Who cares?

China is facing a rapidly aging society - but who will provide the care? This study offers a unique insight into the newly emerging vocational elder care programs at Chinese colleges. Based on case studies in Gansu and Chongqing, Julia Demmer explores how young people navigate their career choices amid social pressure, cultural expectations, and personal convictions. At the same time, the study illustrates how specialized vocational training in elder care can help mitigate the growing care crisis - a challenge of great societal relevance that extends far beyond the Chinese context.