The focus of this Master's thesis is the functioning of two age-friendly universities in Europe. The research is based on contemplations on aging and the education of older people, as well on the understanding of the diversity of the aging generations today. The theoretical framework is sociological and social-gerontological. Aging is described with the following concepts: successful aging, active aging and healthy aging, from which strategies to ensure the quality of life of older people are derived.
The empirical part of the thesis combines the results of two case studies: Modra fakulteta at the University of Ljubljana (MoF UL) and the Dublin City University Age-Friendly University (DCU AFU). A qualitative research methodology was used. The results are interpreted on three levels: micro, meso and macro levels. The outcomes dictate that the education of older people at the university level enables the elderly to gain quality knowledge and create social links between both their own age group and between different generations. At the meso level, the AFU is a space where researchers come together in an interdisciplinary way to explore aging with older people and innovate established practices. On this level, AFU informs national policies and connects with educational, political, social and health organizations. At the macro level, however, we have the global network of age-friendly universities and all the interconnections between countries.
Differences emerge between the two AFUs that result from different interpretations of the original AFU initiative, years of operation (practice), the different local contexts in which they operate, different cultures and understandings of education, the regulation and functioning of universities, and their financial support. They both, however, follow the same ten AFU function principles and they both understand the importance of the university's response to the societal challenges associated with an aging population.
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