ABSTRACT
Ageing encompasses every aspect of human life. It is a dynamic, relational process, which provides opportunities and challenges that demand adaptation and innovative responses in the modern fast-moving world. Since the launch of the Age-Friendly Cities Programme in 2007, tremendous strides have been made in adapting cities to become more age-friendly. Embraced by businesses, local and national governments, hospitals, transport providers and housing the natural move towards age-friendly education offers opportunities for the university sector to embed ageing in the curriculum and prepare future generations of professionals to understand ageing. This chapter recounts how an initiative in Dublin City University (DCU) evolved into the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFUGN) comprising more than 60 universities representing Europe, North America, South East Asia and Australia. It explains how the Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University were informed, the influencing factors and benefits of becoming an age-friendly campus and how DCU and other network members approached the implementation of these Principles on their campuses. It further explores the concept of universities emerging as leaders to influence ageing and how they can develop ways of working collaboratively to maximise opportunities for promoting healthy successful ageing and informing research, policy and practice to affect societal change.
