Health-Related Master’s Programme Students Participate in “The Choice” Life and Death Education Board Game Experience

The School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University invited students from health-related master’s programmes to participate in a unique board game experience, “The Choice,” on 16 and 19 September 2025. Organised by the Pok Oi Hospital Life and Death Education Network, established in 2017, this event brought together community organisations dedicated to promoting life and death education. The network fosters a collaborative medical-community platform with the theme “Cherish Life, Face Death” to advance life and death education in hospitals and communities.

The event aimed to unite students from various health-related master’s programmes to explore how board games can serve as an innovative tool to enhance the quality of education in society. Through role-playing and scenario-based decision-making, participants engaged in deep discussions about life and death, reflecting on the value and meaning of life. The activity not only encouraged interaction among students but also provided profound insights into life and death education.

Ms Serene Yin Ziqi, a student from the Master of Smart Ageing and Gerontology (SAG) programme, shared “I’m absolutely delighted to have taken part in this board game experience—it’s far from a typical board game and truly remarkable! As a participant, the game’s unique role-playing format enabled us to collectively explore life and death issues, teaching me to embrace life and confront death directly. The experience reminded me of a quote: ‘Death is not the end of life; being forgotten is.’ As a gerontology student, this experience underscored the importance of preparing for an ageing society. For instance, life and death education requires deeper conversations among family members, and by integrating smart technology with empathetic discussions, we can create more dignified and resilient lives for the elderly.”

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have participated in this ‘The Choice’ board game activity—a truly unforgettable and thought-provoking ‘life and death experience.’ Each role-playing scenario required multiple decisions, ranging from significant choices like whether to forgo treatment to smaller ones like whether to care for a friend’s potted plant. I highly recommend this game to others, even to experience with family and friends. Death isn’t something to be avoided; it’s something we can ‘rehearse’ in advance,” Ms Vivi Zhou Ying, a student from the Master of Health Analytics and Management (HAM) programme, said.

The board game experience provided health-related master’s programme students with a meaningful platform to reflect on life and death while highlighting the innovative potential of board games as an educational tool. The Lingnan team hopes to contribute to the promotion of life and death education, offering students an unforgettable learning opportunity through this impactful event.