Brief description

Aging societies are societies that need to constantly reinvent themselves - this applies to political and social levels, i.e. regarding institutions and social relations, as well as to the everyday life of each individual. When societies age, it affects not only the "old", but everyone, including children, young, and middle-aged people. It affects individuals and families as well as the entire health and social system, the pension system, and how we live and work together. We are becoming "fewer, older, more diverse" - this is a global trend that is accompanied by fundamental social changes for everyone and brings with it a wide range of challenges. Especially in times of multiple crises (pandemics, wars, climate) with profound social and economic consequences, all this is of  importance for ensuring participation, good living and working conditions, and social solidarity.

The research training group studies the new challenges caused by demographic change for individuals, families, and societies and asks: How can self-determined aging be made possible for all in central areas of life and over the entire life course? How can we ensure generationally appropriate social participation in aging societies? From a multi-methodological and interdisciplinary, multilevel perspective, the twelve doctoral theses are situated in eight closely interrelated thematic areas.

Project term

2023-2027

Cooperation partners

Prof. Dr. Frerich Frerichs (University of Vechta), PD Dr. Stephan Getzmann (Leibniz Institute for Employment Research), Prof. Dr. Hans Martin Hasselhorn (University of Wuppertal) Prof. Dr. Joachim Hüffmeier (Technical University of Dortmund), Prof. Dr. Ute Klammer (University of Duisburg-Essen), Prof. Dr. Frank Oswald (Goethe University Frankfurt) Prof. Dr. Anita Tisch (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund and Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences)

Team of the TU Dort­mund Uni­ver­sity

Prof. Dr. Martina Brandt, Prof. Dr. Mona Motakef, Dr. Alina Schmitz, Prof. Dr. Nicole Burzan, Prof. Dr. Susanne Frank, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Howaldt, Prof. Dr. Angelika Poferl, Prof. Dr. Monika Reichert, Prof. Dr. Uwe Wilkesmann

Funding

Hans-Böckler-Foundation

Further information about the doctoral program can be found here