24 Aug 2026
Six student nurses and two lecturers from Nanfang University in China visited Devon this summer as part of a two-week international Nurses’ Summer School at the University of Plymouth.
Taking place from 19 July to 1 August 2026, the programme was designed and coordinated by Ian Sherriff BEM, Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth.
The Summer School gave the Chinese delegation an opportunity to experience nursing and healthcare in England, while also sharing their own knowledge and experiences with healthcare professionals, academics and community leaders in Devon.
The programme included visits to the University of Plymouth School of Nursing, community dental services, Derriford Hospital, Express Diagnosis, BRIC and Plymouth Science Park, as well as lectures and discussions on nursing, the NHS, healthcare innovation and technology.
A key part of the visit was time spent in rural Devon, centred around Brixton Parish. The students will visit a rural GP practice and explore how nurses, GPs, community services and voluntary organisations work together to support people living in rural communities.
The exchange also provided an opportunity for the Chinese students to share their own experiences of nursing and healthcare in China. They gave a presentation and took part in discussions with the Vice President of Nanfang University, Ian Sherriff BEM and Liz Hitchins, Chair of Brixton Parish Council and Chair of Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm.
The discussion explored the similarities and differences between rural healthcare in China and Devon, including nursing, community support, prevention and dementia care.
The delegation also gained an insight into how local democracy and public services operate. They met the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, visited the Council House and took part in discussions with representatives from the House of Lords, House of Commons, County, District and Parish Councils about the role of local government in supporting and commissioning health and social care.
Alongside the formal programme, the visitors experienced Devon life through an evening meal at the Foxhound in Brixton, a boat trip on the Tamar and a visit to The Box Museum.
The Summer School is intended to be a genuine two-way exchange. The Chinese students had the opportunity to take ideas back to China around community nursing, prevention, multidisciplinary working and the links between rural communities, primary care and hospitals, while their Devon hosts gained a valuable insight into nursing and rural healthcare in China.
For the two visiting lecturers, the experience also provided ideas and international perspectives that can be shared with future nursing students at Nanfang University.
Ian Sherriff BEM said the programme represented the beginning of an exciting relationship between Nanfang University, the University of Plymouth and the communities of Plymouth and rural Devon.
The Summer School provided an opportunity to celebrate the strengths of rural healthcare in Devon while learning from international colleagues and developing new ideas for the future.
The visit marks the beginning of what is hoped will become a long-term partnership, creating opportunities for future student and staff exchanges, research and collaboration in rural healthcare and nursing education.
