Active Ageing: Pathways to Health and Well-Being

Course Type

 Flavour School

 

Location

University Constantin Brâncuşi (UCB). of Târgu Jiu (Romania).

 

Duration and Learning Format

Total workload: 25 hours (1 ECTS)

Breakdown:

• On-site activities: 20 hours
• Independent and group work (including follow-up reflection): 5 hours

On-site component:
6–10 July 2026
Târgu Jiu, Romania

(There is no online preparatory component.)

 

Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course, participants will receive 1 ECTS credit and an official Certificate of Attendance.

 

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff

Lead and Host Institution:

University Constantin Brâncuşi (UCB). of Târgu (Romania)

Oana Maria Păstae
Monica-Delia Bîcă
Camelia Plăstoi

 

Partner Institution:
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Spain)

Sonia García Merino

Julie Ann Marsden

 

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course:

• Marian Ancuta (youth worker)
• Luiza Mihaela Eacobescu (nutritionist)
• Colour your Dreams Association
• Be Teen Association
• Montan Club White Wolf, Baia de Fier NGO
• Local care centres
• Park Aventura Rânca

 

Course Overview

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – Jim Rohn

This interdisciplinary Flavour School aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to promote health, well-being, and quality of life in an ageing society. Grounded in real challenges from the local community, the course connects theory with practice, enabling students to interact directly with professionals in healthcare, social work, nutrition, education, and civil society who are engaged in promoting active and healthy ageing.Families, communities, and organisations need to support older adults by providing programmes, resources, and an environment that encourages physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being.

Participants will explore the concept of active ageing through multiple disciplinary perspectives – medical, psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and ethical. The course emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, intergenerational solidarity, and community-based approaches to supporting older adults. Learning activities will include interactive seminars, case studies, field visits to community organisations and care centres, participatory workshops, and collaborative project development.

The course is designed for students preparing for careers in public health, social work, psychology, education, urban and community development, cultural studies, and related fields. It encourages a holistic understanding of ageing as a dynamic process shaped by lifestyle, environment, and social engagement.

At the end of the programme, students will develop a team-based research or intervention project at their home universities, focusing on a topic related to active and healthy ageing—such as social inclusion, lifelong learning, age-friendly environments, or nutrition and physical activity for older adults. The results will be shared in a collective publication and may serve as a foundation for future international or European-funded collaborations. Students will also be invited to present their outcomes at academic and community forums within the Alliance network and beyond.

 

Learning Journey

On-site sessions (6–10 July 2026, Târgu Jiu, Romania)

Students will participate in:

• Interactive seminars on active and healthy ageing
• Practical workshops (nutrition, cognitive stimulation, social engagement)
• Field visits to community organisations and care centres
• Stakeholder-led sessions and intergenerational activities
• Collaborative group work addressing real-life community challenges

The emphasis is on experiential learning and interdisciplinary teamwork.

 

Follow-up / Reflection

After the on-site week, students will complete an individual reflection task, developing a short Personal Wellness and Active Ageing Plan inspired by the course experience.

This activity consolidates learning and encourages students to apply course principles within their own context.

 

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Increase awareness of biological, psychological, social, and environmental determinants of healthy ageing
• Develop interdisciplinary perspectives on promoting active ageing
• Strengthen empathy, intercultural sensitivity, and communication skills
• Reflect critically on ethical and societal dimensions of ageing
• Apply knowledge through practical community-based learning

 

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Analyse determinants of health and well-being in older adulthood
• Identify interdisciplinary approaches to promoting active ageing
• Demonstrate effective and empathetic communication with older adults
• Collaborate in diverse teams to propose context-sensitive solutions
• Reflect critically on ethical issues related to dignity, autonomy, and inclusion

 

Participation and Engagement

Active participation is essential for experiential, community-oriented learning. Students are expected to:

• Attend all on-site sessions (minimum 80% attendance required to receive credits).
• Engage fully in practical workshops, field visits, and stakeholder-led activities.
• Demonstrate respectful, empathetic, and ethical interaction with older adults, community members, and peers.
• Contribute meaningfully to group discussions, case studies, and collaborative exercises showing openness and willingness to step outside one’s disciplinary comfort zone.

 

Which students would find this course useful for them?

This course may be suitable for students from ACE²-EU partner universities (5 students per university) enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in the following fields:

• Public Health
• Education and Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Communication Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Medicine, Nursing, or Allied Health
• Sports and Physical Education
• Kinesiotherapy
• Science
• Art
• Students motivated to learn more about health promotion and well-being.

It is particularly relevant for students interested in:

• Health promotion and well-being
• Intergenerational solidarity
• Community engagement
• Social innovation
• Human dignity and inclusion 

 

Recommended Language Level

• Basic to intermediate level of English (B1-B2), as the working language will be English

 

Application Process

🔗 Apply here:
https://forms.gle/eX5MFdDLn5T9AT5U6

Application deadline: 20 April 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

 

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact: oanapastae@gmail.com