UUK event: Universities and active ageing: engaging older learners

Only a small proportion of the 50 plus age group is involved in formal educational study. The market for undergraduate study for older learners is largely untested in the UK, whereas it is a major growth area in the US. With the proportion of over-65s expected to reach a fifth of the population by 2026, the market for older learners is likely to increase significantly.

Is your institution ready to respond to this opportunity?

Universities UK and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) are hosting a one-day conference on engaging older learners in education and training.

The day is for those responsible for the development of university strategy as well as those interested in running educational programmes for older people.  It is also for those who want to expand programmes for professionals who provide care for the elderly.

Speakers include:

• Angela Eagle MP, Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society, Department for Work and Pensions (invited)
• Professor Dame Janet Finch, Vice Chancellor, Keele University
• Professor Stephen McNair, Associate Director (Older Learners), NIACE
• Professor Chris Phillipson, Professor of Applied Social Studies and Social Gerontology, Keele University
• Tom Schuller, Director of the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning and former Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD
• Sir David Watson, School of Lifelong Education and International Development, Institute of Education

A new Universities UK report, produced by Professor Chris Phillipson, will be launched at the conference, which examines the future potential of this market for the higher education sector.

Both the report and conference will look at the ways in which your institution can develop programmes in this area, with a series of discussion groups led by universities that already have programmes in place.

The cost of attending is £180 (this event is exempt from VAT).