School's not out for retired professor

Liu Yu, a retired professor from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, has opened a "senior university" for older adults.

"It has been a mix of both joy and hardship," said Liu, who established a cultural and arts training institution for the elderly in Wuhan's Hongshan district in August.

Her school currently has 250 students and offers 15 courses, including an electronic keyboard class, a recitation class and a singing class. She noted that the most popular offering is the runway model course.

"Why? Because there's no threshold! As long as you can walk, you can sign up, and it has the quickest impact, enhancing the grace of ordinary people's walking," she said.

The Wuhan Guanshanyun Media Culture Co school is located near Guanshan Park in Hongshan. The school's location near five residential areas has led to increased enrollment as word of its offerings spreads throughout the communities.

Since its opening, the school has been operating at a loss and cannot yet afford full-time staff.

Besides managing the school's finances, handling operations and serving as the school's receptionist, Liu also teaches the electronic keyboard class. "The pressure is still significant. But I have always embraced challenges throughout my life. Even if I'm alone, I will persist," the 67-year-old retiree said.

Fortunately, several student entrepreneurs at Huazhong whom she still mentors as a startup adviser have volunteered to help during their free time.

They help manage the school when she needs to attend meetings in other areas.

Many students are proactive in supporting the school, with some arriving early to help with various tasks, and nearby residents have approached Liu, pleading with her not to close it. Some have shown their support by purchasing as many as four courses at once.