To expand their international horizons and gain a deeper understanding of European lifelong learning and senior education, faculty and students from the Department of Adult and Continuing Education at National Chung Cheng University embarked on an international exchange to Belgium and the European Union from June 22 to 30, 2026. Led by Director Li-Hui Lin, alongside professors Yu-Shu Chen, Ya-Hui Li, Wen-Bin Gao, Yu-Ching Chen, and Hung-Hui Pan, the delegation also included eight doctoral students. Through on-site visits and professional dialogues, the team aimed to explore key European experiences in lifelong learning, senior education, civic engagement, and social innovation.

Exploring Lifelong Learning Policies and Senior Education

The first stop of the trip was the University of the Third Age (U3A), established by the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). This institution has a long history of promoting lifelong learning for older adults, encouraging retirees to continuously engage in knowledge exchange and social interaction to showcase the spirit of active aging and autonomous learning. The CCU delegation gained a comprehensive understanding of U3A's curriculum planning, member operations, funding sources, and senior learning promotion strategies, while exchanging valuable insights with local educators.

Following this, the faculty and students visited the Flemish Government Department for Lifelong Learning to study Belgium's experiences in lifelong education policies, senior talent cultivation, digital learning promotion, and educational quality management. Through official briefings and in-depth discussions, the delegation gained deeper insights into how European frameworks integrate education, industry, and social welfare resources.

Community Innovation, Civic Engagement, and International Cooperation

Additionally, the delegation visited the EVA NGO and its innovation hubs to learn about community education, senior volunteer participation, and social innovation models. Through civic engagement and volunteer empowerment, this organization promotes hospice and palliative care while encouraging older adults to transform from service recipients into community contributors, thereby demonstrating the critical value of senior empowerment and social participation.

During the trip, the team also visited relevant EU institutions to gain a profound understanding of EU educational policies, civic engagement, youth development, and lifelong learning strategies. Through interactive exhibitions, guided tours, and policy exchanges, they learned how the EU fosters educational equity and sustainable social development through transnational cooperation and resource integration.

Notably, during this visit, the Department of Adult and Continuing Education took a major step forward by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Study Abroad Program of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), marking a milestone toward substantive exchanges and international cooperation between the two institutions.

Reflections and Future Outlook

The 14 participating faculty members and students expressed that, as Taiwan enters its inaugural year as a super-aged society, this visit not only deepened their understanding of European adult education systems and senior education practices, but also provided a crucial opportunity to reflect on Taiwan's own lifelong learning policies and societal development. Moving forward, the department will continue to advance international exchanges and cross-disciplinary collaborations, integrating these global experiences into teaching, research, and practical work to help build a more inclusive and resilient lifelong learning society.