Centre on Aging
Age-friendly university
Welcome to the University of Manitoba's Age-Friendly University Hub, where you can find age-friendly resources and information.
Guiding principles and resources
Age-friendly resources available at the University of Manitoba are organized by the 10 Age-Friendly University principles.
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”
- Extended Education
- Lifelong learning (for current and prospective students of any age)
- Staying connected—Bridging digital gaps
- Career development (access through UM intranet site)
To recognize the range of educational needs of older adults
- Micro-certificate in Facilitating Older Adult Learning
- Senior students–Free tuition 65+
- Learning Opportunities for Older Adults
- Virtual Learning for Life Program: Alumni Scholars Series
- Future-Proof Yourself with Lifelong Learning, UM Today, May 19, 2020
To promote intergenerational learning to facilitate the reciprocal sharing of expertise between learners of all ages
- School of Art Gallery: Kaffeeklatsch
- International Centre—Student Events and Programming
- Volunteer Language Exchange Program
To widen access to online educational opportunities for older adults to ensure a diversity of routes to participation
- Accessibility hub
- Accessibility hub—Service disruptions
- Accessibility hub—Accessibility maps and floor plans
- Transportation at Fort Garry campus —Student Accessibility Services
- Micro-certificate in Facilitating Older Adult Learning
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
- Family resources | older adults and caregiving
- Recreation services
- Recreation services—Program information
- Recreation services—Program schedule
To enhance access for older adults to the university’s range of its arts and cultural activities
- Campus events
- Arts and culture
- Desautels Faculty of Music—Performances and lectures
- School of Art Gallery's Kaffeeklatsch series
To engage actively with the university’s own retired community
- University of Manitoba Retirees Association
- UMFA Retirement Allowance Program
- Retiree Email
- Retiree Resources
- Upcoming retirement planning sessions
- Estate planning webinar: Tuesdays with TD: Conversations about Estate Planning
- Human Resources
- Human Resources—Compensation, Benefits and Pension (access through UM intranet site)
- Human Resources—General inquiries
To ensure regular dialogue with organizations representing the interests of the aging population
- Centre on Aging events
- Centre on Aging Spring Research Symposium
- The Centre on Aging is part of the Manitoba Seniors Coalition
University of Manitoba Age-friendly university presentations and publications
Publications
Dansereau, L., Campbell, M. & Addison, C. (2022) Engaging post-secondary students in a multidisciplinary aging studies interest group, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, Published online: 18 Sep 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2022.2123320
S. Chesser, M.M. Porter, R. Barclay, A.C. King, V. Menec, C. Newman, J. Ripat, K. Sibley, G. Sylvestre, S.C. Webber. Exploring university age-friendliness using collaborative citizen science. The Gerontologist, 60(8): 1527-1537, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa026
Chesser, S., & Porter, M. (2019). Charting a future for Canada’s first Age-Friendly University (AFU). Gerontology & Geriatrics Education.
View article online
Presentations
Engaging Ageing 21: Future of Ageing and the Silver Economy 1–3 November 2021
Dublin City University, Ireland
Dr. William Kops, Dr. Rod Lastra, Extended Education
Using Micro-credentials to Accommodate an Ageing Workforce, Using Micro-credentials to Accommodate an Ageing Workforce
Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) webinar
March 1, 2019
A starting point for looking at age-friendliness on my campus: AGHE can help
47th Annual Scientific & Educational Conference
CAG2018 Making it matter: Mobilizing aging research, practice & policy
October 18–20, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia
Michelle Porter, PhD, University of Manitoba
Age-Friendly Universities. What are they and how does my University become one?
International Federation on Aging 14th Global conference on ageing
Towards a decade of healthy ageing—From evidence to action
August 8–10, 2018, Toronto, Ontario
O'Kelly, C., Porter, M. and Harrington, L.
Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University (Symposium)
AFU Conference Engaging Ageing 2018: New Frontiers of Ageing: Research, Policy and Practice
March 13–14, 2018
Dublin, Ireland
- Michelle Porter, PhD, University of Manitoba
Using the Our Voice framework to study the age-friendliness of a university - Richard Milgrom, PhD, University of Manitoba
From Age-friendly communities to age-friendly regions: Challenges for engagement - William Kops, PhD, University of Manitoba
Older adult education and Canadian universities: Current state and future directions
McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL) Symposium - The Challenge of Transformation: Lifelong Living and Learning in the 21st Century
November 3, 2017, Montreal, Quebec
- William Kops, PhD
Older adult education and Canadian universities: Current state and future directions - Jim Hamilton and Kathleen Godfrey (Panel)
The challenge of transformation: Lifelong learning and living in the 21st century
The 21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology & Geriatrics: Global Aging and Health: Bridging Science, Policy, and Practice
July 23-27, 2017, San Francisco, California, USA
Michelle Porter, PhD
“Engaging an Entire University in Age-Friendly University Principles” in Symposium Being an age-friendly institution of higher education—perspectives from global partners
Age-friendly university commitment
In November 2012, the Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative was launched in Dublin, Ireland at Dublin City University (DCU) with the establishment of 10 age-friendly principles that guide post-secondary institutions in addressing the needs of older adults.
In May 2016, University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. David Barnard announced the University of Manitoba as the first Age-Friendly University (AFU) in Canada, joining universities in Ireland, the UK, and the USA, committed to the initiative.
Age-Friendly University Committee
The Age-Friendly University (AFU) Committee was created in October 2016. The impetus for its creation was to advance Age-Friendly University principles at the University of Manitoba.
For additional information on the Age-Friendly University Committee, contact the Centre on Aging.
From the larger AFU Committee, three working groups were formed to carry forward some of the Committee’s work:
- AFU teaching and learning working group (Michelle Porter, lead)
- AFU lifelong learning working group (William Kops, lead)
Other age-friendly university resources
- Age-Friendly University Global Network
- GSAenrich: Age Inclusivity in Higher Education
- Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) Tools for Advancing Age Inclusivity in Higher Education
- McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL) Symposium - The Challenge of Transformation: Lifelong Living and Learning in the 21st Century
- Extended Education has joined forces with the University of Alberta and Edmonton Lifelong Learning Association (ELLA), and the Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) at the University of Regina to make available a broad range of online courses and programs geared to older adults. Some courses are free or may charge a fee.
- University of Alberta/ELLA
- Click on Learn for Life for a listing of courses and free lectures. *Membership is required to join ELLA.
- University of Alberta/ELLA
Other age-friendly resources
- Age-Friendly World (World Health Organization)
- Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative