Nine final-year nursing students from the North-West University's (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus recently participated in an international collaborative project aimed at developing innovative e-health solutions to address global healthcare challenges.

The initiative formed part of the university’s internationalisation efforts and was coordinated through the e-COIL project, an online, interdisciplinary programme designed to expose students to cross-cultural collaboration and digital healthcare practices.

The five-week programme, which began in February 2025, saw NWU nursing students working in virtual teams with peers from other countries and disciplines, including social work and radiography. Together, they were tasked with designing practical e-health interventions based on real-world health scenarios.

Guest lecturers from various European universities delivered four online sessions during the programme. These sessions covered topics such as interdisciplinary teamwork, the intercultural aspects of care and the implementation of digital interventions in healthcare systems.

The students were divided into mixed-discipline groups and assessed on their ability to create effective digital solutions to health problems. According Kgomotso Mathopeto from the School of Nursing, this hands-on experience not only enhanced students’ problem-solving skills, but also helped them navigate the complexities of working across borders and cultures in a healthcare context.

Lecturers involved in the programme also benefited from the exposure to new teaching strategies and digital tools, some of which may be adopted into the School of Nursing’s teaching and learning practices.

The project is expected to continue with a new group of fourth-year nursing students selected annually to participate.

“This opportunity exposed our students to global perspectives on healthcare and challenged them to think critically about local applications,” said Kgomotso.

The NWU e-COIL collaboration highlights the university’s commitment to preparing students for a rapidly changing healthcare environment shaped by technology, collaboration and innovation.

Dr Maserapelo Serapelwane and Dr Rorisang Machailo with nursing students who joined the global e-health innovation project.