¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ (UL) celebrated the launch of its Age Friendly University initiative. Dr Marie Connolly, Director of Human Rights, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (HREDI), opened the event and welcomed Acting President Professor Shane Kilcommins, who officially announced UL’s membership to the Age Friendly University Global Network (AFU). The AFU movement seeks to reshape how we live and work by expanding educational opportunities across the lifespan.
The event attracted a diverse audience, including UL staff, members of UL Restart, older adults from the Mid-West Region, and representatives from local Age Friendly Alliances.
Established in 2022 by the HREDI Department under its Diversity & Inclusion Pillar, the UL Age Friendly University Committee aims to promote age inclusivity and lifelong learning while fostering community engagement among older adults. The committee brings together dedicated staff committed to making UL a more age-friendly environment. It is co-chaired by Professor Rose Galvin, Professor in Physiotherapy ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ and a member of the Ageing Research Centre and the Health Research Board, and Professor Joachim Fischer, Emeritus Jean Monnet Chair in European Cultural Studies.
The Keynote speaker at the launch, which was held in the School of Medicine was the very imminent Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny – Regius Professor of Physics TCD and founding Principal Investigator of The Irish LongituDinal Study of Ageing (TILDA). Presentations were also provided by Alix McDonald Head of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde and chair of the AFU Global Network and Dr Christine O’Kelly – Age friendly University Co-ordinator in DCU.
