Forum focuses on media age

Cai expands: "There was no boundary at the very beginning of this world. We don't want to be defined by boundaries. Let us cross them with our ideas and bravery, and create endless possibilities with an attitude of transcending boundaries."

Speaking about boundaries between subjects, Qiu Zhijie, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, highlights the combination of art and technology in the seminar discussing art in the new media age.

"In the past, we tended to separate education of science and technology from liberal arts," Qiu says. "By pushing the combination of art and technology, we hope to spread scientific knowledge so that art students can give up unrealistic ideas, and really innovate. On the other hand, art can cultivate imagination and a taste for science majors, which also helps them to innovate."

He also mentions that a technology and art major for undergraduates, applied for by CAFA, was approved by the Ministry of Education in February.

"It's a delightful piece of news. It means our technology and art education will become a complete system by cultivating undergraduates and postgraduates," says Qiu.

In the aging society forum, Li Ling, a professor at the National School of Development of Peking University, advises rethinking elderly care. For example, a virtual nursing home has been established in Lanzhou city, Gansu province, which helps the elderly through an online system.

Different from traditional nursing homes, where old people are taken care of in a specialist facility, the system enables them to stay at home while receiving the necessary care, like getting help with chores and health updates, through a simple mobile phone app that summons professionals to help.

"In China, the best way of caring for the elderly is to help them remain in a familiar environment. When people are old, they often have various needs that cannot be satisfied by themselves, but the internet can help.

"Aging is a big challenge, but with our advantage on policymaking and the culture of caring for the old, we may explore a new way to deal with it," says Li.