The Aging Research Center (ARC) at Karolinska Institutet (KI) is set to host the doctoral course “Societal and Life-course Perspectives on Inequalities in Aging” during the fall semester of 2025. This initiative is conducted in collaboration with the Swedish National Graduate School on Ageing and Health (SWEAH) from Lund University, attracting students from various academic institutions across Sweden.
The course aims to provide an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing social and health disparities related to aging. As Principal Researcher at ARC, Neda Agahi emphasizes the importance of understanding how these inequalities manifest and evolve throughout an individual’s life. She notes that the course also examines variations across different global regions and historical contexts.
Comprehensive Curriculum Addressing Key Issues
Throughout the duration of the course, participants will explore critical concepts and theories associated with aging inequalities. Topics covered will include ageism, healthy aging, poverty among older adults, social exclusion, health care systems, informal caregiving, and sexuality. Abigail Dove, a Postdoctoral Researcher at ARC and assistant course leader, highlights the course’s comprehensive approach, which integrates various dimensions of aging disparities.
In addition, the course will analyze inequalities in aging through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Course director Malin Ericsson, an Assistant Professor at ARC, states that students will receive training to identify the primary causes of emerging inequalities as individuals age. This training will encompass both societal structural perspectives and individual life-course viewpoints, fostering a deeper understanding of the factors influencing disparities within aging populations.
The course is scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 24, 2025. Interested applicants should note that the application period is now closed. This program represents a significant opportunity for students and researchers to engage with pressing issues in the field of aging, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of societal inequalities.
