UCalgary Undergraduate Aging Education Review

Led by: Centre on Aging

Background & Purpose

As the global population continues to age, there is a growing need for professionals who are equipped to support older adults. Despite this, many undergraduate programs include limited content related to aging. Students across a wide range of disciplines—including medicine, nursing, social work, kinesiology, engineering, business, and the arts—will encounter aging-related issues in their future careers. Post-secondary education provides a valuable opportunity to introduce these students to essential concepts about aging.

This project aims to identify the core knowledge and skills related to aging that undergraduate students should gain, and to assess whether these are currently being taught in undergraduate programs at UCalgary.

Methods

The project is being carried out in two phases.

Phase One

Phase one involves developing two competency frameworks—one for students in healthcare disciplines and one for students in non-healthcare disciplines. These frameworks, grounded in the literature, will outline the foundational aging-related knowledge and skills relevant to each group. A modified Delphi method will be used to refine and validate the frameworks by gathering input from experts in aging and undergraduate education.

Phase Two

Phase two involves reviewing undergraduate curricula across various faculties and departments. These programs will be assessed against the appropriate framework (healthcare or non-healthcare) to determine the extent to which they integrate aging-related competencies. Faculty and staff involved in undergraduate education will be consulted throughout this process to clarify curriculum content. The review will highlight existing strengths and gaps.

Outcomes

Based on the findings of this review, recommendations will be developed to strengthen aging-related education across the University. This effort will better prepare graduates from various disciplines to support an aging population. It also aligns with the University’s broader commitment to providing impactful and future-focused education.

This project supports UCalgary’s Age-Friendly University Action Plan, led by the Centre on Aging. It directly advances two teaching and learning goals:

  • Goal 3: Students have greater opportunities to learn about topics related to aging and older adults.
  • Goal 4: Students experience more positive interactions with older persons through their education.