From 26 May to 15 June 2024, a group of ten undergraduate students from The University of Hong Kong's School of Nursing engaged in a three-week exchange programme at our school. During their stay, the students visited several healthcare institutions and teaching practice bases, including Zhongshan Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Huadong Hospital, the Public Health Clinical Center, Elderly Care Base, and Shanghai Qixiang Children’s Development Center. These visits allowed the students to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Fudan University and experience firsthand the distinctive academic tradition of the Fudan University School of Nursing, which has educated nurses for over a century.

At the Putuo District Party-Member Service Centre, the students collaborated with children with autism to make coffee. Despite facing social interaction challenges, the children demonstrated remarkable focus and skill in coffee making.

At the Shanghai Qixiang Children’s Development Center, the students sewed special "Children’s Day Gifts" – sun hats – for children with special needs, while also gaining an in-depth understanding of their auditory and sensory rehabilitation programmes.

Accompanied by volunteers, the HKU students visited various medical service institutions and teaching practice bases within the Fudan network. These visits enabled them to gain a deep understanding of Shanghai’s healthcare system, experiencing the distinct qualities and features of medical services in Shanghai from multiple perspectives.

Coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival, the students gathered to create lacquered fans, an intangible cultural heritage craft. This hands-on activity allowed them to unleash their imagination and creativity, producing exquisite works of art and experiencing the beauty of Chinese traditional aesthetics, sparking an interest in Chinese artistic heritage.

On 14 June, the three-week exchange programme with The University of Hong Kong's School of Nursing concluded successfully. At the closing ceremony, the HKU students openly shared their experiences and insights from their valuable time at Fudan. They engaged in lively discussions comparing the undergraduate nursing education programmes of the two institutions. Associate Dean Zhao Ying of Fudan University’s School of Nursing awarded each student a certificate of completion, encouraging them to cultivate virtue, pursue knowledge, integrate theory with practice, seek truth and innovation, and embody openness and inclusiveness, contributing their youthful wisdom and strength to building a shared future for humanity.

The exchange programme between Fudan University and The University of Hong Kong not only facilitated complementary strengths in nursing education resources between Shanghai and Hong Kong but also fostered integration and exchange in nursing culture, providing a broader platform for experiential learning and communication for young students from both regions. Looking ahead, both schools aim to pursue in-depth and diverse cooperation and exchange in talent cultivation, academic research, and innovative practice. Together, they hope to develop new models and approaches for future international summer exchange programmes, bringing new insights and momentum to high-quality development in nursing education and talent cultivation across both regions.