The Nursing Student Exchange Twixt (N.E.X.T.) 3.0 has emerged as a key platform for nursing students from Malaysia and Thailand to amplify their voices on youth mental health at a global level.
Jointly organised by Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) and Mahidol University, Thailand’s top-ranked institution in health sciences, the programme was held in a hybrid format from 15 to 26 September 2025.
Centred on the theme “Mental Health and Inequality: How Global Health Demands Affect Thai Youth”, the exchange gathered 20 students from both universities, fostering collaboration, cultural understanding, and knowledge-sharing.
The programme featured academic lectures, cultural exchange activities, and community engagement sessions that encouraged students to explore how globalisation shapes healthcare priorities critically.
This is particularly the balance between medical tourism and funding for local mental health services.
Through discussions, fieldwork, and reflective learning, participants broadened their perspectives on mental health disparities and the vital role nurses play in bridging healthcare gaps.
Beyond academic collaboration, N.E.X.T. 3.0 also advanced the Nursing Student Society’s (NSS) CSR mission, emphasising the values of volunteerism, cultural empathy, and cross-border cooperation in preparing globally minded nursing professionals.
