Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area
摘要
This chapter examines the pivotal and multifaceted role of Guangdong Province and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in pioneering, implementing, and scaling China’s model for the digital empowerment of education for older adults. As the nation’s most populous, economically dynamic, and technologically advanced region, the GBA confronts acute demographic aging while possessing unparalleled advantages in policy innovation, digital infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration. This analysis explores the convergence of national aging strategies with ambitious regional development plans, creating a unique “living laboratory” for testing integrated, technology-enhanced elder education. The chapter details how provincial and municipal governments, spearheaded by institutional anchors like Guangdong Open University (GDOU), a.k.a. the Open University of Guangdong (OUGD), have localized national mandates into operational models characterized by systemic integration, blended pedagogies, and digital platform innovation. It further investigates the unique potential for synergistic learning exchanges with the advanced aging societies of Hong Kong and Macao. By critically analyzing achievements and persistent challenges—including entrenched urban–rural and socioeconomic divides, sustainability concerns, and the gap between digital provision and genuine empowerment—the chapter argues that the GBA experience is indispensable for understanding the complexities of operationalizing a national model within a context of high internal diversity and rapid technological change. The region’s trajectory offers vital insights into building inclusive, future-ready learning ecosystems for aging populations in metropolitan contexts worldwide.