Jiang Xianghong, a 70-year-old student in the AI smart application course, comments: "Learning brings fulfillment and joy to the elderly. Studying here fills me with immense happiness."

Wu Xinlin, vice-president of Shanghai University for the Senior, says: "Life is a course, and courses are life." The university offers a diverse curriculum, including language classes for German, French and Italian, as well as drama courses in Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and other traditional forms. Instrumental courses, such as African drumming and handpan, offer seniors unique opportunities to explore new musical horizons.

At the Oriental Shopping teaching site, classrooms are innovatively located within a studio environment. Trendy courses on self-media and livestreaming are offered, using the studio as a practical training ground. Experienced hosts and directors with over 20 years of industry experience serve as instructors.

The short video creation training camp, led by veteran media professionals from Shanghai Education Television Station, covers basic shooting and editing and introduces advanced topics such as AI-assisted creation.

"The self-media account incubation course guides seniors through short video creation, from shooting and editing to planning and publishing, allowing beginners to acquire self-media skills. The practical course for senior hosts' livestreaming sales emphasizes product selection, livestreaming techniques and safety compliance, offering hands-on training in a professional studio," says Zheng Yueqi, assistant to the president of Shanghai Oriental-pearl Intelligent Shopping Co.

The university's commitment to lifelong learning extends beyond digital skills.

The Songjiang district's community college collaborates with Shanghai University of Engineering Science to offer courses in jewelry making, Chinese fashion and makeup skills to enhance students' style and image. Additionally, the district partners with the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts for a tailoring course and with Donghua University's College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering to teach seniors how to select fabrics.

The life education course, encouraging a positive mindset toward life and death, has resonated deeply with elderly learners, leading to overwhelming registration numbers, according to Lu Yi, dean of Songjiang's community college.