Acquisition of academic resources and enhancement of research ability are the core tasks of Master of in Nursing students in their academic career. In order to broaden their academic horizons, experience the multicultural atmosphere and stimulate their innovative thinking, Van Iat Kio, President of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Professor Zhu Mingxia, MN Programme Leader, and Assistant Professor Lee Wai Yin, Executive Officer of Nursing & Health Study Centre, carefully organised a visit to the Library of the University of Macau for the Master of Nursing students to have a unique study activity.
 
As the largest and richest library in Macao, the UM Wu Yee Sun Library has a collection of more than 17.9 million volumes/items. During this activity, Wang Guoqiang, Vice-Director and Leong Tak Hoi, Assistant Director of UM Library warmly received the students and teachers and introduced the rich collection of the library in detail. Leong led the students and teachers to appreciate the handwritten calligraphic works of renowned scholars such as Master Hsing Yun, which not only demonstrated the profound cultural heritage but also the unique charm of art. The authentic copy of the ‘Zizhi tongjian’ was stored in a large safe, while its imitations were displayed in a showcase for teachers and students to study and research in close proximity.
 
The visit was not only an academic journey, but also an experience of interdisciplinary knowledge integration. Through the research activities, the master students were able to get in touch with different fields of knowledge and realise cross-disciplinary inspiration. For example, in the biomedical engineering related studies, students not only gained an in-depth understanding of cutting-edge advances in biomedical sciences, but also learnt about the application of engineering and physics, which provided them with new ideas for solving practical problems. Students are also exposed to a wide range of perspectives and research methods, which effectively develops their critical thinking and innovation skills. Through analysing and comparing different perspectives, they learnt to question and reflect, avoiding blind obedience, and gradually developing an independent mode of thinking. Taking the preservation of historical and cultural heritage as an example, the students thought about how to preserve and protect cultural heritage in modern society from different perspectives, broke the constraints of traditional thinking, and proposed innovative preservation strategies.
 
Leong Tak Hoi, Assistant Director of the University of Macau Library, said, ‘We warmly welcome postgraduate students from universities and colleges around the world to visit and exchange with us. The University of Macau Library is not only a treasure trove of academic resources, but also a platform for promoting academic research and cultural integration. We hope to promote academic advancement and cross-cultural understanding through such activities.’
Master student Ma Wande shared, ‘As a Mainland student, I deeply feel the unique cultural charm of Macao. The library not only collects a large amount of literature on Macao's history and culture, but also presents the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures through exhibitions. The leather covers and exquisite patterns of the old books in the collection are breathtaking, which are not only carriers of knowledge, but also crystals of art and craftsmanship. This visit has stimulated my interest in the study of Macao's history and culture.’
Another student, Lai Xinyu, said, ‘This activity made me realise the value of cross-cultural exchange. The interaction with the librarians and other participants not only brought valuable academic resources, but also helped me to establish new academic connections, laying the foundation for future collaborative research. I am grateful to the university for providing me with this opportunity to broaden my horizons and knowledge. This experience has enriched my knowledge base and ignited my passion for academic research.’
 
The study tour not only broadened the students' academic horizons, but also inspired them to continue to work on their academic path. In this new era, Master of in Nursing students need to master the skills of literature searching and make full use of library resources to enhance their professional knowledge and skills in order to provide better services to patients. the UM Wu Yee Sun Library, with its rich resources and open attitude, has built a bridge between academia and culture for the teachers and students of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau.