Dr Christine O’Kelly
Dublin City University Age-Friendly Unit, Director AFU
Discover the initiative that redefines lifelong learning, fostering intergenerational connections, cultural exchange and opportunities for older adults.
Since 2012, Dublin City University’s (DCU) Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative has redefined the meaning of education in the 21st century by creating opportunities for older people, challenging outdated narratives on ageing and strengthening intergenerational exchange.
Reimagining education across the lifespan
As the world’s first AFU, the university is dedicated to challenging the notion that higher education is reserved only for the young. Our programmes ensure that people of all ages — particularly those in later life — can access opportunities for learning, research, wellbeing, social and cultural engagement.
Expanding opportunities for older people
Whether through ‘audit’ access to undergraduate and postgraduate modules or short courses in creative writing, art appreciation and music, older people can engage with higher education without the pressure of exams, enjoying the campus experience. Annual events — such as the Taste of DCU, Positive Ageing Week and Intergenerational Week — showcase these opportunities, inviting the wider community to explore university life and discover the breadth of activities across campus.
As the first university in Ireland to have been awarded Erasmus Adult Accreditation for the AFU participants, it is uniquely positioned to expand cultural exchanges and learning visits by opening new pathways for collaboration and lifelong learning.
The university is dedicated to
challenging the notion that higher
education is reserved only for the young.
Fostering intergenerational connections
The AFU is equally about curiosity and connection. By creating shared spaces where students and older adults collaborate, exchange perspectives and challenge stereotypes, it promotes intergenerational understanding. Guest lectures, collaborative projects and joint research initiatives bring generations together to explore identity, creativity and shared values, reframing ageing as contribution rather than decline.
Contributing to a fairer society
As Ireland’s demographics shift, the AFU model provides a vital blueprint for social inclusion and active ageing. By welcoming older adults, we enrich the entire campus, creating a dynamic environment where generations learn from one another. This fosters new research possibilities and ensures innovation addresses the needs of our whole society. DCU’s Age-Friendly University is a powerful demonstration that curiosity and the drive to contribute have no age limit.
