UIC Barcelona has been admitted to the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFU), an international association of higher education institutions that promote healthy ageing and the inclusion of people of all ages in academia. Founded in 2012 by Dublin City University, this network boasts over 110 universities on five continents, including leading institutions in Europe, the United States and other regions around the world.

Participation in this network strengthens UIC Barcelona’s commitment to inclusion, intergenerational education and the promotion of learning opportunities for older people. As part of this initiative, UIC Barcelona is working to promote innovative educational programmes, wellness activities, research on ageing and civic participation projects.

An important part of this commitment is channelled through the Experience Campus, which currently has around 500 students distributed between Barcelona, Penedès, Andorra, Calonge and Sant Antoni, and Bolvir-Cerdanya. By joining the AFU, this international network recognises the merits of UIC Barcelona in this area.

A global model of an inclusive university

The AFU network came about with the aim of implementing the Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University, a set of guidelines designed to complement the Age-Friendly Cities programme promoted by the WHO. These guides are designed to transform universities into more accessible and enriching spaces for people of all ages, fostering cohesion between generations and responding to the challenges of a globally ageing world.

“The incorporation of UIC Barcelona into the network not only highlights its unique contributions in the field of higher education through the Experience Campus but also opens up new avenues of collaboration with other member institutions,” says Jordi Miralbell, director of the Experience Campus. “This international connection facilitates the exchange of best practices and the exploration of new educational, research and cultural approaches.”

An opportunity to innovate and advance in research

UIC Barcelona's participation in the AFU will provide access to interdisciplinary resources that address ageing from sociological, physical, cognitive and cultural perspectives. Furthermore, this membership boosts the capacity of the Experience Campus to collaborate in innovative research projects and to apply for funding for initiatives in the field of education and active ageing.

This achievement consolidates UIC Barcelona as a benchmark university in the pursuit of lifelong learning and the promotion of an inclusive educational model, consistent with the University's values of integrity, innovation and social commitment.