LINKS WITH UNIVERSITIES

In connection with our principal aim of providing suitable vocational training for nurses in diabetes care, we have established close links with three centres of university-level education within the EU. Each University-based centre was chosen on the basis that it already has an established suite of academically based programmes designed for disseminating knowledge in diabetes. The 'partners' share a common interest in the promotion of high quality education for nurses in diabetes.

ACCREDITATION

The university partners are able to construct programmes of study which carry recognised credit ratings including ECTS credits. This is seen as enhancing the nurses' professional role, providing a degree of transparency to their qualifications and enhancement of their clinical, educational and research skills. The diabetes care centres provide the context and the network of qualified trainers for leading the delivery of the programmes of study. FEND has established a common set of aims, learning outcomes and a framework for the delivery of the requisite programmes of study with three European university centres. FEND will additionally accredit the programmes of study from the contracting universities, thus further promoting the transparency of the qualification.