Development of the South-East Forum on Nursing Science (SEAFONS)

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• International Cooperation
• Higher Education in Asia

Background:

• The demand for advanced nursing education is increasing globally.
• Regional collaboration can enhance the quality and accessibility of doctoral nursing programs.
• Asia presents a unique landscape for developing cooperative doctoral initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of regional cooperation in doctoral programs in Asia.
• To identify specific doctoral programs fostering international collaboration in nursing.
• To underscore the necessity of doctoral nursing education within the Asian context.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of regional cooperation initiatives.
• Identification and listing of doctoral programs in participating Asian countries.
• Literature review on the need for advanced nursing education.

Main Results:

• Regional cooperation in doctoral programs is emerging across several Asian nations.
• Specific programs are fostering collaboration in South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Taiwan.
• A clear need for expanded doctoral nursing education in the region has been identified.

Conclusions:

• Developing regional cooperation is crucial for advancing doctoral nursing education in Asia.
• Collaborative programs can address the growing need for specialized nursing leadership and research.
• Further development of these initiatives is recommended to strengthen nursing scholarship across Asia.