To strengthen international collaboration in elderly education, Dean Ya-Hui Lee of the Center for General Education at National Chung Cheng University (CCU) was invited by Chulalongkorn University in Thailand to deliver a featured lecture on July 2, 2025. Her talk, titled “Policies and Practical Experiences in Taiwan’s Geragogy Development,” was presented to faculty members and graduate students from Chulalongkorn’s Department of Lifelong Education, attracting nearly one hundred participants from lifelong learning programs across Thailand.

Distinguished attendees included Dr. Yotsawee Saifah, Dean of the Faculty of Education; Dr. Wirathep Pathumcharoenwattana, Head of Department at Department of Lifelong Education; and Dr. Suwithida Charungkaitikul, Director of General Education Center at Chulalongkorn University. Several scholars even traveled from other cities to attend, highlighting the strong academic appeal and growing international influence of CCU’s work in geragogy.

Supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) through the Higher Education Sprout Project, Dean Lee’s lecture drew upon the research and practical outcomes developed by CCU’s Geragogy Innovation and Senior Social Entrepreneurship Lab. She introduced Taiwan’s national policies on elderly education and showcased three key areas of implementation: senior fitness, instructional material design, and gerontechnology. Grounded in aging studies and adult learning theory, these practices aim to promote lifelong learning and personal development among aging populations.

During the lecture, Dean Lee also highlighted the contributions of CCU’s Institute for Aging, Work and Wellbeing (IAWW), which has been working closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to advance Taiwan’s University for the Third Age initiative. This national policy encourages middle-aged and older adults to pursue formal higher education and even earn academic degrees. Dean Lee emphasized that learning should be lifelong and inclusive, regardless of age, and underscored CCU’s leadership in building an age-friendly academic environment. The lecture sparked lively discussions, with Thai scholars particularly interested in how these strategies could be adapted to local contexts. Dean Lee emphasized that CCU’s initiatives not only equip students with specialized expertise but also integrate principles of adult education, enabling them to become skilled professionals capable of addressing the needs of super-aged societies.

The presentation generated strong interest among Thai institutions. Two universities have already expressed plans to visit Taiwan and explore collaborations with CCU faculty in designing geragogy-focused academic programs, laying the groundwork for future Taiwan–Thailand educational partnerships.

In addition to the academic engagement, Dean Lee also led a delegation of ten students on a visit to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Thailand. During the visit, the delegation exchanged ideas with TECO officials on elderly education policy, international cooperation, and future collaboration opportunities. TECO responded enthusiastically, recognizing CCU’s efforts in promoting Taiwan’s leadership in higher education and its contributions to building an age-friendly global society.

This visit exemplifies CCU’s commitment to advancing global geragogy and reaffirms its role as a leader in promoting sustainable, age-inclusive education through international academic cooperation.