Author: Liao Liwen, Su Ya

Photograph: Cao Liang

On December 18th, 2021, after five days of intense and orderly presentations and exchanges, the”2021 Sakura Science Program”- Sino-Japanese Online Exchange Conference, jointly held by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing and the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University and funded by the Japan Science and Technology Promotion Agency, came to a successful conclusion.

The closing ceremony was attended by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing’s Dean Yang Yan, Vice Dean Fang Qiong, faculty representatives including Li Conghong, Wu Yinghui, Wu Jia and Xie Xin, Director of Nursing Department of Shanghai Mental Health Center Shi Zhongying, the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University’s Professor Michiko Yuki, Associate Professor Naoko Miyajima Associate Professor Naomi Sumi, and more than 20 undergraduate and graduate students from China and Japan both online and offline.

The closing ceremony was hosted and interpreted by Su Ya, a young faculty teacher of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, and co-interpreted by Dr. Yunsui of the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University.

After the opening ceremony and themed presentations on November 27th and 28th, 22 undergraduate and graduate students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, the Faculty of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University, and the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University formed 4 groups of online communication and discussion teams. On December 4th and 5th, with Naoko Miyajima, Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University and Su Ya, a young teacher from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, as the hosts, each group leader led their group members formally into communication sessions through ice-breaking and language learning activities. Each group chose or drafted their own discussion topics and had heated exchanges and discussions, sharing the different experiences and ideas of China and Japan in the same field.

After the discussions, group members exchanged email addresses to keep in touch and prepared group presentations for the closing ceremony. At 9:00 a.m. on December 18th, representatives of each group presented and reported the results of their discussions.

The first group’s presentation was entitled “Research Difficulties and Countermeasures Faced by Nursing Graduate Students under the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Reporters from the group, Konya Isei and Dong Ran, using both Chinese and Japanese languages, presented the current situation and dilemmas of research in China and Japan under the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed practical methods and countermeasures.

Presented by Xu Mengqi and Yasuda Kae, the second group’s presentation was entitled “Experiences Learned from COVID-19”. They introduced the impacts of COVID-19 on clinical nursing staff, as well as the experiences and reflections of students from both countries during this short period of time. The content was informative and thought-provoking.

The third group’s presentation was entitled “Report on the Exchange of Nursing Education between China and Japan”. Zheng Yayue introduced the reasons why Chinese and Japanese nursing students chose nursing as their major, their understanding of nursing, how to better study the core courses, what kind of nurses they want to be, and their future career plans. The presentation showed the enthusiasm of Chinese and Japanese students for the nursing profession and their serious learning attitude, which moved the teachers and students.

The fourth group’s presentation was entitled ”Glow up as Nursing Students but also Nursing Scientists”. The reporter Takahashi Taiga used humorous language to explain the difficulties, countermeasures and responsibilities of being a nursing student and a nursing researcher on the research road. Participants of the event expressed their feelings that by watching the presentations done by these shining nursing students, they could foresee that the students would become shining stars in the field of nursing in the future.

After the group presentations, Professor Michiko Yuki, Associate Professor Naoko Miyajima, Dean Yang Yan, Vice Dean Fang Qiong and Director Shi Zhongying encouraged and praised the students for their active communication, discussions and presentations. They believed that the sparks of thinking were generated among students through communication and the well-prepared group presentations fully demonstrated students’ opinions and showed their strength. At the same time, the teachers also expressed their earnest expectations for the students, hoping that the nursing students from China and Japan will shine in their future study and research life and contribute to the development of nursing career.

Next, experts from China and Japan had in-depth exchanges on the future strategic cooperation intentions between the two schools. Yang Yan, Dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing and Professor Yoshiko Yuki of the Graduate School of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University delivered speeches at the closing ceremony.

Dean Yang Yan said, “Though many teachers’ and students’ plans of study overseas were disrupted by the pandemic, we believe that this conference has led students into the lecture halls of famous teachers from famous foreign universities through a combination of online and offline formats and has broadened students’ international horizons. Though this exchange conference didn’t last long, the enthusiasm for discussions did not diminish. Through group exchanges, collaborations and interactions, students of both sides have enriched their learning experience, gained international friendships and appreciated the diversity of cultures. We’ve also witnessed the excellent quality of nursing scholars at home and abroad who work hard and explore actively.” Finally, Dean Yang Yan invited and welcomed the students and faculty from the Department of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University to come to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing to study, exchange and carry out research projects after the pandemic.

Professor Michiko Yuki started by expressing her gratitude to all the teachers and students for their preparations and active participation. She was glad that Japanese and Chinese students could deepen their understanding of the current situation of nursing, nursing education and research in each other’s countries through exchange and discussions. “Learning knowledge and skills in university is the foundation for creating the future of nursing”, said Professor Yuki, and she expressed her hope that everyone would grow and realize their dreams through experiences like this international exchange. She also said that under the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing staff around the world should strengthen international academic exchanges and scientific research cooperation, join hands to overcome the pandemic, and dedicate our strength to protecting the health of mankind.

Lastly, with the coming of 2022, participant students wrote down their new year wishes for their Japanese friends on the Shanghai Jiao Tong University postcards with passion. While mountains and rivers separate us, we enjoy the same moonlight under the same sky. We not only hope that the Japanese nursing students will feel the warmth of words but also hope that the small postcards will become a bond of friendship.

“A strip of water has a long history; Across the sea, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.” The 5-day Sino-Japanese Sakura Science Exchange Conference was successfully concluded with a warm applause.

【Link transfer】Department of Health Sciences of Hokkaido University news report on Sakura Science Conference link: https://www.hs.hokudai.ac.jp/archives/29210/