Students to explore global healthcare models in Netherlands trip

The forthcoming visit to the Netherlands continues the college legacy, offering learners the chance to broaden their horizons, develop global awareness, and build the skills required for modern health and social care careers.” Sara Jones, Course Tutor for Health Science 

Health and social care learners from Coleg Ceredigion will travel to the Netherlands in February as part of a new international study visit funded through the Welsh Government’s Taith exchange programme. 

The visit will enable six learners to explore contrasting health and social care models, compare service delivery across countries and gain insight into how different nations respond to shared challenges such as ageing populations, community-based care and workforce development.

The Netherlands visit forms the next stage in a growing programme of international learning that has become a distinctive feature of health and social care education at Coleg Ceredigion. 

It builds directly on the college’s highly successful collaboration with NorQuest College in Alberta, Canada, where learners took part in an innovative international project that reshaped how rural health and social care education is delivered. 

That Canadian collaboration led to the creation of the Academy of Rural Care, a new supracurricular model designed to strengthen professional identity, cultural competence and workforce readiness among post-16 learners. Students engaged in comparative studies of Welsh and Canadian health systems, explored cultural safety and community responsibility, and completed structured reflective projects that captured their learning, professional growth and future career aspirations. 

These projects have since become a cornerstone of the college’s health and social care offer.

Building on this proven model, the Netherlands visit will offer learners a fresh European perspective on health and social care practice. They will examine how Dutch services support older adults, deliver community-based provision and integrate social care with healthcare systems. Students will use the visit to compare approaches, reflect on transferable practice and consider how international innovation can inform care delivery within Wales.

The international programme also aligns closely with student progression and career pathways. 

Sara Jones, course tutor for health science at Coleg Ceredigion explained: “Most students who are studying level three health and social care and access to higher education at Coleg Ceredigion progress to university, with many going on to study adult, children’s, mental health and learning disability nursing. 

“Others pursue degrees across the allied health professions, including occupational therapy, paramedic science, operating department practice and podiatry. A further group progress into wider subject areas such as education, psychology, criminology and law, demonstrating the strong academic and professional foundations provided by the programme.

“College staff emphasise that international mobility is more than a travel opportunity. It forms part of a wider professional formation approach that strengthens learners’ confidence, professionalism and readiness for higher education and future employment. 

“Previous cohorts reported increased motivation, improved professional behaviours and clearer career goals following their participation in international projects, with particularly strong progression rates into higher education within Wales.

“The forthcoming visit to the Netherlands continues the college legacy, offering learners the chance to broaden their horizons, develop global awareness, and build the skills required for modern health and social care careers.” 

It also reflects Coleg Ceredigion’s commitment to providing learners with transformative educational experiences that connect local communities with global best practice, ensuring that students are well prepared to contribute to the future of care both in Wales and beyond.