TAIPEI (TVBS News) — At 71, Christina Deng (鄧安利) navigates between two worlds: signing insurance contracts in Taipei's bustling Songshan District by day, then transforming into a university student by evening. Her routine reflects a quiet revolution reshaping Taiwan's rapidly aging society, where seniors increasingly refuse traditional retirement in favor of lifelong learning and continued purpose. After three decades in the same office, having returned to work following an early retirement at 40, Deng represents a growing demographic challenging conventional notions of aging.
Deng's academic pursuits unfold at Shih Chien University's (實踐大學) "Third Life University" (第三人生大學), a pioneering institution offering courses specifically designed for adults aged 55 and above. While most Taiwanese universities now accommodate senior learners, Shih Chien stands uniquely as the only institution incorporating legal studies into its elder education curriculum, reflecting the sophisticated intellectual appetites of Taiwan's aging population.
"In life, I can still learn a lot of things. I don't know how to play the piano, but I can touch it. Or, if I see my daughter learning the ukulele, I can learn as well," Deng explained, her voice carrying the enthusiasm of someone discovering new possibilities. "A lot of people say life begins at 70, but they really mean you begin to get sick at 70. I disagree, because 70 isn't the beginning of sickness, it's the time to reach further heights."
Her classmate Connie Chou (周宗弘) echoes this sentiment, finding profound satisfaction in her academic journey. "Whether I get a degree or not doesn't bother me, but what's important is that I can go back to university at this age, that I can learn something useful," Chou reflected, embodying the intrinsic motivation driving Taiwan's senior student movement.
Dean Hao Feng-ming (郝鳳鳴) of Shih Chien's College of Law (實踐大學法學院) articulates a broader vision for senior education that transcends traditional academic boundaries. "We need to let the elderly find their own roles in society, teach them how to take care of themselves, how to coexist with the younger generation," he explained, positioning elder education as essential social infrastructure for Taiwan's demographic transformation.
Taiwan's embrace of senior education reflects urgent demographic realities reshaping the island's social fabric. As of September, people aged 65 and above comprise 20% of Taiwan's population, positioning the island among East Asia's most rapidly aging societies and creating unprecedented demand for programs that engage older adults intellectually and socially.
This phenomenon extends across the Asia-Pacific region, where governments grapple with similar demographic shifts. Japan, with nearly 30% of its population over 65, operates extensive "silver colleges" and community centers promoting active aging, while China boasts more than 70,000 universities for older adults serving tens of millions of senior students. Europe's pioneering "University of the Third Age" model from the 1970s provided the conceptual framework now adopted globally.
Professor Tseng Huan-yu (曾煥裕), associate professor at Shih Chien University's Department of Social Work (實踐大學社會工作學系), contextualizes these educational initiatives within Taiwan's broader economic transformation. "In the future, our population needs to focus on quality rather than quantity. That means we may need to rely more on mechanization to supplement the labor force," he observed, highlighting how senior education contributes to societal adaptation.
For Deng and Chou, however, the classroom transcends mere academic pursuit, becoming a vital bridge to purpose and human connection in Taiwan's rapidly aging society. Their journey reflects a fundamental reimagining of what it means to grow older in the 21st century, where learning becomes not just personal enrichment but essential social adaptation. ◼