Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) held the ‘Spirit of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Hat and Cap Conferment and Pinning Ceremony’ in the morning of 2nd May 2025, aiming at combining the development of the country and the education of the nursing profession, and to strengthen the students' sense of patriotism, professional mission, and sense of social responsibility.
 
The event started with a solemn flag-raising ceremony, in which all teachers and students stood in solemn salute to the national flag under the Chair of the College Council, Lau Veng Seng. Ho King Lun, Macao Deputy to the National People's Congress and Vice-Chair of the College Council of KWNC, and Wong Kit Cheng, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Macao and member of the College Council of KWNC, were the keynote speakers, explaining the core spirit of the National People's Congress and the major policies and deployments of the country in an in-depth manner, and sharing their personal experience of the Congress, and urging the students to seize the opportunities of the times, integrate their personal growth into the overall situation of the country's development, and make contributions to the development of the healthcare industry in Macao and the country.
 
As an important annual tradition of the College, the conferment and pinning ceremony is of great significance to the nursing students. During the ceremony, senior nursing experts and educators bestowed white caps and candles symbolising the spirit of Nightingale on the third year undergraduate nursing students, signifying that the spirit of the nursing profession will continue to be passed on to the next generation, and inspiring them to uphold the profession and care for life in their future studies. Council members, representatives of the Alumni Association and teachers of the College then awarded the fourth year students with the College lapel pins, signifying the completion of their studies and wishing them to integrate their theoretical knowledge with practical skills, so that they can put their knowledge to good use in their clinical positions in the future.
 
In her speech, President of KWNC, Van Iat Kio, echoed the theme of the International Nurses' Day 2025 - “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies”. She pointed out that as the global nursing manpower gap continues to widen, Macao is also facing the challenge of inadequate supply of professional nursing manpower. She emphasised that the nursing profession is not only the cornerstone of health care for all, but also a key force for sustainable socio-economic development. Caring for nurses and healthcare manpower are crucial to strengthening economic resilience, providing caring and quality care, optimising the healthcare system and ensuring sustainable health of the community.
 
At the ceremony, student representatives shared their learning experience. Lei Wai Hing, a Year 3 student, recalled the profound experience of witnessing a life and death in a hospice centre and the birth of a new baby in a maternity unit, which made her realise the importance of safe and careful nursing care and the value of empathic communication with patients. Year 4 student Luk Hiu Ying shared her unforgettable internship experience in the Department of Immunology at the Peking Union Medical College. She described how she took care of a critically ill patient who had just completed a double lower limb amputation surgery and witnessed the process of his gradual recovery from a serious condition, and when the patient expressed his gratitude to her, the sense of achievement helped her to regain the original intention of choosing the nursing profession. In their speeches, the two students firmly indicated that they would uphold the original intention of the nursing profession, and protect lives and spread warmth with professionalism and kindness.