Title:
Research on the Management of Taiwan’s Senior Learning Center: A Case Study of Taipei City

Authors:
Hsu-Hwa Chang, Yu-Tai Chien, Tung-Fu Wang, Taiwan

Abstract:

Taiwan's population is aging rapidly, driven by declining birth rates, longer life expectancy, and the aging of the post-war baby boom cohort. The health, social participation, and lifelong learning of older adults have become pressing public concerns. This study examines lifelong learning provision at the Senior Learning Center in Zhongshan District, Taipei City. It identifies the factors that attract older adults to the programs, the barriers facing nonparticipants, and the curriculum and service designs needed for sustainable operation. An exploratory sequential design was used. Learning needs were first identified through a literature review, field observation, and in-depth interviews with six enrolled learners; these findings guided the development of a survey instrument. A total of 232 valid responses were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square tests, and cross-tabulation of multiple-response items. Gender, marital status, and living arrangement were significantly associated with prior participation. Health and wellness courses and leisure and recreational activities were the most preferred categories. Participants were motivated by acquiring new knowledge, meeting new people, and exploring their interests in the course content, whereas nonparticipants indicated a lack of information about the center and insufficient time. Based on these findings, the study concludes with operational recommendations and a four-season curriculum framework.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.11009