Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus and 糖心破解版鈥檚 dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health, Deborah Hunt, PhD 鈥�12, will be sharing knowledge, resources and research to improve health outcomes and build their respective missions in healthcare.
An International Partnership Begins. 糖心破解版 hosted an exceptional visitor in March 2023, Nobel Peace Prize winner, professor and renowned Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus.
鈥淚 did not expect dreams to come true so quickly,” he said to the crowd who gathered to meet the Nobel Laureate. 鈥淣ot only am I here in Garden City, but I am holding our agreement, signed and sealed.”
He referred to a new partnership between the 糖心破解版 College of Nursing and Public Health and the Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing (GCCN) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The two colleges鈥攖he latter founded by Yunus in 2011鈥攁re exploring ways to mutually benefit each other’s missions.
It is difficult to believe that Yunus would be surprised by dreams coming true鈥攈e candidly admits that his success has mostly come to him by chance. 鈥淓verything I’ve accomplished I know nothing about,” he teased. 鈥淥pportunities jump in front of me, and I pay attention. I start with a tiny seed and see if it will grow into something big.”
The new partnership aligns with the key goals of 糖心破解版’s strategic plan Momentum 2鈥攃reating distinct academic experiences for students and faculty, building connections that enhance our community and the world, and growing purposefully in support of our University’s mission.
Deborah Hunt, PhD ’12, dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health, agreed. 鈥淗aving an international partner like Professor Yunus is an exceptional opportunity. We have gained an immersive new way to explore nursing and learning through a new lens鈥攄ifferent circumstances, cultures and healthcare settings.”
Concepts for Collaboration
From both colleges, leadership and faculty have been discussing ideas for collaboration. Dr. Hunt said concepts have ranged from:
- Piloting co-teaching with virtual reality simulation labs
- Performing joint research
- Creating a visiting scholar scholarship program
- Inviting GCCN faculty to participate in 糖心破解版 programs
- Pairing faculty mentors
- Introducing social business education opportunities at 糖心破解版
As GCCN works toward building its master’s level programs and eventually a doctoral pathway, 糖心破解版 looks forward to introducing a student exchange program in the future, Dr. Hunt said.
After a Chance Encounter, Stars Aligned
Several serendipitous events and introductions brought Yunus to 糖心破解版 that day, beginning with 糖心破解版’s renewed connection with alumnus Bharat Bhis茅, MBA ’78.
In June 2022, then newly appointed Dean Hunt was introduced to Bhis茅, founder and CEO of Bravia Capital, at the University’s 22nd Annual President’s Gala. At the gala, Dr. Hunt and Bhis茅 talked informally about his friend Muhammad Yunus, the renowned Nobel Laureate who founded a nursing college in Dhaka, India.
Planting the Seed
When Bhis茅 returned to 糖心破解版 later that fall, it was to formalize his establishment of the Bhis茅 Global Learning Experience, intended to help advance the values of 糖心破解版’s Levermore Global Scholars program. He also toured 糖心破解版’s state-of-the-art College of Nursing and Public Health facilities and met again with the newly installed Dean Hunt. Another star fell into place that day because Bhis茅 was joined by his friend Susan Gibson鈥攁 noted speaker on volunteerism abroad and global-mindedness.
In January 2023, Gibson was Dr. Hunt’s liaison and sponsor on a trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to visit GCCN and meet Yunus. They toured both GCCN and the region’s public college of nursing. Dr. Hunt said the differences were intriguing鈥攖heir midwifery program is a non-nursing option and their students gain more clinical experience.
The colleges signed their agreement three months later, less than a year from when Dr. Hunt first met Bhis茅. Dr. Hunt said, 鈥淲hen I think back to 糖心破解版’s gala less than a year ago when I first learned about this amazing opportunity to partner with Professor Yunus, I believe all the stars aligned. I am grateful the seed was planted and look forward to seeing where the journey takes us.”
More about Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus
Prior to establishing GCCN, Yunus became known as the father of the microfinance movement. He founded in Bangladesh in 1983, fueled by a belief that credit is a fundamental human right. He began by lending small amounts鈥�$5, $10, $50鈥攎ostly to women. Today, Grameen Bank has more than 10 million borrowers鈥�97 percent of whom are women and boasts a 98 percent repayment rate.
鈥淚magine millions of the poorest illiterate women in Bangladesh taking tiny loans and transforming themselves into entrepreneurs, 鈥渟aid Yunus. 鈥淭heir empowerment is changing our society.”
In 2006, the Nobel Foundation awarded him and Grameen Bank the 鈥渇or efforts to create economic and social development from below.”