Nursing grant to expand global learning opportunities

Sept. 17, 2026 - DENTON - The College of Nursing and one of its professors, Mikyoung Lee, PhD, RN, has partnered with a South Korean university to expand global learning opportunities for nursing students.

The partnership, funded through a $4,000 grant from the Texas International Education Consortium, will support an international virtual exchange initiative connecting TWU and Kyungpook National University nursing students through shared coursework, discussions and collaborative projects.

Lee and Laura Kubin, PhD, RN, designed the initiative to extend international learning beyond a short-term study-abroad experience by creating opportunities for students in the United States and South Korea to learn with and from one another throughout the semester to compare health care and nursing practices and work in international teams on shared global health projects.

"I was very excited and grateful to learn that our proposal had been selected for funding," Lee said. "I saw the award not only as recognition of the value of the proposed educational experience, but also as an opportunity for Dr. Kubin and me to expand the international learning environment in an innovative way through virtual exchange."

The project builds on an established relationship between TWU and KNU that began in 2023, providing a foundation for continued academic collaboration. Since then, faculty members from both institutions have participated in exchanges, seminars and other international scholarly activities.

"These ongoing activities have helped build a strong foundation for continued collaboration in nursing education, scholarship and global learning opportunities for students," Lee said.

The goal of the new initiative is to provide nursing students and faculty members in both countries with meaningful opportunities to engage with international peers while examining healthcare systems, culturally responsive care, population health and global health challenges.

Students from all three TWU campuses - Denton, Dallas and Houston - will be eligible to apply for the study-abroad experience, subject to course and program eligibility requirements.

"I am delighted that this grant will provide KNU students with the opportunity to learn alongside and engage directly with TWU students," said KNU's So-Hi Kwon, PhD. "I believe this will be a truly valuable experience, enabling our students to take pride in sharing Korea's nursing practices and healthcare system while broadening their global nursing competencies through the exchange of diverse perspectives and experiences with their TWU peers."

For Lee, the grant represents another step in expanding the College of Nursing's international engagement and preparing students to work in an increasingly interconnected health care environment.

Page last updated 5:50 PM, September 17, 2026