The initiative follows work with the Christian Health Association in Malawi (CHAM), which has been instrumental in supporting health professionals' training and service delivery in Malawi. The country, where life expectancy for its 13 million population is 48 years for both men and women (United Nations 2008), faces particular challenges in tackling aids, malaria and maternal health. The infant mortality rate is 72 per 1000 live births and maternal mortality of 122 per 100,000 live births. Malawi has 4,450 nurses - one to every 3,000 people, with 50 percent of its health facilities having less than 1.5 nursing staff; and the Malawi government is working with organisations such as CHAM to increase the number of trained nurses.

Dr Lucy O'Driscoll, who has led the work for UEA and is course director for the Masters in Clinical Education, explained, "Following their training at UEA, the tutor nurses will play a key role in developing Malawi's nursing education and training infrastructure; applying best education practice to the country's diploma, degree and, in the longer term, masters courses. This is a really exciting and positive programme which has the the potential to be a model for other developing countries. What will be particularly interesting for us will be our research into the outcomes of the course, both in terms of enhancing nursing training in a developing country and, of course, assessing the impact a robust training infrastructure that has on the ground in Malawi, in particular combating aids, malaria and maternal health."

The first student, Shouts Simeza, has already arrived at the UEA, "piloting" the course for his colleagues when it begins in 2010.