Lingnan University presented its Jockey Club Gerontechnology and Smart Ageing in Place (GTSA) Project’s Gerontech Ambassadors Training Model at the Guangdong Province Rehabilitation Medicine Association Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Rehabilitation Conference 2025, held in Guangzhou from 13 to 15 June. Among 27 first-class entries, Lingnan University was the only Hong Kong higher education institution to stand out for its exceptional contributions to gerontechnology and social inclusion.

Dr Chloe Siu, Senior Lecturer at the School of Graduate Studies and Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at Lingnan University, said “Lingnan University’s gerontech ambassadors’ training greatly improves the functional recovery and social participation of seniors and communities through innovative smart technology applications and cross-sector collaboration. The programme integrates Lingnan University’s Jockey Club Gerontech-X Lab, regular training mechanisms, and partnerships with start-ups to create a unique innovation model that effectively addresses the digital divide, product adaptability issues, and social inclusion, not only demonstrating leadership in rehabilitation services and social inclusion, but also setting a benchmark for the collaborative development of rehabilitation services in the Greater Bay Area, contributing to an age-friendly and inclusive society.”

Lingnan University presents “Promoting Knowledge Transfer: The Case of Lingnan University’s Gerontech Ambassadors” to showcase its innovative gerontech ambassadors’ training model. The “Train the Trainer” and “Knowledge Transfer” approaches are used to recruit and train older people, young students, and members of the community to become gerontech ambassadors through structured courses and practical activities. The 18 hours of instruction are divided into “healthcare”, “dining”, “living”, “transport”, “learning”, and “exercising”, which focus on functional recovery and social participation for the elderly as well as individuals of all ages.

Gerontech ambassadors then serve as educators at the Lingnan Jockey Club Gerontech-X Lab, where they show visitors over 200 technology products, and give practical tips at interactive workshops. Ambassadors also organise knowledge transfer activities such as community talks, gerontech experience days, and intergenerational workshops, encouraging the elderly to use technology to become more independent and to communicate and sympathise with younger generations. For instance, older ambassadors use smart devices to talk to their peers and persuade them to improve their quality of life, while young ambassadors design age-friendly products that encourage cross-generational cooperation.

Gerontech Ambassadors Jiang Haiying, a Master’s student in Health and Social Services Management, and Lin Anliang, a graduate of the Master of Science in Health Analytics and Management, described the project to visitors.

The Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Social Inclusion Conference aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Rehabilitation 2030 aim to integrate rehabilitation services into universal health coverage, promote multidisciplinary collaboration, and build a comprehensive rehabilitation network focused on functional recovery and social participation. Industry leaders from the Greater Bay Area and Mainland China discussed the latest technological innovations and progress in rehabilitation services.