Clinical placements are a vital part of nursing education—both in traditional and decentralised programmes—offering students valuable hands-on experience with real patients in real healthcare settings. However, the quality of learning during these placements can vary. This presents a challenge for educational institutions, which are responsible for maintaining high academic and pedagogical standards across all parts of the programme, including off-campus placements.
This challenge is particularly evident in primary healthcare services, such as nursing homes and home-based care. These services are often geographically dispersed and involve many different partners. Students frequently report that placements in these settings are less favourable, which is concerning given the growing need for nurses in elderly care.
The ENCORE project (Enhancing Nursing Clinical Opportunities through Regional Education) is a collaboration between the University of Agder (UiA), University College Copenhagen (KP), and Dalarna University (DU). The project aims to improve the quality of clinical placements in primary healthcare by developing and testing innovative digital learning activities.
ENCORE introduces Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities—digital learning formats that connect students and educators across borders. By integrating COIL into clinical placements in primary healthcare, the project seeks to create more engaging and relevant learning experiences for nursing students in both traditional and decentralised programmes.
Through collaboration between three Nordic higher education institutions, the project facilitates the sharing of experiences and the development of evidence-based strategies to enhance clinical training. The results will be widely disseminated and contribute to strengthening nursing education across the Nordic region.
