In China, as the aging of society deepens, the demand for educational resources among the elderly population is rapidly growing. On the one hand, universities are organizations with abundant educational resources, including various disciplines and maj...
In China, as the aging of society deepens, the demand for educational resources among the elderly population is rapidly growing. On the one hand, universities are organizations with abundant educational resources, including various disciplines and majors, as well as excellent faculty and educational facilities. Utilizing these resources can provide the necessary resources for elderly education.
Recently, the Shanghai University for the Aged in China has shown significant development based on the educational resources of general universities. However, as the elderly population increases, various problems have emerged. Therefore, this study, based on the Resource Dependence Theory, aims to identify the resource shortages in modern Shanghai Universities for the Aged and explore pathways for development. The goal is to promote the development of universities for the aged.
This study reviewed the development process of Shanghai Universities for the Aged through prior research. From 1982 to 1992, it was the initial stage of gathering resources and establishing universities for the aged. From 1993 to 2000, it was the stage of integrating universities for the aged with educational resources. From 2001 to the present, universities for the aged have entered a stage of deepening and expansion.
Next, this study conducted surveys and interviews to analyze the current status and problems of university-based universities for the aged from two perspectives. First, from the perspective of managers, it examined aspects such as management, curriculum, faculty, funding, administrative departments, and classrooms to analyze the utilization of available resources. This helped identify potential issues.
Then, from the perspective of elderly learners, the study analyzed the usage of curriculum design, school activities, management and resources, and learning environments in university-based universities for the aged. It examined whether these resources meet the learners' needs and highlighted any shortcomings.
The study revealed the following problems in Shanghai Universities for the Aged: First, due to insufficient support systems and resources, curriculum design is limited. Second, there is a lack of creativity and adaptability, making the introduction of professional teaching resources urgent. Additionally, a shortage of administrative staff has led to limited classroom availability. Therefore, this study proposed measures and suggestions from the perspective of supplementing and integrating resources. First, policies for resource support need to be improved. Policy assistance is required to supplement various resources. Furthermore, the curriculum should be diversified, and excellent faculty should be attracted. To build a strong faculty, professional and younger teachers need to be recruited. Administrative teams must also enhance their management capabilities and improve resource utilization. Based on this, the development of university-based universities for the aged can be further advanced.