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Cynthia Wan

Elderly people who missed out on university when they were younger are to be offered a chance to fulfil their dreams with a plan by the Open University (OUHK) to launch an extension for retirees.

The university is proposing to run specialist courses for people aged 60 and above, said OUHK president Tam Sheung-wai, with tuition fees expected to be largely subsidised by donations and the Government.

Although there will be no academic prerequisite, elderly people enrolled in the courses will be able to earn credits from certificate up to degree level.

The university will offer courses ranging from calligraphy, drawing and health through to information technology and basic medicine.

'The courses are meant to help keep elderly people occupied and active, and add more value to their retired life,' Professor Tam said.

'Since they are not for employment purposes, they can be modified according to the interests of the students.'

A feasibility study on the plan is expected to be completed within six months, with the focus on comparison with experiences overseas.

The United States, Shanghai and Nanjing have already established well-developed higher education systems for their senior citizens, while Britain has a series of University of The Third Age centres running self-improvement courses for the over-50s.

Professor Tam said he would appeal for financial support from donors and government funds. He hoped that the courses would be able to start in a year.

Rita Lam Yu-kiu, chairwoman of the Association for the Rights of the Elderly welcomed the plan: 'Education standards among elderly people in Hong Kong are very diverse,' she said. 'Currently, the singing and calligraphy classes offered in the neighbourhood centres cater only to those without much previous education. But if courses were run by a university, elderly students would be able to pick any level of study. It would truly be life-long learning.'

Ms Lam gave an example of a university for the elderly in Fujiang where the range of courses was comprehensive enough to include political science and Chinese literature.



'University for elderly' offers to dust off forgotten dreams