Hong Kong Metropolitan University Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKMU LiPACE) hosts the “AIUTA Asia International Conference 2025” with the International Universities of the Third Age Association (AIUTA) and the Chinese Association of Universities of the Aged (CAUA) from 1 to 2 April 2025. This conference marks the 5th global event on senior education organised by AIUTA in the Asia-Pacific region, following successful conferences in Shanghai (2004, 2019), Osaka (2016), and Guangzhou (2013). The theme of the conference is “Lifelong Learning for Older Adults in the Digital Age.”
AIUTA is an international organisation representing universities for seniors from worldwide, recognized as a significant non-governmental organisation for the third age, with members from five continents. The conference attracts over a hundred representatives from 18 countries and regions (excluding China and Hong Kong), including France, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Singapore, Australia, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Finland, Egypt, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria.
Notably, there are 23 representatives from Mahatma Gandhi University in India. This University is a top research institution in India (ranked 401-500 in the 2025 Times Higher Education World Rankings) and is the first university in India established for the elderly. Other distinguished attendees include Professor CT Aravindakumar, President of Mahatma Gandhi University; Professor Zhakupova Aigul, Vice President of Ualikhanov University in Kazakhstan; and Professor Akera Ratchavieng, Vice President of Rajamanghala University of Technology Rattanakosin. The delegation from China consists of leading experts and professors from the Open University of China (Beijing), the Guangdong Open University (Guangzhou), and the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education, East China Normal University. In addition, the delegation comprises leaders from the China Association of Universities for the Aged.
Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, President of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) says “we are pleased to co-host this signature event and cherish the opportunities it brings to share experiences, inspire innovation, and collaborate for a larger social impact. This year, we are honoured to have a diverse lineup of speakers from 18 countries and regions, bringing a wealth of knowledge and perspectives to our discussions. Your presence here today is a testament to the collective commitment we share in promoting lifelong learning for older adults. This conference serves as a platform for us to exchange best practices, initiate new collaborations, and explore innovative research that will shape the future of education for older adults”.
This conference serves as a platform for the Elder Academy at Hong Kong Metropolitan University to showcase its 16 years of experience in offering diverse learning programs to over 17,000 seniors. As a member of AIUTA in the Asia-Pacific region, this conference aims to explore how technology can foster active learning amongst seniors in their third age across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the Asia-Pacific region. With both Mainland China and Hong Kong are undergoing rapid demographic transition to “aged societies”, where the importance of keeping seniors in good health and actively engaged with the community through lifelong learning have become government policy priorities. Concurrently, advancements in technology have rendered digital products accessible to seniors, thereby empowering them to become “smart seniors” and to enjoy the conveniences of modern technology. This, in turn, has the potential to bridge the digital divide.
香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院（HKMU LiPACE）於2025年4月1日至2日聯同國際老年大學協會（AIUTA）及中國老年大學協會（CAUA）舉辦「亞洲國際會議2025」。本次會議是AIUTA在亞太地區繼上海（2004、2019年）、大阪（2016年）及廣州（2013年）成功舉辦後，首度在香港舉行的第五場全球長者教育盛事。會議主題為「數字時代老年人的終身學習」。
AIUTA是一個匯聚來自全球各地老年大學的國際性組織，爲國際上具影響力的第三齡非政府組織，匯聚五大洲會員。本次會議預計吸引逾百名來自18個國家及地區（中國及香港以外），包括法國、印度、韓國、馬來西亞、泰國、哈薩克斯坦、斯洛伐克、新加坡、澳洲、英國、葡萄牙、西班牙、加拿大、芬蘭、埃及、南非、孟加拉國及尼日利亞的代表參與。
印度瑪哈特瑪甘地大學 (Mahatma Gandhi University) 老年大學更將派出23人代表團出席，該大學為印度頂尖研究型學府（2025年泰晤士高等教育世界排名401-500），亦是印度首間成立第三齡大學的機構。其他知名與會者包括瑪哈特瑪甘地大學 (Mahatma Gandhi University) 校長 CT Aravindakumar 教授、哈薩克斯坦瓦利哈諾夫大學 (Ualikhanov University) 副校長 Zhakupova Aigul 教授，以及拉塔納科辛皇家理工大學(Rajamanghala University of Technology Rattanakosin) 副校長 Akera Ratchavieng 教授。中國代表團則由北京（國家開放大學）、廣州（廣東開放大學）及華東師範大學終身學習研究院的頂尖老年大學專家、教授，以及中國老年大學協會領導組成。
香港都會大學校長林群聲教授於開幕致辭上表示：「我們很高興能與國際老年大學協會共同主辦這個充滿代表性的活動，有機會與各國專家一起分享經驗、推動改革創新，締造社會效益。今年我們有幸邀請到來自18個國家和地區的多位嘉賓講者，為我們的討論注入豐富的知識和新觀點。今天在場所有出席的嘉賓是我們共同致力推動長者終身學習的見證。『亞洲國際會議2025』為我們提供了一個交流實踐、啟動新合作以及探索創新研究的最佳平台，這些將有助塑造未來長者教育的趨勢。」
本次會議為香港都會大學長者學苑（EAMU）提供平台，展示其16年來為逾17,000名長者提供多元學習課程的經驗。HKMU LiPACE作為AUITA亞太區內屬會會員，是次會議將探討中國內地、香港，以至亞太地區的如何利用科技推動積極老齡化和老年人的學習。特別是在中國內地和香港兩地區都正在快速地轉變爲“老齡社會”，保持老年人的健康並通過終身學習讓他們積極參與社區活動已成爲政府的政策重點。與此同時，隨著科技的快速發展，老年人學習使用數碼産品，可以享受時代發展的便利，打破數碼鴻溝。
