From Recreation to Empowerment the Transformation of Elderly Education in Chinese Universities
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Abstract
With the accelerating trend of global population aging, elderly education is undergoing a profound transformation from recreation-oriented models to empowerment-oriented approaches. Recreational elderly education primarily aims to meet spiritual and cultural needs, focusing on leisure and aesthetic experiences. In contrast, empowerment-oriented elderly education emphasizes enhancing social participation capabilities, digital literacy, and health management skills, highlighting the practical and societal value of learning. This study takes elderly education in Chinese universities as the focal point and draws on the digital education and multi-stakeholder collaboration experiences of the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Korea. Using comparative analysis and case studies, it systematically examines the differences, driving forces, and challenges between recreational and empowerment-oriented education. The findings reveal that while significant progress has been made in curriculum innovation, digital infrastructure, and teacher development, challenges remain, including regional disparities, insufficient professional faculty, and low digital inclusion. Policy recommendations include curriculum empowerment, intelligent teaching models, diversified resource supply, and the establishment of an integrated education+elderly care ecosystem.
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References
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