Project state
closed
Project start
July 2024
Funding duration
22 months
Universities involved
UZH, ZHAW
Practice partners
Stadt Zürich, SparkAdemy AG, Senioren Universität Luzern
Funding amount DIZH
CHF 299'169
In line with the broader digital transformation of society, and of education in particular, this project developed blended learning opportunities for adults aged 60+. The initiative responds to the recognition that older adults remain an underserved group in the learning domain, despite the growing importance of lifelong learning in an aging and increasingly digitalized society.
The project pursued three main objectives: (1) the curation of existing content and development of new courses, (2) the pilot testing and evaluation of these courses, and (3) the establishment of workflows outlining how to design e-learning formats tailored to older learners. As an initial step, two modules from the “Studium Digitale” e-learning course (Digital Society Initiative, University of Zurich) were adapted to align with the learning needs and interests of older adults. These modules were piloted with participants from practice partners such as Seniors Universities, whose feedback informed revisions regarding learning experiences and platform usability.
To prepare the development of a new course on “innovation and entrepreneurship”, we first conducted a feasibility study using a Design Thinking course provided by our partner Sparkademy. We published the findings showing strong engagement, high satisfaction, and demand for practical, hands-on, and socially embedded learning opportunities. In a subsequent study (publication in prep), we examined older adults’ perceptions of avatars in digital learning. Results indicated positive acceptance, leading to the integration of avatars into the course design. With the principle of co-design with older adults, we developed our age-friendly blended learning course on innovation and entrepreneurship, and piloted it with 7 older adults. Learners reported high satisfaction with both content and pace, as well as increased confidence in pursuing entrepreneurial projects. Several seniors have since initiated their own businesses or applied acquired skills in volunteering projects.
All course materials are available on the WiseLearn platform, which is now expanding into an agefriendly hub for learning and innovation. The project contributes to Zurich’s strategic objective of becoming an age-friendly city by 2035 and provides a foundation for a sustainable lifelong learning ecosystem in Switzerland.
Outreach (Selection)
- Inerle, K., Berger, S., Wallimann, M., Erden Özkol, Z., & Demiray, B. (2025). Older adults embrace design thinking: A feasibility study on blended learning formats. Educational Gerontology, 1-17. Wissenschaftliche Publikation
- Contributions to several academic conferences and public events
- “Innovation and entrepreneurship” blended learning program for older citizens
- WiseListening Podcast. A start-up project developed by one of the participants in our pilot study
- STULU – Studentinnenstadt Luzern: A social impact project developed by one of the participants in our pilot study
- “Schlau unterwegs in der digitalen Welt dank Lernplattformen“, SRF broadcast from 11 June 2025
- Presentation of the new course on the WiseLearn website
Core team:
Dr. Burcu Demiray, UZH Healthy Longevity Center / Department of Psychology Gerontopsychology
Prof. Dr. Fredrik Hacklin, ZHAW School of Management and Law
Dr. Zeynep Erden, ZHAW School of Management and Law, Management im Gesundheitswesen
Practice partner:
Call type: 2. Project Call