The Polytechnic Institute of the José Eduardo dos Santos University (IP-UJES) will host the final meeting of the European Erasmus+ CLINICALSIM project from October 26 to 29 in Huambo, Angola. This initiative aims to improve nursing education in Angola through the incorporation of digital technologies, clinical simulation, and hands-on learning methodologies. The program will include an international conference on October 28, during which universities and healthcare professionals will share experiences and findings regarding nursing education and the use of innovative teaching tools.
The event will take place at the facilities of the Polytechnic Institute of the José Eduardo dos Santos University (IP-UJES) and will bring together representatives from the institutions participating in the project: the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO), which coordinates the initiative; the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP) in Portugal; the International University of Cuanza (UNIC); UJES itself; and the Angolan Nurses’ Association (ORDENFA).
Holding this conference in Huambo will help strengthen the exchange of knowledge between academic institutions and healthcare professionals, as well as address the challenges of practical training for future healthcare professionals in Angola. In this context, the program will combine working sessions on the project’s results with activities aimed at sharing educational experiences and analyzing the possibilities for applying new methodologies in the university setting.
An International Conference to Share Experiences and Findings
On October 28, a conference dedicated to innovation in health education—with a special focus on nursing, clinical simulation, service-learning, and the use of digital tools—will take place at the Gabriel Antunes Auditorium. The event will include preliminary service-learning activities at the José Eduardo dos Santos University (UJES), focused on health promotion, weight management, and anthropometric measurements.
The session will begin with an opening talk titled “The Commitment to Improving Society Through Nursing Education,” presented by UNEATLANTICO. The program will include a presentation titled “Improving Nursing Education in Angola” by ORDENFA, which will address the challenges and opportunities for strengthening the preparation of future professionals. For its part, the International University of Cuanza (UNIC) will share its experiences with “Service-Learning,” an approach that links academic learning with participation in the social environment and the practical application of acquired knowledge.
In addition, the presentation “The Virtual Laboratory as a Teaching Tool in Nursing Education: The Experience of IP-UJES” will be given by Marlene Dumba Amorim, coordinator and professor of the Nursing Program, and Patrícia Fio, a professor in the same program. The presentation will provide insight into the experience of the Polytechnic Institute of José Eduardo dos Santos University (IP-UJES) in using virtual labs as a teaching resource to complement students’ theoretical and practical training. The conference will continue with the presentation “The Simulation Method in Nursing: Results of the Pilot Project,” delivered by IPP, which will present the results of this initiative and provide an in-depth look at the potential of simulation as a tool for developing clinical skills and preparing students for real-world professional practice scenarios.
To conclude, UNEATLANTICO will present the lecture “Digital Technologies for Nutrition: From CLINICALSIM to MAHINE,” focusing on the application of digital tools to nutrition education and on the evolution of initiatives related to simulation and hands-on learning in this field.
The conference will serve as a forum for exchanging knowledge and experiences between the academic community and healthcare professionals, as well as for sharing the progress made within the framework of the project.
Academic Cooperation and Knowledge Transfer
On October 26 and 27, the project partners will hold working sessions to evaluate the pilot experiences, review the results achieved, and address issues related to the quality, dissemination, and sustainability of the training resources developed. The goal will be to advance the transfer of these materials and methodologies to university and professional settings.
The agenda will conclude on October 29 with a visit to the municipality of Bailundo, which will include cultural exchange activities with representatives of the Ovimbundu community and a visit to the Ombala M’balundu, a landmark site for this culture.
By hosting this event, the José Eduardo dos Santos University reinforces the role of university cooperation as a space for sharing experiences, fostering innovative methodologies, and promoting healthcare education that is aligned with local needs. The CLINICALSIM project, coordinated by UNEATLANTICO and developed in collaboration with European and Angolan institutions, seeks to contribute to more practical education through the integration of digital technologies, clinical simulation, and service-learning.
