The Aging Research Center (ARC) at Karolinska Institutet (KI) is set to host a doctoral course titled “Societal and Life-course Perspectives on Inequalities in Aging” during the fall semester. This course, in collaboration with the Swedish National Graduate School on Ageing and Health (SWEAH) at Lund University, will gather students from various universities across Sweden.
The course offers an interdisciplinary framework for understanding social and health disparities related to ageing. It focuses on how these inequalities emerge and evolve throughout an individual’s life while considering variations across different global regions and historical contexts. According to Neda Agahi, Principal Researcher at ARC and one of the course directors, “The course delivers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding social and health disparities in ageing and later life stages.”
Students will explore essential concepts related to ageing inequalities, including ageism, healthy ageing, poverty among older adults, social exclusion, and the dynamics of health and social care systems. Abigail Dove, Postdoctoral Researcher at ARC and assistant course leader, highlights the comprehensive nature of the curriculum, stating, “Throughout the course, essential concepts and theories related to ageing inequalities are introduced and examined.”
In addition to the core topics, the course will analyze ageing inequalities through the lens of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Malin Ericsson, Assistant Professor and course director, emphasizes the importance of understanding these disparities. “Students receive training to recognise the primary causes behind the emergence and progression of inequalities as people grow older,” she explains. The course adopts both a societal structural perspective and an individual life-course viewpoint, contributing to a thorough understanding of the factors impacting ageing populations.
The course will run from September 30, 2025, to October 24, 2025. Interested students should note that applications for this course are now closed. By bringing together scholars from diverse backgrounds, this initiative aims to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding ageing and health inequalities.
