Principles of an Age-Friendly University

About Age-Friendly University

Our colleagues at DCU conceived and developed the Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University which has grown into a global network led by DCU.

Age-Friendly Principles 

DCU has identified 10 Principles for an Age-Friendly University:

• To encourage the participation of older adults in all the core activities of the university, including educational and research programmes.
• To promote personal and career development in the second half of life and to support those who wish to pursue "second careers".
• To recognise the range of educational needs of older adults (from those who were early school-leavers through to those who wish to pursue Master's or PhD qualifications).
• To promote intergenerational learning to facilitate the reciprocal sharing of expertise between learners of all ages.
• To widen access to online educational opportunities for older adults to ensure a diversity of routes to participation.
• To ensure that the university's research agenda is informed by the needs of an ageing society and to promote public discourse on how higher education can better respond to the varied interests and needs of older adults.
• To increase the understanding of students of the longevity dividend and the increasing complexity and richness that ageing brings to our society.
• To enhance access for older adults to the university's range of health and wellness programmes and its arts and cultural activities.
• To engage actively with the university's own retired community.
• To ensure regular dialogue with organisations representing the interests of the ageing population.

For additional information log onto https://www.dcu.ie/agefriendly