The ‘Wiselife’ Project Brings a Youthful Spirit to Older Adults
Izmir University of Economics (IUE) once again demonstrated that there is no age limit to learning or staying actively engaged in life by bringing individuals aged 65 and over back to the university classroom. As part of the ‘Wiselife’ project, launched to encourage older adults to participate more actively in social life, participants took part in training sessions on a variety of topics, including chair yoga and meditation, art and breath therapy, social media use, first aid, and digital safety. Making full use of the university campus for five days and experiencing the excitement of being students again in classrooms and conference halls, the participants enjoyed days filled with learning, fun, and companionship. At the end of the program, 26 participants received their certificates and celebrated their achievement together by cutting a cake.
The foundations of the EU-funded project titled ‘Wise Living: Raising Awareness About Ageism’, led by Prof. Dr. Nesrin Oruç Ertürk, Director of the Izmir University of Economics Continuing Education Center (EKOSEM), were laid in 2020. The international project, which aimed to improve the quality of life of older adults, was implemented simultaneously in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, Hungary, and Poland.
IUE CONTINUED THE PROJECT DUE TO HIGH DEMAND
Although the project was officially completed successfully, many people contacted IUE directly or through their relatives, expressing their desire to participate. In response to this strong interest and demand from older adults, IUE decided to continue the project using its own resources.
IT BECAME A PERMANENT INITIATIVE
Thus, what began as a European Union project evolved into one of Izmir University of Economics’ permanent social responsibility initiatives. Having reached more than 300 people to date, Wiselife has not only provided educational opportunities for older adults but has also powerfully demonstrated that they are an integral part of social life and the lifelong learning journey.
“SEEING THEIR HAPPINESS WAS TRULY MEANINGFUL”
Stating that they received highly positive feedback from the older adults who participated in the project, Prof. Dr. Nesrin Oruç Ertürk, Director of EKOSEM, said, “It was truly meaningful for us to see the excitement on the participants’ faces when they first arrived on campus, their growing curiosity as the training sessions progressed, and the happiness reflected on their faces at the end of the program. Being in a university environment again, gaining new knowledge, meeting different people, and setting aside time for themselves made them genuinely happy. We clearly saw how strongly Wiselife responded to an important need.”
“I FELT LIKE I WAS 20 AGAIN”
Noting that participants shared particularly meaningful feedback about their experiences, Prof. Dr. Ertürk said, “One of our participants said, ‘I was 73 when I came here, and when I left, I felt like a 20-year-old university student again.’ They told us that getting out of the house, meeting new people, and spending time chatting instead of sitting in front of the television made them feel very good, and that they had formed new friendships. Another participant said, ‘I used to think I couldn’t learn anything new at this age. Now I can use my phone with confidence, and I feel more self-assured.’ These responses are our greatest source of motivation and happiness.”
“THE TRAINING SESSIONS ARE HELD DURING THE SUMMER”
Emphasizing that they would continue their efforts to reach even more people, Prof. Dr. Ertürk said that the training sessions are held during the summer months. She explained that announcements about the Wiselife project are made several months in advance and that information about the program also spreads quickly by word of mouth. Prof. Dr. Ertürk said, “We have created a multifaceted model that brings different generations together under the university umbrella, supports older adults in adapting to the digital world, contributes to their physical and emotional well-being, and enables them to become more active participants in social life. In this respect, I believe Wiselife is a highly valuable social responsibility model that can serve as an example for other institutions both in Turkey and elsewhere and can be expanded more widely. Our goal is to include many more people in this initiative. Because we believe that growing older is never an obstacle to learning, developing, socializing, or adding new experiences and meaning to life.”
