The international conference "Leadership for Global Health: Advancing Nursing and Health Care Systems", co-hosted by Mahidol University's Faculty of Nursing and the Nurses' Association of Thailand, was held from June 8 to 9 in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The School of Nursing at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), as one of the co-organizing institutions, sent a delegation of faculty and students to attend the event and showcased several academic achievements.

The conference brought together nursing experts and scholars from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and more than 20 leading universities worldwide, with discussions on core topics such as digital transformation, value-based healthcare, nursing workforce development, and elderly healthcare.

The conference, against the backdrop of global digital transformation and population aging, featured four main forums on agile digital transformation, value-based nursing, the economic value of nursing practice, and future-ready nursing workforce. Keynote speakers included Piyamitr Sritara, President of Mahidol University; Afaf Meleis, Dean Emerita of the University of Pennsylvania; and Howard Catton, CEO of ICN.

They analyzed the pivotal role of nursing leadership in transforming global health systems and explored sustainable pathways for integrating technological innovation with compassionate care. A tribute gala dinner was also held alongside the conference to honor pioneers in Thailand's nursing education and policy landscape, providing a platform for in-depth exchanges among nursing scholars from multiple countries.

Associate Professor Tian Chong from the School of Nursing led a team to deliver keynote speeches, participate in parallel forums, and attend various academic activities, engaging with scholars from various countries on topics including discipline development, talent cultivation, and clinical research collaboration. The delegation also studied the advanced experiences of Southeast Asian and Western universities in internationalized nursing talent training, evidence-based clinical innovation, and digital nursing education, helping the school gather resources for international academic cooperation, research, and overseas exchange programs.

The delegation also shared their academic achievements through oral presentations and poster displays, covering cutting-edge fields such as chronic disease care, elderly health management, nursing health economics, and nursing education innovation, with their work garnering considerable attention and feedback from participants.

Students from the School of Nursing introduced their international peers to the current state of nursing research in China and the unique strengths of HUST's nursing discipline, while learning from advanced research paradigms and innovative care models abroad. This bidirectional exchange fostered research ideas and broadened their perspectives on academic studies.

The students shared that they gained firsthand insights into directions of the global nursing industry and developed a deeper understanding of the vital roles that topics such as leadership, digital health, and equitable healthcare play in global health systems. Engaging in face-to-face discussions with experts from top international institutions and presenting their work alongside them not only tested their own research foundations but also helped them realize areas for growth in international academic thinking, interdisciplinary research, and English-language research output.

This overseas exchange marked an important step in advancing the internationalization of the nursing discipline and in cultivating high-level, multidisciplinary nursing talent. The School of Nursing encourages its faculty and students to step beyond national borders, providing platforms to showcase achievements and engage in international dialogue. It will guide participants in consolidating their learning from the conference, integrating cutting-edge global nursing concepts and advanced research methods into their academic research and coursework.

Source: School of Nursing, HUST