Lingnan University's Educational Tour to Australia Demonstrating Liberal Arts Ethos and Promoting Life-long Learning

Ever thought of your life after retirement? Does growing in age necessarily mean the end of one's social life and self-learning?

Studies find social participation and recreational activities are crucial for improving the psychological well-being and quality of life of the elderly. From 2005, Lingnan University propagates a new tour concept combining learning and travel for local senior people and retirees. Following last year's educational tour Xian, China, Lingnan University's Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies (APIAS) is organizing another Educational Tour Programme to Australia for the Elderly from 21 November to 29 November this year, in collaboration with Odyssey Travel, a division of the Australian and New Zealand College for Seniors (ANZCS), University of Wollongong.

Senior Travel aims to provide educational travel experiences to the elderly through tours with itineraries tailor made for them. Participants will be guided by academic as well as programme leaders to facilitate them to acquire different perspectives and more in-depth understanding about the history, culture and demographic changes of the place through lectures and discussions.

"The Senior Travel concept is in line with Lingnan's liberal arts mission, which promotes life-long learning and self learning. There will be small-group discussions and various topical lectures during the trip. It is more than just touring around and seeing places. Participants can travel and learn, getting a chance to experience the joy of studying abroad, thereby help build their self-confidence and positive attitude towards life." said Prof. Alfred Chan, Director of APIAS.

Unlike general commercial tours, educational travel programmes emphasize both "travelling and learning". The tour programme introduces an itinerary covering a mix of history and heritage (the Australia's Gold Rush History and Chinese Settlement), soft adventure and ecotourism ( the Great Barrier Reef and the Rainforest Habitat Centre), and lifestyles and culture (Managing health care in Australia).

Voluntary programme leader is the trademark of senior educational travel programmes. In May 2006, APIAS conducted a 3-day intensive training, namely "Programme Leaders' Induction Workshop" for 11 people who were interested and experienced in working for active mature adults. These programme leaders came from diverse professions and among whom included academic in tertiary institutions, government officer from the HKSAR's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservative Department, and business executive in non-profit organizations.

The rationale of the workshop is to equip Programme Leaders with high level of communication and tour-guiding methods, strategies for enhancing educational experiences and quality assurance techniques in educational programmes. The knowledge of the Programme Leaders could enhance participants' experiences and learning opportunities not available through commercial tours.

Seniors participated in last year's trip to the Xian tour said, "The education tour helps broaden my horizons and gives me a sense of self-assurance and achievement, while I didn't have the chance to study when I were young". Participants said they were proud to share with their family members that even seniors could travel abroad in search of knowledge, which can at the same time, strengthen the bond between the participants with their families.

APIAS is among the first tertiary institution at the Asia-Pacific Region to be designated as a member university of Odyssey Travel. Odyssey's educational programmes operate worldwide and unlike other travel wholesalers, Odyssey Travel being a non-profit organization aims at arranging travel experiences for mature adults that are not just for fun, but also for educational purpose. Odyssey Travel shares the same vision as APIAS – to enhance the well-being and quality of life of older people.

The closing deadline for the tour Enrolment is on 25 October 2006. For details, please contact Ms. Li at Lingnan University's APIAS on Tel: 2616-7424.