Beijing, 2 July 2025 - The Inauguration Ceremony of Tsinghua University Branch of the Seniors University of China (SUC) was held at Tsinghua University.
QIU Yong, Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee; YU Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director General of the Bureau for Retired Personnel of the Ministry of Education (MOE); Dr. WANG Qiming, President of the Open University of China (OUC) and SUC; FAN Xianrui, Vice President of OUC and SUC; HU Xianzhang, President of the Tsinghua Garden Institute for the Aged and XU Qinghong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee attended the ceremony.
QIU Yong emphasised that Tsinghua University has long prioritised initiatives for the elderly. The Tsinghua Garden Institute for the Aged, established over 30 years ago, has continuously consolidated its educational achievements, becoming a beloved institution for the elderly in the surrounding areas. He stated that, looking ahead, the establishment of the Tsinghua Branch of SUC presents an opportunity to adhere to open education, enhance resource integration, further optimise the curricula, and leverage new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Tsinghua will support and encourage experts, scholars, and young faculty and students from various fields to actively engage in elderly education, benefiting more elderly groups and striving to make the branch an indispensable "spiritual home" for them.
YU Hong highlighted that elderly education is a crucial component of the national education system and a significant measure to actively address population ageing. SUC has propelled elderly education in China from fragmented to systematic, and from entertainment-oriented to empowerment-oriented, providing a Chinese solution for global ageing societies. The Tsinghua Branch of SUC must uphold political leadership, talent-driven development, quality enhancement, and service-oriented management, providing precise and heartfelt services to ensure the elderly have access to learning opportunities.
Dr. WANG Qiming stressed that since its establishment, SUC has followed the educational philosophy of "Morality, Learning, Health, Happiness, Fulfilment," leveraging its systemic and institutional advantages to become the "main channel" for elderly education, a "strong guide" for active health, and a "catalyst" for the silver economy. Moving forward, through collaborative innovation, SUC will strongly support the construction of the Tsinghua Branch, promoting a new educational pattern of joint curriculum development, shared teacher training, collaborative scientific research, co-hosted achievement displays, and interconnected platform services. This will contribute new strength to the practice of lifelong learning, active engagement, and joyful ageing for the elderly, and make new contributions to building a society and country of learning where lifelong learning is pursued by all.
HU Xianzhang stated that the Tsinghua Branch of SUC will closely cooperate with SUC to explore innovative pathways for establishing a "positive view of ageing and healthy ageing." It will fully utilise artificial intelligence technology to expand new methods in elderly education and promote high-quality development in the elderly education sector.
FAN Xianrui read out the "Letter of Consent to Establish the Tsinghua University Branch of SUC." QIU Yong, YU Hong, WANG Qiming, and HU Xianzhang jointly unveiled the plaque for the Tsinghua Branch of SUC.
Officials from the MOE Bureau for Retired Personnel, SUC, Tsinghua University, as well as representatives of the Tsinghua Garden Institute for the Aged, participated in the event.
Contributed by SUC General Administration Office
Photo by Tsinghua University