Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) and Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) signed a Collaboration Agreement in the field of Nursing on 8 June at Peking University. 

The agreement signing ceremony and the “Peking University Health Science Center — Macao Polytechnic Institute Nursing Academy” Project launch ceremony was held and officiated by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR, Ao Ieong U; President of Peking University, Hao Ping; Ministry of Education Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office Executive Deputy Director and the First-Level Inspector, Xu Yongji; Deputy Director of the International Department of the National Health Commission and the First-Level Inspector, He Zhaohua; Head of the Social Work Division under the Department of Exchange and Cooperation of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HMO) of the State Council and Second-Level Inspector, You Yuan; Head of Beijing Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR,  Feng Xiwen; The Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ho Ioc San; President of Macao Polytechnic Institute, Im Sio Kei; Executive Vice-President of Peking University and Director of Peking University Health Science Center, Qiao Jie.

Hao Ping met with Ao Ieong U, Im Sio Kei and the delegates to share views on teaching and research collaboration between Peking University (PKU) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hao Ping expressed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plays a leading role in supporting the economic development and opening up of the country. PKU will deepen the collaboration and exchange with Macao in higher education, and enhance the level of co-cultivating talents between the Mainland and Macao. It will thoroughly implement the work to meet the aspirations of the Central Government towards Macao; and fulfill the social responsibility of PKU by closely working with MPI to foster leaders with international standards in the field of nursing in order to satisfy the strategic needs of the country. Ao Ieong U indicated that the Macao SAR government has optimized the medical and health care system of the city continuously; and strengthened the nurturing of nursing practitioners in order to meet the needs of medical and health care services, with the aim to enhance the service standard incessantly. PKU is a high-ranked university in the country, and the collaboration between PKU and MPI will surely reinforce the standards of teaching and research in the field of nursing in Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

At the agreement signing ceremony, Qiao Jie expressed in her speech that Peking University’s school running philosophy has always been oriented towards the needs of the country and social benefits of the people ever since its establishment. PKUHSC fosters high standard medical professions with the aim to protect the life and health of the people.  As an outstanding high education institute, MPI has made an extensive contribution to the nursing and health care service in Macao by cultivating a great number of nursing professionals.  The School of Nursing of PKU has always been in the leading position in the field of nursing education in the Mainland. Comprising teaching, research and clinical practice, the school is equipped with academic layout and strong teaching and research capabilities to support and facilitate MPI to strengthen its development in nursing.  Both PKU and MPI will work together to advance the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and to contribute to the development of nursing in Macao, to hold up the “Chinese Dream” with the “Health Dream”.

Im Sio Kei mentioned in his speech that the collaboration between MPI and PKUHSC is an important initiative of MPI to thoroughly implement the “Outline of the Development Plan of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area”, to shape a healthy Bay Area and build a highland of education and talents.  The partnership will be beneficial for both parties by making full use of their respective advantages, promoting complementary strengths, and cultivating international high standard nursing leaders. It also co-facilitates the development of teaching and research in the field of nursing in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and the Greater Bay Area, so as to provide holistic, safe and quality nursing services to the residents of the area.  Moreover, it will contribute to the shaping of a healthy Bay Area, and help the construction of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, the Greater Bay Area and the area along “The Belt and Road Initiative”.  MPI and PKUHSC have joined hands to create a new phase for the development of the 14th Five-Year Plan in the areas of nurturing nursing professions, research in nursing, reform and innovation.

He Zhaohua stated in his speech that the shortage of nursing talents is a common challenge we are facing, and the new Covid-19 pneumonia epidemic has made us realize that quality nursing practitioners in multi-level are urgently needed to build a healthy China.  The collaboration between PKUHSC and MPI has marked a good start. Expectantly both parties will give full play to their professionalism, work together to utilize the strengths of PKU to create a high standard, internationalized nursing program with regional influence, so as to reserve more quality nursing talents for the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong, and play a leading role in the optimization of the teaching program in nursing in both places.

Xu Yongji expressed in his speech that this cooperative project in nursing fully demonstrates the uniqueness of “one country, two systems”. Macao’s higher education shares an important part of the higher education of the country; thus the Ministry of Education firmly supports the development of Macao’s higher education and the exchange and cooperation between the Mainland and Macao in the field of education. The project on advancing nursing in Macao marks a new phase of development in the field. The program should have moral education as its primary goal and the cultivation of quality nursing talents as its principal standard.  Moreover, it should be able to create win-win cooperation under the frame of law, and set an example with innovative ideas. Overall, it should demonstrate the mission and commitment to serve the development of the society, to facilitate the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the comprehensive development of the country.

You Yuan mentioned in his speech that exchanges and cooperation between Macao and the Mainland are more frequent; the collaborative areas are continuously expanding and elevating to a higher level. For instance, both sides are unceasingly promoting the exchanges and cooperation in the area of social and cultural affairs, including economy and trade, education, health care and so forth. PKUHSC, with a hundred years of history, possesses a prestigious reputation in the Mainland. While MPI is relatively young in comparison to PKUHSC, it demonstrates a strong ability in teaching and research in the field of nursing. Through the “Nursing Academy” Project, both places will actively promote and explore the convergence of higher education systems and regulations in order to reach cooperation at a higher level. 

After the agreement signing ceremony,  Ao Ieong U, Hao Ping, Im Sio Kei and Qiao Jie jointly unveiled the plaque, announcing the official launch of the “Peking University Health Science Center — Macao Polytechnic Institute Nursing Academy” project.

According to the agreement, MPI and PKUHSC will co-organize a Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Nursing with a teaching team formed by two parties.  Students will practice their internship in both Macao and Beijing, and graduates will be awarded a Bachelor’s Degree from MPI. 

The event was also attended by leaders from the Ministry of Education, the National Health Commission, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR, and the Macao SAR Government; as well as leaders from the Macao Polytechnic Institute, Peking University, the Director of the Nursing Department of the Hospital of Peking University, and representatives from the faculty and students of the School of Nursing.