In bustling Shanghai, a quiet "revolution" in education is underway. More senior residents are willing to learn digital skills to bridge the gap between their golden years and the era of rapid digital transformation, where smartphones, artificially intelligent facilities, and smart home devices have become integral parts of daily life.

At Qinzhou College of Shanghai University for the Senior, an elderly student confidently strums a smart cordless guitar, effortlessly following chords displayed on her smartphone app. "Let me play The Moon Represents My Heart for you," she says, her fingers dancing over the instrument, which doesn't require traditional strings.

The smart cordless guitar course, launched on March 9, exemplifies the university's commitment to accessible and enjoyable learning for seniors through AI technology. "It tackles common challenges like finger pain from pressing the strings and complex music notation," explains Geng Siyu, deputy general manager of Best Friend Culture. "It allows seniors to play music as soon as they pick up the instrument, truly catering to their needs."

This course reflects the university's mission to offer classes that resonate with senior students' interests and needs. This semester, the university will offer over 28,000 enrollment slots citywide, with nearly 40 new centers primarily in suburban areas. More than 300 courses across 10 categories will be offered, balancing traditional and contemporary disciplines.

Courses like AI applications, drone operation, and hand-brewed coffee-making have become hugely popular, leading to high demand and competitive registration.

Jiang Xianghong, a 70-year-old student in the AI smart application course, comments: "Learning brings fulfillment and joy to the elderly. Studying here fills me with immense happiness."

Wu Xinlin, vice-president of Shanghai University for the Senior, says: "Life is a course, and courses are life." The university offers a diverse curriculum, including language classes for German, French and Italian, as well as drama courses in Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and other traditional forms. Instrumental courses, such as African drumming and handpan, offer seniors unique opportunities to explore new musical horizons.

At the Oriental Shopping teaching site, classrooms are innovatively located within a studio environment. Trendy courses on self-media and livestreaming are offered, using the studio as a practical training ground. Experienced hosts and directors with over 20 years of industry experience serve as instructors.

The short video creation training camp, led by veteran media professionals from Shanghai Education Television Station, covers basic shooting and editing and introduces advanced topics such as AI-assisted creation.

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

The university's commitment to lifelong learning extends beyond digital skills.

The Songjiang district's community college collaborates with Shanghai University of Engineering Science to offer courses in jewelry making, Chinese fashion and makeup skills to enhance students' style and image. Additionally, the district partners with the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts for a tailoring course and with Donghua University's College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering to teach seniors how to select fabrics.

The life education course, encouraging a positive mindset toward life and death, has resonated deeply with elderly learners, leading to overwhelming registration numbers, according to Lu Yi, dean of Songjiang's community college.

To enhance teaching quality, the university has infused its faculty with youthful energy by recruiting young teachers and launching a "Talented Teachers" program. This initiative welcomes enterprise leaders, industry experts and university scholars, regardless of age or occupation.

To Lu's surprise, half of the 158 applicants were young individuals. Ultimately, of the 71 selected candidates, 49 have bachelor's degrees, 12 have master's degrees, and one holds a doctorate. "The youngest part-time teacher is only 23, and the faculty boasts a high proportion of highly educated talents. Courses tailored by young teachers are particularly popular among senior students," Lu says.

In Jinshan district, the university has introduced distinctive cultural and sports courses, including the drum class, which has evolved from niche offerings to a highly popular program with six classes this semester. Each village in the district features its own study hall, enabling seniors to access courses within their community.

Starting in April, the university will enhance the distribution of educational resources by launching a program targeting nine suburban and rural areas, including Jinshan, Jiading and Qingpu districts. By 2027, the program aims to provide over 5,000 enrollment slots and more than 200 classes annually, ensuring that seniors in both urban and rural areas have equal access to high-quality educational resources.

"Enrollment for senior universities is always snapped up instantly, with demand far exceeding supply," Wu points out. "Nevertheless, we are committed to ensuring every senior who wants to attend has the opportunity to learn for a lifetime."