Project website: https://www.fsd.uni-lj.si/en/research_and_development/research-and-development/current_projects/2025061008282354/

Project type: project of HUD fund UL

Code: 821-23/2025-2

Beginning: 24.04.2025

End: 31.12.2025

Funding: HUD fund UL

Collaborating organisations:

School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana

Faculty of natural sciences and engineering, University of Ljubljana

Coordinator: Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana

Leader: doc. dr. Anamarija Kejžar

Associates:

doc. dr. Anamarija Kejžar, Fakulteta za socialno delo, Univerza v Ljubljani

doc. dr. Simon Colnar, Ekonomska fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani

prof. dr. Judita Peterlin, Ekonomska fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani

prof. dr. Raša Urbas, Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani

doc. dr. Primož Fijavž, Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani

asist. dr. Gregor Franken, Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani

Keywords:

ageism, intergenerational cooperation, stereotypes, inclusive society

Summary:

The project Faces of Old Age – Generations in Dialogue is an additional piece in the mosaic of numerous activities by the School of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social Work, and Faculty of National Sciences and Engineering aimed at reducing ageism and promoting an age-friendly society.

Ageism is a form of stigma that encompasses stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination against individuals based on their age. It has real-life consequences on both individual and structural levels. Most research has focused on the attitudes and beliefs of younger people toward older individuals, but ageism exists across all generations. As a group with unique needs and characteristics, older adults are frequently discriminated against, and young people also report experiencing ageism. Ageism harms our health and well-being and also hinders intergenerational solidarity, cooperation, and knowledge transfer. People of all ages report feelings of happiness, belonging, meaning, and well-being after participating in intergenerational activities.

With the project, we aimed to encourage the creation of an inclusive society for all generations, as older adults can be socially excluded for various reasons (primarily due to information illiteracy, inability to travel independently, health, and financial reasons) and to draw attention to different spheres of social activity that are less accessible to older people while promoting community projects. The HUD project thus represents a visualization of various activities of the UL SI-AHA Competence Center and UL members for the development of an inclusive society for all generations and the promotion of activities for healthy and active aging – from the micro to the macro level. Already in 2024, UL members – School of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social Work and Faculty of Social Sciences – began a study on the topic of ageism and its various forms among young people. More than 560 students participated in the study. This research, like some international studies (Wurtele & Maruyama, 2013), showed that students have a negative attitude towards older adults. However, there is evidence that these prejudices can be mitigated through appropriately designed interventions within higher education institutions. The results and conceptual solutions were presented at the UL conference on healthy and active aging, where the core idea of the project was promoted – preventing ageism and creating an inclusive society for all generations (October 1–2, 2025). In the project activity 'Faces of Old Age – Generations in Dialogue' students and mentors from Faculty of National Sciences and Engineering were also involved, who, as part of the aforementioned core thesis and reduction of age-related stereotypes, prepared an infographic exhibition, thereby enriching the interdisciplinary approach in the field of aging. 

The exhibition was set up at Novi trg in Ljubljana and innovatively presented the solutions and findings that enable a more inclusive and intergenerationally cooperative social environment to the public. In doing so, the project contributed to shaping a society prepared for aging, which does not perceive older people as a burden, but as an integral part of the community with valuable experiences and knowledge.