Abstract:

Older adults (55+) encounter persistent structural barriers that limit their access to higher education and lifelong learning (LLL) opportunities across Europe. The AliVe – Age‑inclusive Lifelong Learning project (2023-2026) addresses these challenges by developing age‑inclusive micro‑credentials (MCs) and methodological guidelines that enhance participation, reduce discrimination, and support active ageing within the field of LLL. Designed and implemented by an international consortium led by the Institute for Applied Research on Ageing (IARA) at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences with partners in Finland, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, the project employs a participatory research approach that integrates older adults’ and stakeholders’ perspectives across all stages of development.

AliVe applied a structured, multi‑phase, transnational co‑design methodology. Phase 1 involved a needs analysis and co‑creation process with older adults to identify motivations, barriers, preferred learning formats, and accreditation expectations. Phase 2 implemented these co‑designed MC frameworks in national pilots, allowing for comparative evaluation across diverse demographic and educational contexts. Phase 3 synthesises now the findings into open‑access guidelines that offer a methodological roadmap for future age‑inclusive MC development. This sequential design ensures deep contextual sensitivity while supporting comparability and scalability across countries.

Findings of AliVe indicate that co‑creation processes support designing principles with a broad European applicability, including a strong preference for community‑oriented, peer‑supported learning environments, flexibility in delivery formats, and attention to rural/urban specificities and accessibility. The pilots demonstrate that older adults respond positively when MCs are tailored to their lived experiences and co‑designed with them. Furthermore, project results highlight the importance of designing “for and in context” to strengthen ownership and foster higher engagement among older learners. The main outcome of AliVe are evaluated, multi-level and age-inclusive learning guidelines.

AliVe’s approach demonstrates that participatory and transdisciplinary methods enable the creation of MCs that are both transferable across diverse contexts and adaptable to specific local needs. AliVe shows that structured co‑creation, carried systematically from needs analysis through pilot implementation to guideline development, can generate sensitive, context‑responsive, and scalable solutions for age‑inclusive higher education. By integrating older adults’ lived expertise with institutional stakeholders’ implementation constraints, the project delivers a replicable model for designing MCs that contribute to more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable lifelong learning ecosystems throughout Europe.

Acknowledgement:
The project is co‑funded by Erasmus+ (09/2023–08/2026; €400,000) and embedded within each HEIs participatory, practice‑oriented, and transdisciplinary research environment.

Keywords:

Age‑inclusive lifelong learning, micro‑credentials, co‑creation, participatory research, later‑life education, transnational comparison.