Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) College of Nursing (Dean Jeong Seok-hee) operated a Japan-based, field-oriented global education program to strengthen community-based integrated care capacity in response to a super-aged society and has expanded cooperation to introduce advanced overseas care models to the region.

JBNU College of Nursing announced on the 20th that, as part of the RISE project, it visited Health Sciences University of Hokkaido and local healthcare institutions in Hokkaido, Japan, to conduct an on-site global education program.

The program was organized as part of JBNU RISE Project Group’s initiative titled "Training Integrated Care Personnel Tailored to the Jeonbuk Region," with the aim of cultivating specialized care personnel capable of responding to a super-aged society and benchmarking Japan’s advanced integrated care models. A total of 24 participants, including JBNU College of Nursing faculty, staff, and graduate students, took part.

During the visit, JBNU College of Nursing strengthened the cooperative foundation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Health Sciences University of Hokkaido for education and research collaboration. The two institutions agreed to expand collaboration across various areas, including pursuing joint research, facilitating student and faculty exchanges, operating short-term training programs, and jointly developing curricula to train integrated care specialists.

In addition, a Korea-Japan comparative analysis seminar on "Integrated Care Policy and Practice in the Face of a Super-Aged Society," led by JBNU graduate students, was held, promoting active academic exchange.

Graduate students presented on the two countries’ integrated care systems and community care models, focusing on Korea’s super-aging situation and integrated care status, social issues and care realities for older adults, and geriatric mental health. After the presentations, questions from Korean and Japanese faculty and in-depth discussions followed, creating a meaningful forum to broaden understanding of care systems.

Participants also conducted a site visit to the elderly care facility "Shirayuri Ainosato," operated by the Japanese social welfare corporation Yuseikai, to observe cases of AI- and ICT-based care technology use. On site, various service delivery models that combine technology and care were showcased, including AI-equipped monitoring systems and sensor-based safety management, providing participants with practical insight into directions for future care models.

One graduate student who participated in the program said, "Through the seminar, I was able to deeply consider differences in policy and field application by comparing Korea’s and Japan’s integrated care systems. Seeing AI-based care in the field firsthand gave me ideas that could be applied to integrated care in the Jeonbuk region."

Dean Jeong Seok-hee of the College of Nursing said, "This visit was a substantive global education program that aligns with the project goal of training integrated care personnel tailored to the Jeonbuk region. We will continue to expand international joint research and talent exchanges following the MOU and academic exchanges with Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, and actively support students in translating their field experiences into innovation in community care."