Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) College of Nursing (Dean Hye-young Kim) will run a 'Global PBL (Problem-Based Learning)' program in collaboration with the University of Minnesota to cultivate convergent, global nursing professionals who will lead the future health-care environment.

The College announced on the 24th that it will select 11 outstanding undergraduate students during the summer break to participate in the 'JBNU-UMN Nursing Glocal PBL' program. 

This program was designed to help nursing students at the undergraduate level understand rapidly evolving advanced medical technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, and smart medical devices—and to develop convergent capabilities that connect and apply these technologies to nursing practice.

To this end, the College will hold special lectures during the summer break led by faculty from the University of Minnesota. From August 22 to 28, students and faculty will travel to the United States for a five‑night, seven‑day program to directly experience advanced nursing education environments and cutting‑edge clinical settings.

The Global PBL is primarily characterized as a field‑linked exchange that goes beyond a simple overseas institutional visit. Through Global PBL activities, students identify inefficiencies and safety issues arising in clinical settings and seek practical solutions that utilize AI and digital health technologies.

During the U.S. visit, participating students will visit the University of Minnesota's Department of Nursing as well as world‑class medical institutions including the Mayo Clinic main campus and multinational innovation company 3M. They will also visit a variety of local clinical training sites affiliated with M Health Fairview, such as cancer centers and children's hospitals, to gain broad experience of advanced medical service systems.

Building on this exchange, the College of Nursing plans to expand student dispatches and develop the program into an interdisciplinary convergence education (Interprofessional Education, IPE) program linked with the College of Engineering (including biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and computer engineering). The College will support outstanding student ideas that emerge so they can proceed to follow‑up research, patentable technologies, or real‑world clinical application.

Professor Hyung-eun Jang, who is leading this program, said, 'Through this Global PBL, students will experience advanced medical environments during the break and, through exchanges with students from top overseas universities, enhance cultural receptivity and global communication skills. We expect this to serve as an important stepping stone for students to grow into future‑oriented nursing professionals equipped with both an international perspective and practical innovation capabilities.'