Excellencewith a

Purpose

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Foreword by the Director:The continuing increase in life expectancy has taken the world largely by surprise. Enormous effort will be needed to make the most of the many opportunities offered by what is arguably humanity’s greatest success.

Newcastle University was among the first to recognise the importance of conducting research on the multidisciplinary aspects of ageing. It is now firmly established as a global leader in the efforts to enhance wellbeing across the life course.

The Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age is linking together, and developing further, our research, learning

and engagement across the University. It is this ambition and innovative spirit that distinguishes Newcastle University as an international leader and centre of excellence in ageing.

Professor Tom Kirkwood CBE

Our Vision and Mission

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Tackling society’s big challenges

The Changing Age vision is that Newcastle University shall continually develop its status an international leader in ageing; increasing independence, choice and quality of life for people as they age.

To facilitate this our mission is to promote research and learning excellence in ageing across Newcastle University, through improved engagement with the civic environment and as an exemplar of social and economic impact.

The Changing Age mission is reflected in three strategic themes that articulate the scope of the Changing Age programme: Research & Innovation; Learning & Teaching and Engagement.

Delivery of activity under the strategic themes is supported by five cross-cutting strategic enablers: VOICE North; Changing Age for Business; the Campus

for Ageing & Vitality; the Newcastle Charter for Changing Age and the Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre.

Research & Innovation

Learning & Teaching

Engagement

Newcastle Charter for

Changing Age

Newcastle Biomedical Research

Centre

Campus for Ageing &

Vitality

VOICE North Changing Age for Business

Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age Strategic Themes & Enablers

The combination of declining birth and mortality rates over the past fifty years means that not only are people living longer, but that the older generations also now make up an increasing proportion of the general population.

This demographic change has profound implications for almost every aspect of our lives and raises a great range of societal issues including health, wellbeing, finance, work, social organisation and culture.

Top Ten Facts About Ageing

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Life expectancy in most developed countries is increasing by 5 hours or more each day

Lifestyle factors play a much greater role in human ageing than previously thought

There is no biological programme driving our bodies to age

Older people are making a large and positive contribution to the economy

Many people aged 85 and above rate their quality of life highly

An ageing population contributes much less to healthcare costs than is commonly perceived

There is no fixed point at which ageing begins

Better nutritional patterns mean that we are now living longer, healthier lives

Only 25% of what determines life span is attributable to our genes

We are beginning to understand the complex biological mechanisms responsible for ageing

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For the latest facts on ageing please visit our website www.ncl.ac.uk/changingage or follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/end_AGEISM_now

Ageing research at Newcastle University was launched by the Institute for Ageing and Health and has now been extended across many academic units of all three Faculties.

Particularly significant has been the award of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Ageing to the partnership between the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Our internationally recognised portfolio of research in ageing is delivering insights that will help ensure that the extra years of life we are gaining are as healthy, productive and enjoyable as possible.

The Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age is helping to generate an increased volume of research including exciting new inter-disciplinary collaborations.

Research on ageing is coordinated through six research themes that harness the breadth and depth of ageing research across Newcastle University:

Research & InnovationThe excellence of Newcastle University’s research on ageing has been recognised by many awards, including the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2009.

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Research

Ageing, Policy & Business

Ageing & Chronic Disease

Ageing, Arts & Culture

Through-Life Health & Wellbeing

Mechanisms of Ageing

Ageing, Technology &

the Built Environment

In a world that has been relatively slow to appreciate the scale and impact of ageing in society, Newcastle University places great emphasis on training the growing numbers of researchers and professionals that will be needed to solve the challenges of the years to come.

Learning & Teaching

Our research-led training programmes provide a learning environment of exceptional quality and relevance for a wide range of career paths.

Ageing is becoming increasingly embedded across the University’s degree programmes, including novel specialist courses delivering routes to advanced research in ageing. For example, a new option for biomedical science undergraduates will allow them to study towards a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences with Ageing, making it the first such course in the UK. We also offer a highly successful MRes in Ageing as an entry route to doctoral research.

Through the Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age we are seeking to ensure that all students will leave the University with enhanced understanding of the implications of an ageing society. Our students will be citizens in a world where the personal and societal issues of living longer will become an increasingly relevant aspect in their lives.

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The engagement landscape in ageing is diverse and intrinsically complex so to co-ordinate our activities in this space, we have established four engagement sub-themes: Patient & Public Engagement; Policy & Practice; Business and Health & Clinical Services. In practice however, there is considerable overlap between these sub-themes which means we must devise exciting new models for engagement.

Engagement for ImpactUniversities have a responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing and vitality of the world they inhabit. This is especially true for a civic university like ours and the Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age attaches great significance to engagement activities that deliver real impact to the wider society.

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Engagement Sub-Themes

The engagement sub-themes are designed to provide evidence-based ways for developing and improving societal attitudes towards ageing, which are currently a significant obstacle to enabling the necessary progress locally, nationally and globally.

Patient & Public EngagementSupporting members of the public in shaping and contributing to our research and engagement agendas in ageing.

Policy & PracticeChallenging outdated attitudes towards ageing that often lie behind the shortcomings of existing mainstream policy and practice.

BusinessDriving economic growth through collaborative, sustainable business models built on technological and social innovation to deliver age inclusive products and services to society.

Health & Clinical ServicesDeveloping health and clinical services for lifelong health and wellbeing through Newcastle Biomedicine (the partnership between Newcastle University and the NHS).

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The Campus aims to lead in finding new solutions to the many challenges and opportunities of ageing populations, for the benefit of the region’s population and the wider world.

The Campus is being developed on the site of the former Newcastle General Hospital as a joint venture with the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Outline planning approval was granted by Newcastle City Council in 2011 and the Campus has already been transformed by a number of high profile developments.

The vision for the Campus when completed is that it will comprise four interacting quarters; the Academic Quarter, the Clinical Quarter, the Business and Engagement Quarter and the Retail Quarter. In this way the Campus is one of the key enablers for Changing Age, facilitating collaborations between the University and NHS as well as the commercial and voluntary sector with the aim of generating innovation in products and services to support through life healthy ageing and independence.

The Campus for Ageing and VitalityThe Newcastle Campus for Ageing and Vitality is a globally unique, large-scale development bringing together world-leading scientific and medical research with innovative health care, industry, civic agencies, and the public.

Contact us:Newcastle Initiative on Changing Age2nd Floor, Newcastle Biomedical Research Building Newcastle University Campus for Ageing and Vitality Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 191 208 1142 Email: changingage@ncl.ac.ukWeb: www.ncl.ac.uk/changingage Twitter: https://twitter.com/end_AGEISM_now