On the morning of September 26, the Global Nursing Discipline Strategic Development Forum, a key event of the 6th West China International Nursing Conference, was successfully held under the theme “Intelligent Nursing, Interdisciplinary Integration, Empowering Health.” The forum brought together leading experts and scholars from more than 400 nursing and medical institutions across over 10 countries—including the UK, the US, Australia, Singapore, Finland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Kenya, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Rwanda, and Pakistan—along with participants from China’s Hong Kong and Macao SARs, creating a vibrant platform for global academic exchange and collaboration.
Professor Cheng Yongzhong, Party Secretary of West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital of Sichuan University, extended a warm welcome to the guests and delegates attending the conference. He emphasized that West China School of Nursing will continue to advance both theoretical and practical research in values-based nursing education with Chinese characteristics, further strengthen the foundation of values-driven training, and establish a national-level research base integrating nursing with the humanities and social sciences. He highlighted the need to harness the strengths of integrated nursing and interdisciplinary collaboration, jointly build international research centers to attract top global talent, and promote scientific cooperation. Professor Cheng also underscored the importance of following the disciplinary development path of “Direction–Platform–Talent–Project–Outcome” to create high-level national research platforms, while deepening collaboration with world-class nursing institutions to cultivate outstanding professionals—delivering high-quality healthcare services to safeguard public health and wellbeing.
Professor Lei Chaozi, Former Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Informatization of the Ministry of Education and Executive Vice President of the China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association, extended his warm congratulations on the successful convening of the conference. He highlighted that, from the perspective of national strategy, technological innovation and industry–university–research collaboration are pivotal to advancing the nursing discipline. He expressed his hope that West China School of Nursing of Sichuan University, together with other academic nursing teams, would focus on three key priorities: first, strengthening collaboration with research institutions and enterprises to transform frontline clinical health needs into scientific innovation projects and bring them to practical application; second, leveraging technological innovation to promote the discipline’s intelligent and digital transformation; and third, enhancing the efficiency of nursing education through virtual simulation technologies. These efforts, he stressed, would consolidate the discipline’s foundation, improve the quality of nursing care, enhance international competitiveness, and contribute to the realization of the Healthy China initiative.
Professor Shang Shaomei, Convener of the National Committee for Graduate Education in Nursing under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and Chairperson of the Nursing Teaching Guidance Committee of the Ministry of Education, emphasized in her address that the West China International Nursing Conference has become a high-level platform for dialogue with significant global influence—promoting academic exchange through openness and driving the advancement of the discipline through innovation. She highlighted that nursing, as a core field directly shaping the quality of life and health outcomes, is undergoing a profound transformation: moving from traditional to modern practices, from singular to integrated approaches, and from local perspectives to global horizons. To address these challenges, she underscored the importance of breaking down disciplinary barriers and building an innovative, health-centered service system rooted in multidisciplinary collaboration—guided by wisdom to advance progress, powered by integration to spark innovation, and united by a mission to improve health for all. She concluded with a call for colleagues around the world to work together to create a brighter future for global nursing.
Professor Xu Weilin, Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and Executive Vice Chair of the University Council of Sichuan University, fully recognized the remarkable achievements of Sichuan University’s nursing discipline. He highlighted that the discipline has consistently pursued first-class development strategies and strengthened the “three-in-one” talent cultivation model. It has taken the lead in China in advancing ERAS nursing and establishing a tiered elderly care system, demonstrating the university’s concrete commitment to national development goals. Looking ahead, he emphasized that every faculty member and student should embrace their responsibilities, promote interdisciplinary integration, nurture top-tier innovative talent, generate impactful scientific and technological outcomes, and actively contribute to safeguarding public health while building a global community of health for all.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Li Ka, Dean of West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University.
Signing Ceremony for the Sichuan University–National University of Singapore Joint Nursing Master’s Program
Dean Li Ka of West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, and Director Liaw Sok Ying of the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, officially signed the agreement for the Joint Master’s Program in Nursing between Sichuan University and NUS.
Appointment Ceremony for Visiting Professors of West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University
Professor Cheng Yongzhong, Party Secretary of West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital of Sichuan University, presented the appointment certificates of visiting professor to Professor Chien Wai Tong, Dean of the Nethersole School of Nursing at The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Associate Professor Wladyslawa Czuber-Dochan from the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King's College London; Professor Chia-Chin Lin, Dean of the School of Nursing at The University of Hong Kong; presented the appointment certificate of consulting expert to Associate Professor Li Kefeng from Artificial Intelligence Drug Discovery Center of Macao Polytechnic University.
Professor Shen Wenwu, Deputy Party Secretary of West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital of Sichuan University, presided over the Signing Ceremony for the Sichuan University - National University of Singapore Joint Nursing Master's Program, and the Appointment Ceremony for Visiting Professors of West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University.
Global Nursing Discipline Strategic Development Forum
《Exloations in Interdisciplinary Construction and Evaluation》
Professor Lin MengQuan
Vice Chairman of the Evaluation Committee, China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Association
《Empowering Nurses For Global Wellness》
Professor Azita Emami
Dean of Yale School of Nursing, USA
《Humanizing Nursing Education: Innovation, Integration, and Global Collaboration for Empowering Health》
Professor Balakrishnan M Acharya
Dean, School of Medicine, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepa
Moderators:
Professor Phillip Della, Emeritus Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Australia
Professor Liu Huaping, Former Dean, School of Nursing, Peking Union Medical College
《Adhering to the laws of disciplinary evolution to achieve a leap in the nursing discipline》
Professor Wu Ying
Convenor of the Nursing Discipline Evaluation Panel, Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council; Dean, School of Clinical Nursing, Capital Medical Universit
《Evidence-Based Health Technology Innovations in Healthcare:Some Critical Thoughts》
Professor Maritta Anneli Välimäki
School of Public Health, University of Helsinki,Finlan
《The New Realities for Research and why change is necessary》
Professor Wladyslawa Czuber-Dochan
Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, UK
《Fundamentals and Clinical Research in Nursing for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery》
Professor Li Ka
Dean,West China School of Nursing, Sichuan Universit
Moderators:
Professor An Libin, Former Dean, School of Nursing, Dalian University
Professor Ruben Martin Payo, Director, the Medicine Department, University of Oviedo, Spain
The participating experts and scholars actively shared their insights on the strategic development of the global nursing discipline, demonstrating interdisciplinary and international perspectives, innovative thinking, and collaborative spirit, while collectively contributing their expertise to the advancement of global nursing and healthcare.
