Innovative courses enrich seniors' lives in Shanghai

Shanghai University for The Senior officially launched its 2026 spring semester on Monday with a vibrant opening ceremony, featuring a live online broadcast, choir performances of the school anthem, and the handover of class monitor duties.

A range of demand-oriented innovative courses, upgraded school networks and optimized teaching staffs have infused new vitality into senior education across Shanghai.

This semester, the university will offer over 28,000 enrollment slots citywide, with nearly 40 new centers operating primarily in suburban areas to bring diverse learning opportunities to seniors' doorsteps. More than 300 courses will be offered across 10 categories, balancing traditional and contemporary disciplines. Cutting-edge courses like AI applications, drone operation, and hand-brewed coffee making have become hugely popular, resulting in competitive registration due to high demand.

The university also introduced two practical digital courses specifically designed for senior learners, addressing the evolving digital needs of the silver-haired demographic.

"The self-media account incubation course guides seniors through the entire process of short video creation, from shooting and editing to planning and publishing, allowing beginners to easily acquire self-media skills. Meanwhile, the practical course for senior hosts' livestreaming sales emphasizes product selection, livestreaming techniques and safety compliance, offering hands-on training in a professional studio with guidance from senior media professionals to facilitate practical application," explained Zheng Yueqi, assistant to the president of Shanghai Oriental-pearl Intelligent Shopping Co, Ltd.