Mangaluru: Reinforcing its commitment to holistic nursing education, interdisciplinary learning, and community-oriented healthcare, Father Muller School & College of Nursing (FMCON), under the aegis of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI), signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Ave Maria Hospice – A Centre for Palliative Care, Vamanjoor, and Roshni Nilaya – School of Social Work on August 5 and August 7, 2026, respectively.

The collaborations aim to promote academic excellence, collaborative research, interdisciplinary education, faculty and student exchange, community outreach programmes, and initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Partnership to strengthen palliative care education

The first MoU was signed with Ave Maria Hospice – A Centre for Palliative Care, Vamanjoor, represented by Dr. Lavina Noronha, Founder and Director of the hospice.

Expressing gratitude to Father Muller Charitable Institutions, Dr. Lavina Noronha described the collaboration as “the need of the hour,” emphasising that palliative care extends beyond medical treatment to compassionate, patient-centred care that preserves the dignity and quality of life of individuals with life-limiting illnesses.

She said the partnership would enhance nursing education through improved clinical exposure, research opportunities, and community-based palliative care services, while preparing future nurses to deliver holistic and compassionate end-of-life care.

Ave Maria Hospice is one of the pioneering palliative and hospice care centres in Coastal Karnataka, providing comprehensive medical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual support to patients and their families. Guided by the philosophy of preserving the “dignity of life and dignity of death,” the institution has become a source of hope for families dealing with terminal and chronic illnesses.

Dr. Lavina Noronha, an accomplished palliative care physician and academician, has been actively involved in advancing palliative medicine through clinical practice, education, training, and community outreach. She was accompanied by Ms. Cenita, Social Worker at Ave Maria Hospice, during the signing ceremony.

Collaboration with Roshni Nilaya for counselling and social work

On August 7, FMCON signed its second MoU with Roshni Nilaya – School of Social Work, represented by Dr. Saritha D’Souza, IQAC Coordinator and Head of the Department of Criminology and Forensic Science.

Dr. Saritha D’Souza welcomed the collaboration and expressed confidence that it would foster interdisciplinary learning, collaborative research, counselling services, faculty exchange, and community engagement programmes that would benefit both institutions.

She was accompanied by Dr. Rosa Nimmy Mathew, IQAC Co-Coordinator and Head of the Department of M.Sc. Counselling, who highlighted the scope for collaboration in counselling education, adolescent and child counselling, psychotherapy, mental health promotion, and psychological first aid.

Established in 1960, Roshni Nilaya is one of India’s pioneering institutions for professional social work education. Managed by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, the institution has made significant contributions in community health, women’s empowerment, child welfare, disability services, mental health, rural development, environmental sustainability, and social justice through research, extension activities, and community outreach.

Shared vision of dignity and compassionate care

Presiding over both MoU signing ceremonies, Rev. Fr. Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions, reflected on the importance of institutional collaborations in advancing healthcare and education.

Speaking during the MoU signing with Ave Maria Hospice, he observed that while Father Muller Medical College Hospital strives to improve the quality of patients’ lives, Ave Maria Hospice is dedicated to preserving dignity during the final stages of life.

“The common thread is the dignity of every human person,” he said, adding that healthcare is not merely about curing disease but about enabling people to live with hope, compassion, joy, and harmony.

During the signing with Roshni Nilaya, Fr. Faustine highlighted the rich legacy of both institutions, noting that Father Muller Charitable Institutions, with 146 years of service, and Roshni Nilaya, with over six decades of excellence, have played pioneering roles in healthcare and social work education in the region.

Recalling his own association with Roshni Nilaya through CODP, Mangaluru, spanning more than three decades, he emphasised that networking and collaboration remain the foundation of successful partnerships, ultimately benefiting society through improved education, counselling, healthcare, and community service.

Expanding collaborative academic network

The latest partnerships further strengthen FMCON’s growing network of academic collaborations. During the past month, the institution signed strategic MoUs with St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Yenepoya (Deemed-to-be University), and Avishkar Yoga & Holistic Health Centre.

With the addition of Ave Maria Hospice and Roshni Nilaya, Father Muller College of Nursing continues to expand opportunities in interdisciplinary education, evidence-based practice, faculty development, student exchange, research, and community outreach.

Present during the signing ceremonies were Sr. Dr. Dhanya Devasia, Principal; Dr. Agnes E. J., Vice Principal; Dr. Shycil Mathew, Professor, Community Health Nursing; Prof. Ashwin Bromeo J., Professor and Head, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing; Mrs. Charitha Clavia Lewis, Lecturer, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing; and the Heads of various Nursing Departments.

The institution reaffirmed that these collaborations reflect its enduring motto, “Heal & Comfort,” while advancing holistic healthcare education and contributing towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.