Senior education programs have been in rapid development across China over recent years, to enrich the lives of retired people and support their pursuit of active and meaningful lives.
The latest official data show that by the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for roughly 22 percent of its total population.
Heading back to school for further study and cultural enrichment is becoming a choice of many Chinese senior citizens.
The establishment of the Seniors University of China (SUC) for the aged is a concrete measure to address population aging in China and an important milestone in the reform and development of education for the elderly.
The university provides students with skills training, cultural inheritance education, social services, scientific research and international exchanges, and offers both online and offline teaching activities for the elderly nationwide.
At one of its campuses in Beijing's Haidian District, to enhance the quality and social impact of courses, renowned experts from various fields have been invited to give lectures on such subjects as health and wellness, music, and dance.
"I find the course very interesting. I have always been into it and really want to study it systematically. It's great that the university for the elderly has invited professional teachers for us. And we truly cherish it." said Ai Qi, an older adult student attending a music class.
To better meet the learning needs of these older adult students, the college directly affiliated to the SUC has opened a total of 127 classes during this spring semester, which is an increase of more than 60 from the same period of last year.
"One of our goal is to increase the spots in classes for more people to enroll, which is to increase the quantity. Additionally, we aim to offer specialized courses such as proactive health courses, traditional cultural courses, digital literacy courses, and skill enhancement courses," said Liu Caimei, dean of the college directly affiliated to the SUC.
During the spring semester, the SUC's Hainan campus in south China has added 11 new classes and introduced numerous courses on techniques for intangible cultural heritage, allowing the students to experience the charm of traditional culture.
The university's campus in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province, with a building area of nearly 50,000 square meters, officially opened in September last year. With over 70 multi-functional classrooms, it can accommodate up to 3,000 students for classes simultaneously.
Senior education programs in rapid development across China
