On 24-25 November 2022, the International Association of Universities for the Third Aged (AIUTA) held the 109th Governing Board (GB) meeting and International Conference in Dakar, Senegal, Africa. More than 200 AIUTA directors and members from all regions of the world attended the conference on site and online respectively.

      Prof. Francois Vellas was re-elected as President of AIUTA on the 109th GB meeting.
      The theme of the International Conference is " Problems and Crises of values and/or behaviors: What roles and contributions of the Universities of the Third Age for a Solidarity and Sustainable Development? "

      The conference was organized by the University of the Third Age of Senegal (UNITRA-SN), the first university of the third age in West Africa. Mayor of Dakar, President of UNITRA-SN, President of AIUTA and a number of senior education scholars made presentations at the International Conference.

      Prof. Ma Xianguo, first vice president of AIUTA and director of International Research Center for Senior Education (IRCSE), and translator Tang Ying attended the conference in Shanghai. Wang Younong, director of China Association of the Universities for the Aged (CAUA) International Liaison Department and vice president of Guangzhou University of Veteran Cadres, and translator Liu Chang attended the conference in Guangzhou.

      Prof. Ma Xianguo submitted the report "Distance Education for the Elderly Promotes Rural Development in China". (Prof. Ma was scheduled to give a speech at the conference, which was changed to a written speech due to network technology problems.) The report introduced the work of distance education in China in providing learning resources to rural areas for a sustainable development from three aspects: China's countryside, introduction to the Distance Education Working Committee and distance education for elderly. Prof. Ma's report was based on the 13th "1+1" Seminar on International Issues held recently by CAUA International Liaison Department, which condensed the collective wisdom of Chinese experts and scholars in senior education.

      This is the first time for AIUTA to hold a governing board meeting and an international conference in African countries, which is of great significance for promoting the development of senior education in Africa.