Conference information

Call for Papers | The 1st International Symposium on Aging Welfare Technology
(Abstract Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025)

As global aging accelerates, integrating advanced technologies into elderly care systems has become a focal point of societal concern. Against this backdrop, the International Symposium on Aging Welfare Technology aims to bring together cutting-edge international expertise and localized practical experiences, transcending regional boundaries to establish a diverse platform for academic exchange. This event will foster in-depth dialogue and close collaboration among academia, industry, and policymakers to explore the innovative applications of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, smart homes,and other emerging technologies in key areas such as elderly care, health management, and social support.
Hosted by East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) and organized by the School of Social and Public Administration and the ECUST Sanlian Institute for Aging and Wellness, this symposium is co-organized by the Shanghai University Think Tank for Social Work and Social Policy, the Shanghai Social Work Research Association, and the Social Research Center for Welfare Technology at the University of Eastern Finland, among other institutions. The symposium will gather experts from Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific region, and leading domestic institutions to engage in deep discussions on the application of welfare technology in elderly care.
With a strong commitment to promoting industry-academia collaboration and international academic exchange, the symposium seeks to explore innovative ways to enhance the quality of elderly care through advanced technologies, thereby contributing valuable insights and solutions to the global challenge of aging. We sincerely invite you to participate in this prestigious event and share your research findings and practical experiences.

Symposium Details
Date: June 5–6, 2025
Venue: East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai, China

Call for Papers – Topics of Interest
(Topics include but are not limited to the following)
1. Technology Applications and User Experience in Elderly Care
Adoption and utilization of technology by older adults
Digital literacy among the elderly
Intergenerational learning and technology use
Digital divide and accessibility of technology
Ethnographic, qualitative, and quantitative research on elderly-technology interactions
Role of technology in caregiver support and training
Technology integration and training for elderly care service providers
2. Assistive Technologies for Health and Daily Life
Wearable and sensor-based technologies for aging in place
Smart home and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) environments
Assistive technologies for individuals with cognitive impairments
Applications of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in elderly care
3. Health Management and Elderly Care Systems
Telemedicine and digital health platforms
AI and machine learning applications in elderly care
Integrated health data systems and aging care
Social robots and companionship technologies
4. Effectiveness of Welfare Technology Implementation
Social impact and well-being enhancement through technology
Cross-cultural approaches and practices in elderly care technology
Holistic healthcare approaches: Integrating new technologies with traditional care models
5. Policy, Ethics, and Economic Considerations in Welfare Technology
Privacy, security, and ethical challenges in welfare technology
Policy implications of aging welfare technology
Long-term economic impact of welfare technology in elderly care
Multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation in aging technology innovation
6. Social Work and Aging Welfare Technology
Integrating welfare technology into elderly social work practice
Role of health social work in promoting technology adoption among older adults
Assistive technologies and social work interventions
Social work’s role in interdisciplinary collaboration for aging technology

Keynote Speakers & Presentations
(Details to be announced)

We look forward to your participation and contributions!

Abstract Submission
Format Requirements: The abstract should include background, research objectives, methodology, key findings, and conclusions, with a word limit of 200-500 words. It should be uploaded in Word format.
Abstracts can be submitted in either English or Chinese.

Participants
The symposium welcomes both presenters and general attendees.
Presenters are required to submit their abstracts on time.
General attendees must complete their registration by the deadline.
We warmly welcome scholars, researchers, frontline practitioners, and professionals from related industries to participate and contribute to discussions on aging research and welfare technology.

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: May 10, 2025
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2025
Conference Dates: June 5–6, 2025

Conference Fees
Registration Fee: 800 RMB
Travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the participants.
Lunch on June 5 and June 6 will be provided by the organizers.

Conference Organization
Host Institution
East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)
Organizers
School of Social and Public Administration, ECUST
Sanlian Institute for Aging and Wellness, ECUST
Co-organizers
Shanghai University Think Tank for Social Work and Social Policy
Shanghai Social Work Research Association
Center for Welfare Technology and Society Research, University of Eastern Finland

Conference Contact
Professor Hu: ahhy1013@163.com, +86 157 5566 3416
Ms. Shen: shennanyi1211@163.com, +86 158 6828 2760

Conference Registration
Registration Period: From the date of this announcement until May 15, 2025.
Presenters must submit their abstracts and registration information by April 30, 2025.
Registration Method: Please send your abstract to Social Research Center for Welfare Technology. Email: honglin@uef.fi ; yaruli@student.uef.fi.
We warmly invite experts, scholars, researchers, and industry representatives from around the world to submit their papers and participate in this symposium. Let us work together to drive innovation and development in aging welfare technology!

Previous Call

Call for papers

Aug 05-06, 2024

International Conference on Technological Evolution and the Ageing Era

Joensuu, Finland

We invite submissions for the International Conference on “Technological Evolution and the Ageing Era: Exploring Opportunities, Innovations, and Emerging Practices ” organized by the Department of Social Sciences, Social Research Center for Welfare Technology, University of Eastern Finland.

Conference Theme

The conference is dedicated to nurturing collaboration and innovation within the realm of welfare technology, with a keen emphasis on seizing opportunities, fostering innovative approaches, and instigating new practices. We extend our invitation to researchers, industry luminaries, non-profit organizations, doctoral candidates, and all relevant stakeholders, encouraging a collective exploration, discussion, and advancement of technological solutions aimed at augmenting the well-being of the elderly population.

We welcome submissions of papers across a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

– Pioneering technologies tailored for old age care

– Digital innovations geared towards enhancing the quality of life in old age

– Assistive technologies designed to aid older adults with cognitive impairments

– Ethical considerations inherent in the development and deployment of welfare technology

– Examination of policy implications and regulatory frameworks within ageing societies

– Case studies and exemplars showcasing best practices in the domain of welfare technology

Your participation and contributions are invaluable as we strive to collectively shape a future where technology serves as a catalyst for improving the lives of our elderly citizens.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and should be submitted via registration link by April 15^th , 2024.

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline: [April 15^th , 2024]

Notification of Acceptance: [May 30^th, 2024]

Conference Dates: August 5^th– 6^th, 2024 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EET)

Conference Venue: Joensuu Campus University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland

Registration

All presenters and attendees must register for the conference. There is no fee for conference registration. Please register by completing the questionnaire from this link: https://www.wjx.cn/vm/rXZm9rC.aspx#

We cordially invite peer researchers, practitioners, policymakers, students, and all interested parties to join us in this collaborative endeavor to advance welfare technology and improve the wellbeing of senior individuals globally. We look forward to your participation and contribution to this important dialogue.

Previous conference

ITAP: 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN ASPECTS OF IT FOR THE AGED POPULATION

The ITAP conference addresses the design, adaptation and use of IT technologies targeted to older people in order to counterbalance ability changes due to age, support cognitive, physical and social activities, and maintain independent living and quality of life.

Conference’s related topics include, but are not limited to:

Health
Social inclusion and connectedness
Leisure time and entertainment
Home and housing
e-Commerce and finance
Mobility and transportation
Public IT appliances and services
Work
Interaction paradigms
Design methodology for older adults

For details, please visit our conference website at https://2023.hci.international/itap

Welcome to the Social work research days 2023!

Workshop 2: Technological advancement and global ageing in digital society

Languages of working group: English, Finnish

Organizers:

Honglin Chen (honglin.chen@uef.fi)

Heli Valokivi (heli.valokivi@jyu.fi)

Coupled with the changing demographic in current society, there have been enormous changes in technological capability. Technology, already an integral component of everyday life, holds great promise for supporting the health and independence of the aging population. Gerotechnology is the application of technology to improve the lives of older adults.

Gerotechnology creates ever-expanding entrepreneurial opportunities to develop new products and services. Clearly, opportunities exist for products and services to help elders improve their quality of life. This also brings a challenge for social workers to utilize digital devices to facilitate service for older adults.

“How to integrate global population aging and technology development to help address the growing demands for care facing many aging societies is both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation (Kleiman,2021)”. But what’s the core element to benefit older adults with all the fast developing technology? The working group would also like to discuss with you about the critical factor of gerontechology from a social work and humanity aspect. On the basis of the coming conference working group, it is also expected to generate interdisciplinary dialogues on the topic for organizing a special issue for the Asia parcific journal of social work and development.

More information in here.

ITAP: 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN ASPECTS OF IT FOR THE AGED POPULATION

23 – 28 July 2023, Copenhagen, DENMARK