At Montfort Care, we’re constantly seeking fresh perspectives and new ways to enrich the work we do. A key part of this is learning from and collaborating with peers across the region—most recently, in Shanghai.
On 7 December 2024, Montfort Care welcomed a delegation from Shanghai University for the Senior, marking another step in our long-standing partnership since 2007. The six representatives, including Vice Presidents and senior lecturers, visited JiaYou—our Senior and Caregiver Hub at Chinatown Point—to explore our eldercare initiatives and discuss ways to further formalise collaboration in lifelong learning and senior engagement.
The morning began with a guided tour, where our guests were introduced to our eldercare learning pillars, YAH! and Goodlife Studios. They also observed Gym Tonic, a strength-training programme designed for seniors, before visiting our seniors in a digital media training class, encouraging them in their pursuits.
Following the tour, the delegation explored our Hold Me Now exhibition, which showcases creative expressions of ageing with dignity. Mr Zheng YiHui, Vice President of Shanghai Open University, shared how the exhibition reminded him of his own experience caring for his father with mild dementia. Our Founder, Mr Samuel Ng, BBM, also shared the work we’re doing at Goodlife and our focus on caregiving advocacy.
China has built an impressive senior education system, with over 76,000 universities for the elderly and more than 14 million students. By 2025, every county, city, district, or banner will have at least one university for seniors. This presents exciting opportunities for collaboration and fresh insights that can complement our efforts here.
We’ve been partnering with Shanghai University for over a decade, offering YAH! (Young-At-Heart) seniors exchange programmes that promote cross-cultural learning. Shanghai University for the Senior has a robust senior learning scene, and we see opportunities to work together in ways that complement our work here. By building on each other’s strengths, we can create more impactful initiatives for seniors both in Singapore and Shanghai.
As we look ahead, we’re excited about the possibilities that lie in deeper collaborations. Meaningful partnerships like this allow us to innovate, refine our approaches, and ultimately create better outcomes for the seniors we serve.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our guests from Shanghai University for the Senior for making the journey to Singapore and for the inspiring conversations. We look forward to the next chapter of our partnership!
Delegates and Attendees:
From Montfort Care
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Samuel Ng – Founder | CEO, Montfort Care
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Han Yah Yee – Acting CEO/Chief Purpose Officer, Montfort Care
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Aileen Ng – Chief Strategy Officer, Montfort Care
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Lin Aiting – Senior Director, Montfort Care
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Lau Yu Cheng – Director, Montfort Care
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Chris Koh – Deputy Director, Montfort Care
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Dennis Loi – Assistant Director, Montfort Care
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Lee Chin Tung – Senior Manager, Montfort Care
From Shanghai University for the Senior
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郑益慧 Zheng Yihui – Vice President of Shanghai Open University, Professor
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朱景伟 Zhu Jingwei – Associate Professor in Institute of Technology, Shanghai Open University
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王敏 Wang Min – Vice President of Shanghai University for the Elderly, Senior Lecturer
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王一凡 Wang Yifan – System Construction Manager, Community Education Department, Shanghai Open University, Assistant Researcher
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郭翠 Guo Cui – Director of the Comprehensive Office of Shanghai Lifelong Education Credit Bank, Assistant Researcher
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王远 Wang Yuan – Staff Member of the Academic Affairs Office, Shanghai University for the Elderly, Assistant Researcher