.
“There has been much greater interest than we expected. We initially estimated there would be only 80 participants, but we quickly found more than twice that had registered, from 26 countries,” says Professor Margret Lepp, President of the Swedish chapter of the international organisation for nurses, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).
This will be the second time that the organisation has held a regional conference in Europe and Margret Lepp and her colleagues at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences are enjoying the challenges of organising the event.
“We have a good set-up and a great team, and we are very grateful for all the practical help we are getting from the Conference Centre Wallenberg.”
One of the driving forces for Margret Lepp is the opportunity to demonstrate the Sahlgrenska Academy’s interest in health issues to so many international guests. People are coming from countries such as Jordan, China, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United States, to name but a few. This was initially intended to be a European conference, but thanks largely to Margret Lepp’s networking it has expanded to become a global event.
“Researchers and nurses who work to improve human health around the world are coming here. It is important that we as a health academy are able to meet them and exchange experiences within health sciences. It will be a way to utilise the diversity of knowledge available and to show that what we do in Europe is of interest to the whole world.”
Margret Lepp believes that at the same time, the University of Gothenburg will have the chance to demonstrate its prowess within health science research and education.
“By organising this three-day conference here in Gothenburg, we are also contributing to the internationalisation of our education and research. We are broadening our networking efforts and promoting global health and education issues,” she says and continues:
“We need to develop the issues of leadership, learning, and research within nurse and midwife training. Which is why we have chosen this as the theme of the conference. We want to provide safe care. How do we do that?”
By: Monica Havström
What is Sigma Theta Tau?
Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) is a non-profit organisation whose members are nurses who want to improve the health of people all around the world. The network provides members with support to develop their expertise.
The three Greek letters in the name stand for Love, Honour, and Courage. The organisation was founded in 1922 by six nursing students in the United States. Today it has active members in over 85 countries and many local chapters.
The Swedish chapter of STTI, the Tau Omega Chapter, is based at the Sahlgrenska Academy and its President is Margret Lepp.
More information about STTI: www.nursingsociety.org
