Since its launch in March in 2025, Academy for Seniors at City University of Macau (CityU), has committed to a senior-centered approach in advancing lifelong education development. In September of the same year, it introduced a year-long certificate program and actively expanding community outreach and integrating educational resources into local neighborhoods. Through visits and diverse activities, the Academy for Seniors had served over 2,000 participants by June 2026, offering workshops, seminars, and lecture series to enrich the life experience of Macao residents aged 55 and above. Upholding the core philosophy of “lifelong learning” and “social inclusion”, the Academy establishes a collaborative senior educational model that bridges the university and community.
Since its establishment, the Academy for Seniors has established long-term cooperation mechanisms with social organizations including the Macau United Citizens Association (Aliança de Povo de Instituição de Macau), the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao, the Women’s General Association of Macao, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Caritas Macao, and Sin Meng Charity Association. Together, they have systematically carried out diverse community activities, organizing a series of lectures and workshops tailored to the needs of the elderly, covering topics such as mindful smart living, positive mental health, traditional Chinese medicine wellness, dementia education, intangible cultural heritage, and life skills. These activities respond to the needs of seniors in physical and mental health, life adaptation, and cultural participation.
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In additional, the Academy for Seniors, in collaboration with the CityU’s volunteer team, faculty and staff, as well as social professionals, brought experiential activities covering cultural festivals, health and wellness, and physical and mental development, into various communities across Macao, providing services to a broader population of elderly and further strengthening the interactive ties between the University and the community.
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To ensure the effectiveness of senior education and services to the older group, the Academy for Seniors recently joined hands with a team of professional instructors to visit five elderly service organizations to host “Clothing Organizing Workshop”. The five organizations included Centro das Idosas of the Women’s General Association of Macao, Centro I Chon of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao, Ha Wan Baptist Church Social Service Centre, the Caritas Retribuicao Integrated Elderly Service Centre, and Sin Meng Charity Association. This workshop reached approximately 100 seniors in total, enabling them to bring practical skills back home.
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Going forward, the Academy for Seniors will continue to deepen the cooperation with community senior service organizations, government departments and professional teams, advance the coordinator between government, university, and the community, optimize its senior education programs and community services connecting the elderly, households and society, and correspond to the inclusive society concept of Macao SAR government’s “10-Year Action Plan for Elderly Services”.
