Chinese CLS sister school relationship

Establish a relationship with a Chinese CLS Program to foster cross-cultural diversity, provide for student and faculty cross-cultural exchange, scholarship, research, and improve the health care of both communities served by the colleges.

Information needed to develop agreement strategy was gathered by literature review, personal interviews, and direct observation in China. Based upon literature review an original list of items for discussion was developed. Discussions were held between administrators of both schools and the teaching hospital. The Chief Laboratory Technologist of the associated Chinese teaching hospital was interviewed to establish the extent of CLS students' experiences. A form for the interview was developed and the results were used during the negotiation of the final agreement.

A CLS faculty team member from the U.S. traveled to the Jingmen School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences, Jingmen City, China, Hubei Province, P.R. China to establish an agreement. Tours of six cities in China, the School, and Jingmen hospitals provided for a better understanding of the Chinese culture and the Chinese CLS program.

Three major concerns for success of the relationship (language barriers, communication vehicles, and socialization issues) were determined and addressed in a final agreement. The components of the agreement may provide some insight for others considering such a collaborative venture. Outcomes will be more fully addressed when exchanges begin.