Intergenerational interactions can provide a multitude of benefits for college students, older adults, and people of any age. We are committed to advancing knowledge about intergenerational learning.
SUNY Purchase Freshman Get a Special Welcome from Broadview Senior Living Community:The Patch reported that, “Seniors from Broadview at SUNY Purchase, a senior living community on the campus of SUNY Purchase, were eager to connect with incoming freshmen at the school as part of an intergenerational learning program that benefits young and old.”
The Age-Friendly University Global Network acknowledges the diverse manifestations of older age globally, recognizing the potential for variations even within national borders. We support fostering intergenerational connections to highlight the significance and value of growing older. Consequently, we emphasize raising awareness of aging and changing its narrative as it impacts societies across the lifespan.
We strive to embody the Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University in all that we do:
To encourage the participation of older adults in all the core activities of the University, including educational and research programs.
To promote personal and career development in the second half of life and to support those who wish to pursue second careers.
To recognize 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 Ph.D. qualifications).
To promote intergenerational learning in order 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 aging 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 aging brings to our society.
To enhance access for older adults to the university’s range of health and wellness programs and its arts and cultural activities.
To engage actively with the university’s own retired community.
To ensure regular dialogue with organizations representing the interests of the aging population.
How to meaningfully engage youth in designing global education events by Rida Karim, Pragya Upreti, Richaa Hoysala, and Grace Cannon in Brookings. Young people under 24 make up 41% of the global population—but are too often excluded from shaping the decisions that define their futures. This article explores how to move beyond symbolic participation by creating real, intergenerational partnerships that center youth voice and agency. If you’re ready to rethink what meaningful youth engagement looks like, this is a must-read.
