The University of South Wales (USW) has signed agreements with two leading healthcare institutions in South India, marking a major step forward in global research on family resilience.
The Memoranda of Collaboration (MOCs) with Pushpagiri Research Centre in Kerala and Christian Medical College in Vellore will support the development of a culturally adapted version of the Family Resilience Assessment Instrument and Tool (FRAIT), an assessment already used by more than 1,000 health visitors across Wales, reaching 1.8 million families.
Researchers are now working to adapt FRAIT for India, where no comparable family resilience assessment currently exists.
“Family resilience looks very different in a country like India,” explained Anitha Livingstone, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing.
“In India, factors such as education, financial stability, and women’s empowerment emerged as top indicators of resilience, whereas in the UK, those needs are often already met and taken for granted.
“Our aim is to improve family health outcomes in India, and to bring this knowledge back to Wales. By developing an alternative model of healthcare, we can better support Asian families in the UK and train nurses to be more culturally aware.”
Earlier this summer, USW researchers travelled to India to work with community health workers in Kerala and nursing staff in Vellore to explore how family resilience is understood and supported locally.
The partnerships significantly broaden the project’s reach, enabling researchers to explore diverse communities and healthcare systems.
Beyond FRAIT, the collaborations are expected to see wider opportunities for joint research, academic mentoring, and potential student exchanges between India and Wales.
Anitha said:
“These agreements mark a significant milestone in our global research journey. Family resilience is a universal concern, but the way it is supported varies across cultural and healthcare contexts. By working closely with our partners in Kerala and Vellore, we are ensuring that FRAIT is informed by real-world experiences in both India and Wales, strengthening its international impact.”
