About NOREC
NOREC funds and coordinates projects in 25 countries around the world with 229 partners across Norway and countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. NOREC vision is “Fostering leadership for global justice, creating change on the ground and in our minds”. NOREC gives young people in Norway and developing countries the opportunity to experience each other’s realities. It aims to encourage commitment to human rights and solve international development issues, with young people as special target group. NOREC is part of Norwegian Government’s development cooperation, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. NOREC creates development through bringing people together to learn, share and understand each other (NOREC, 2019).
Eye Education Foreign Exchange: EYE-FX
The EYE-FX project involves capacity building in optometric education in the context of eye health and global blindness prevention, strengthen education systems and affect change in the realm of global eye health. One of the main objectives of this programme is to support capacity development initiatives and expand cooperation to other institutions in Africa and the developing world. Relating to the project, the partners; University of South-Eastern Norway offers research, innovation and education in optometry on Bachelor, Masters and PhD level under Department of Optometry, Radiography and Lighten Design in the faculty of Health and Social Sciences (IORL, HS).
Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) is an Australian not for profit non-governmental organization which focuses internationally on eye care research and vision delivery. BHVI work to develop new solutions for vision care, especially refractive error, and to eliminate vision impairment and avoidable blindness, thereby improving quality of life for people in need and helping to reduce disability and poverty. Some of BHVI activities include development of vision correction products such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgical devices etc. for the treatment of myopia, presbyopia, hyperopia and astigmatism (BHVI, 2019). BHVI operates in Africa with main focus on child eye care and optometry schools’ development. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is a teaching, research and innovation university which offers optometry education on bachelor’s and master’s level under the Department of optometry and vision sciences.
Thus, these three institutions are working together to develop optometry and eye health across borders with mutual interest to share it through exchanges of professionals, culture, knowledge and language. Also, to put in place schemes that will open opportunities for next generation of optometrist.
The EYE-FX project has total of 3 rounds, 3 years duration and 18 different exchanges of staff between the institutions. Its currently on its 1st year/round having 6 participants, and USN as the coordinating partner.
USN outgoing staff to Brien Holden Vision Instiute
My name is Kenechukwu Obinna Ofochebe aka Ken, I was recruited by USN as NOREC Participant and Project Officer in the EYE-FX project. I am currently working as USN expat staff with BHVI in South Africa.
At the beginning of the project, all the NOREC participants from different projects background and countries attended 1-week preparatory part 1 training in February 2019 at Johannesburg South Africa. The purpose of the training was to prepare participants for their stay abroad by increasing our awareness and skills related to working and living in a different cultural and social setting than the one we are used to. Also, we were introduced to NOREC principles with lectures on some global issues, intercultural differences, including our role as NOREC participants.
The training further equipped participants on how to identify personal and professional challenges related to living in another cultural context, how to identify and use specific tools and approaches to prevent, minimise and overcome these challenges. Additionally, to make sure all the parties are efficiently prepared towards creating fruitful exchange programs and successful partnerships (NOREC, 2019). Thus, to see the world from numerous perspectives, reflect upon our own position in a globalsociety and be prepared to engage as global citizens and agents of change.
I studied Master of Global Development and Planning with specialisation in Development Management at University of Agder, Kristiansand Norway, and graduated in June 2018. My degree is well suited for this project because it combines knowledge of global and local processes of change, based on development, planning and cultural studies etc. It develops a critical and analytical view on development and planning in different context in both western countries and global south.
M.Sc. in Development Management equipped me with trainings and knowledge on “developing and analysing complex questions and how to collect, analyse and critically assess knowledge and knowledge production”. Plus, extensive knowledge on how to make use of managerial tools to solve practical problems. Thus, using methodological and theoretical tools for change and development processes in different cultures and geographical levels with focuses on poverty reduction, planning and development strategies, economic and ecological processes, sustainable development etc. (UiA, 2019).
In NOREC EYE-FX project, I am using my professional background to work within public and private sectors and apply scientific knowledge while communicating with specialists and the general public. Having the ability to write academic paper, reports and proposal, elaborate solutions to everyday challenges from a multidisciplinary perspective, teamwork, creativity and decision making.
EYE-FX has taught me a lot about visual impairment and eye care in the field of optometry and health care and its project implementation. Developed me with a good understanding of academic exchange projects and its benefit for partner organizations towards contributing to international collaboration between USN and Africa and Global.
I am contributing to the project through administration and coordination of project activities with respect to trainee development in international collaboration within optometry and eye care services. Coordination of project activities implemented by USN and BHVI and supporting capacity development initiatives to expand cooperation to other institutions in Africa and the developing world. Research of potential funding opportunities, planning and proposal towards possible projects in health care, institutional collaboration and faculty exchanges.
Moving to South Africa
South Africa, officially known as Republic of South Africa (RSA) is the southernmost country in Africa and largest country in Southern Africa and 25th -largest country in the world by land area, with a population of over 57 million people, making it the world 24th -most populous nation. RSA is divided among diverse ethnic groups speaking different African languages of which nine among them are officially recognized. The country has a generally temperate climate because of being surrounded by Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides. Winter in RSA normally occurs between June and August (South Africa Gateway, 2017).
Traveling to RSA, settling down and working on EYE-FX project is not an easy task because of change of environment, culture, weather, new organization etc. which will require time for adapting to the new changes. Nevertheless, NOREC already envisage these as a potential challenge and organized participant training for all of us on active coping strategies on how to face intercultural challenges with resilience. Including how to deal with stress using active coping, body recharging strategies, resilience skills, active sense of personal control, mental flexibility and positive psychology etc.
These training and skills coupled with support and guidance of USN and BHVI staff, and my ability to communicate clearly and confidently in an international environment enabled me to settle down quickly in the locality and socializing very well.
In summary, EYE-FX is a great project with good avenue for learning and internationalization, as we progress, we are confident and positive about the program. We are working on initiatives to enhance development of optometry and its local practice and expanding cooperation to other institutions in global south and north.
Written by: Kenechukwu Obinna Ofochebe, June 2019
References:
- NOREC, (2019). WHAT IS AN NOREC EXCHANGE? Retrieved (28.06.19), from https://www.norec.no/en/what-is-a-norec-exchange/
- South Africa Gateway, (2017). How big is South Africa? Retrieved (28.06.19), from https://web.archive.org/web/20171212084551/https://southafrica-info.com/how-big-is-south-africa/
- South Africa Gateway, (2017). People. Retrieved (28.06.19), from https://web.archive.org/web/20190205201235/https://southafrica-info.com/category/people/
- UiA, (2019). Course plan for Master’s Programme in Global Development and Planning. Retrieved (28.06.19), from University of Agder https://www.uia.no/en/studieplaner/programme/MASTDEVM