An important learning activity relates to scientific integrity issues. These are issues related to ethical considerations in research, such as protection of human and animal subjects, how to allocate authorship credit fairly, managing data in such a way as to avoid distortions in results, collaboration in team research, how to avoid conflicts of interest, and the like. We have found that most international scholars are not familiar with the area of scientific integrity and they greatly value the opportunity to learn about these newer trends and issues. Opportunities for collegial learning . Once a month all postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars meet in a seminar format to discuss a topic of choice.
Fellows present their research, with topics chosen for their general relevance to all the members.
Methodological topics appear to be of great interest as these enable group members to learn from the experience of others, and thus expand their understanding of different research approaches. Special analytic techniques being used in a research project might be presented by a member so that others can be exposed to it and learn the circumstances and research problems for which the technique has proven useful. These monthly sessions also enable the development of team spirit and shared fellowship that provide important support to members as they deal with difficult issues. In some instances visiting scholars are doctoral students in other countries who wish to obtain supervised experience in their area of research during the formative stage of their doctoral study, or in some cases, to conduct their dissertation research on our campus with one of our faculty members. Contribution to International Cooperation Conducted over a number of years these experiences with international visiting scholars have shown us the mutuality of benefits that can be attained to both the visitors, their institutions and countries, as well as our School of Nursing and its faculty.