Desenvolvimento intercultural dos estudantes através da Collaborative Online International Learning: um estudo qualitativo exploratório

Introduction: There is a need to implement internationalisation at home (IaH) strategies to increase future nurses’ cross cultural perspectives and collaboration between low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). Objective: To explore nursing students’ and teachers’ perspectives on the main cultural contributions gained by students participating in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) between an HIC and an LMIC. Methods: This is an exploratory qualitative study. Content analysis followed the model proposed by Bardin: pre-analysis, exploration, processing, inference and interpretation of the results. Results: The two main themes “cultural contributions at the level of social competences” and “specific knowledge about nursing practised in two economically and socially disparate countries”, and six sub-themes were identified. COIL methodologies in IaH models are viable to improve nursing students’ intercultural awareness. Conclusion: To optimise the pedagogical process, international student groups need facilitation by teachers. Virtual learning via social media can improve nursing students’ intercultural competencies.