In recent years, the trend of intergenerational learning has been on the rise, bringing young people and seniors together to learn new knowledge and bridge generational gaps. Now, Taiwan Tech’s Evergreen Academy has taken it a step further - pairing international students with senior learners under the theme “Sharing the AI Era.” Together, they use AI tools to create bilingual life story picture books and touching short films.

Taiwan Tech’s Evergreen Academy brings together international students and senior learners under the theme “Sharing the AI Era,” using AI tools to co-create bilingual life story picture books and touching videos.

Assistant Professor Tsai-Ju Lee from Taiwan Tech’s Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education and the Center for TVET Empowerment Research explained that the course originated from the graduate-level class “Applications of Digital Technology in Intergenerational Learning,” which brought together Taiwan Tech international graduate students and Evergreen Academy learners for three weeks of joint sessions. Senior participants were introduced to contemporary digital technologies and global perspectives, helping to reduce their anxiety about being excluded by technology or language. Meanwhile, international students gained a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and the learning characteristics of older adults - valuable, real-world experience for their future careers in education.

Senior learner Lian-Chu Liao used AI to generate an image of her father in a wheelchair, turning back with a gentle smile.

During the course, senior learner Lian-Chu Liao used AI tools to enhance an old photo of her late father taken in a nursing home. When the AI generated an image of her father in a wheelchair, turning back with a gentle smile, her eyes welled up with tears as she said, “It felt like I was meeting my father again - this is something I never imagined experiencing.”

Clementia Carmen, a first-year Indonesian master’s student at Taiwan Tech’s Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education, shared that learning alongside seniors completely changed her perception of intergenerational learning. She was not only amazed by the enthusiasm and engagement of the senior participants but also found that the experience shattered the stereotype that older adults are unwilling to embrace new technologies. She said this co-learning journey strengthened her belief in the idea of “lifelong learning” and deepened her sense of purpose as an educator.

Addis Astatike Alem, a doctoral student from Ethiopia in the same program, admitted that he initially thought the course would focus solely on learning about technology. However, by observing the seniors’ learning process and hearing their life stories, he was inspired to consider how he could bring this kind of intergenerational learning model back to his home country to benefit the elderly population there.

Senior and international students worked together to create staghorn fern and mountain moss balls.

Senior and international students took a group photo during their visit to Yilan.

Ching-Feng Chang, a senior learner who retired from the tech industry, emphasized that although English was once his working language, its use has decreased since retirement. Communicating with international students - especially with various accents - requires extra focus and patience. Some discussion topics also extended beyond his familiar tech domain, making mutual understanding and adaptation essential. Reflecting on the experience, he affirmed, “Age has never been a barrier to learning. On the contrary, it is a wellspring of wisdom and value. The life experience of seniors combined with the digital mindset of youth is a key force in shaping our future society.”

Jian-Hong Yeh also retired from the tech industry, felt that interacting with young international students broadened his horizons and deepened his understanding of different cultures. The exchange helped bridge generational and linguistic gaps, and he believes this kind of course is well worth promoting. Being relatively open to emerging tech trends such as 3C products and AI tools, he expressed a sense of achievement from learning through hands-on experiences during the course.

As the aging population grows, intergenerational learning opens up endless possibilities for inclusive technology. AI not only helps learners from different generations better understand each other's values but also fosters shared resonance through collaboration. The three-week joint learning journey has become a touching chapter in promoting “aging well together” in an aging society.

The three-week joint learning program penned a touching chapter in “aging well together” for our senior society.