Development Strategy and Positioning of the Graduate Institute of Gerontechnology
The development strategy of the Graduate Institute of Gerontechnology, MacKay Medical University is built upon the unique opportunities arising from the convergence of three major societal trends: population aging, declining birth rates, and digital transformation.
The Institute integrates Taiwan’s globally competitive capabilities in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with the clinical medicine, long-term care, and holistic human-centered care resources provided by MacKay Medical University and the MacKay Healthcare System.
The Institute is committed to cultivating professional talents in gerontechnology who possess technological capabilities, humanistic perspectives, and healthcare literacy, enabling them to address the complex challenges of an aging society.
Core Positioning: Four Pillars of Aging, Technology, Humanities, and Healthcare
The Institute establishes “Aging, Technology, Humanities, and Healthcare” as the four core pillars connecting education, research, and practical applications.
1. Aging-Centered Needs-Oriented Research
The Institute begins with the needs of older adults and focuses on various aspects, including physical, psychological, social, and functional dimensions.
Through scientific research and practical assessment, the Institute seeks to understand the diverse needs of older adults and uses these insights as the foundation for curriculum development and research directions.
2. Technology as a Tool for Smart Innovation
The Institute integrates emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), wearable sensing technologies, and data analytics, into healthcare and long-term care environments.
Through the development and application of smart welfare technologies, the Institute cultivates interdisciplinary professionals capable of applying technology to address challenges associated with aging.
3. Humanities as the Foundation of Welfare-Oriented Education
The Institute emphasizes humanistic values, ethical reflection, and social responsibility.
By promoting human-centered technology design and service models, students are encouraged to consider dignity, compassion, and human needs throughout technology development, care environment design, and research planning.
4. Healthcare as the Foundation for Interdisciplinary Integration
The Institute leverages the professional strengths of MacKay Medical University, including expertise in medicine, nursing, communication sciences and disorders, medical laboratory science and biotechnology, and optometry.
Through close integration of research and education with healthcare disciplines, the Institute cultivates gerontechnology professionals with healthcare literacy and interdisciplinary teamwork capabilities.
Overall Positioning
The Graduate Institute of Gerontechnology, MacKay Medical University is positioned as an interdisciplinary research and talent development institution centered on:
“Aging × Technology × Humanities × Healthcare”
The Institute aims to establish an academic and innovation hub in gerontechnology that integrates research excellence, practical implementation capabilities, and social impact, contributing to the development of a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable society for an aging population.
