The ability to keep learning throughout life

I apologize for the personal note, but I will reach retirement age this November. What matters most at that time? Answers will vary, but I believe it's the "ability to keep learning throughout life." In January 2013, company policy required me to leave my line position. Half of me, the lazy half, was ready to plop down with a sigh. "Hold on!" kicked the hardworking half, giving the lazy half a kick in the rear.
My family's work led me to discover the Academy Hills "Global Agenda Seminar," taught by Professor Yoko Ishikura of Keio University's Graduate School. After taking a trial lesson in mid-April, I decided to add Professor Ishikura to my list of role models.
During the May holidays, I tackled the application form, answering three questions in English. The seminar conducts all lectures and presentations in English. I was fortunate to be one of the 32 accepted participants, engaging in lectures, individual assignments, and group projects from June to November.

Participants were mainly in their 30s, though some were university students. The women were particularly active. At 58, I was probably the oldest. Our group presented a plan to advance the second phase of Tohoku reconstruction support using online games. The greatest reward was building a community outside my company or industry through our own initiative and actively participating in it.

The New York Times declared 2012 the year of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). The US leads the world in MOOCs. Representative platforms include Coursera, Udacity, and edX. Coursera features over 500 online courses from 107 universities and educational institutions worldwide. Enrollment has surpassed 5.8 million worldwide. English is the language used for approximately 90% of all courses. Chinese is the second most common language, accounting for about 7% of courses. All courses are free.

There are forums where participants help and discuss with each other, and a system for mutual evaluation is in place. If you pass the final exam, they issue a certificate of completion. MOOCs have made it possible to incorporate the strengths of human-built communities without diminishing the convenience of online learning.

At age 60, the average remaining life expectancy for Japanese men is 23 years, and for women, 28 years. I believe aging itself is neither shameful nor a sin. It is succumbing to age and ceasing to look toward the future that may block the path for the next generation.

My dream is to remain active in the workforce until age 80. Being active means being useful to someone in the world and being financially valued. I believe the "ability to keep learning throughout life" provides the most crucial foundation for achieving that dream.