Age-Friendly University
Why Do Age-Friendly Universities Matter?
Our world is aging—and higher education needs to catch up.
By 2030, 1 in 6 people globally will be 60 years or older. Yet many higher education institutions still reflect outdated, age-segregated models that do not meet the needs of an aging society. Despite shifting demographics, most students graduate with little understanding of aging and rarely interact with older adults during their studies. This lack of aging literacy affects their ability to navigate a world where age diversity is increasingly the norm—in workplaces and communities.
At the same time, more adults are working later in life and seeking opportunities to upgrade their skills or change careers. Others are turning to higher education institutions for personal growth, lifelong learning, and community engagement in retirement. Higher education is becoming a destination not just for younger adults, but for people across the lifespan.
Age-friendly universities recognize this reality. They:
- Prepare students to understand aging and work across generations
- Create programs that support learning and career development at any age
- Foster intergenerational connection and collaboration
- Challenge ageism by promoting inclusive, age-diverse campus environments
As the world continues to age, institutions have a powerful role to play in creating campuses that are more inclusive, innovative, and future-focused.
What is an Age-Friendly University?
An Age-Friendly University (AFU) is a higher education institution that promotes age inclusion and incorporates aging perspectives across its core activities, including teaching and learning, research, employment, community engagement, and campus life.
AFUs recognize that learning, working, and contributing occur across the life course and seek to create opportunities for people of all ages while advancing understanding of aging and its implications for individuals, communities, and society.
To help institutions respond to a growing aging population and increasingly age-diverse campus communities, the AFU movement is guided by 10 principles. Together, these principles provide a framework for creating environments and opportunities that value age diversity and advance understanding of aging across the lifespan.
- 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 PhD 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 Can Higher Education Institutions Drive Change?
By adopting age-friendly principles, institutions can:
UCalgary's Commitment to Being an Age-Friendly University
In November 2018, UCalgary became one of the first Canadian institutions to join the AFU Global Network, a coalition of colleges and universities committed to advancing age-friendliness in higher education.
Led by the Centre on Aging, UCalgary's AFU initiative aims to advance age-friendly practices and integrate aging perspectives across the institution's education, research, engagement, and campus activities. Through this work, UCalgary is building a more inclusive campus where individuals of all ages can learn, contribute, and thrive. Explore our assessment, action plan, resources, and opportunities to learn more about this ongoing work.