Resource Pack
Europe's coming of age: Europeans are now living longer than ever before with significant implications for the sustainability of pensions, economic growth and the future labour supply. The increased lifespan, on average 8-9 years more than in 1960, is great news  - particularly if accompanied by more years in good health - but also poses many questions for individuals, their families and social systems. How long do I need to work? Can I even afford to retire? Does society recognise my contribution in providing care and volunteering?
Conditions at work - what needs to change in the workplace to keep older workers
For most people work is not only a source of income but also an important aspect of their personal identity and their social life. When workers grow older, the positive elements of work often retain their importance, but for many it becomes more difficult to do their jobs. The latest findings from the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS 2010) provide some good news in this respect: they show that the percentage of workers in the EU27 that think they will be able to do their current job at the age of 60 has risen marginally from 57% in 2000 to 59% in 2010.
Working after retirement - a growing phenomenon
Over the past five years employment rates among workers aged 65 to 74 years increased by 15% in the EU27 (Eurostat, 2011). Most people in this age group are pensioners, demonstrating that it has become more common for pensioners to take on paid employment. There are two reasons why pensioners are increasingly involved in paid work. First, many want to work. This group sees work as a way to contribute to society, to be in contact with others, and to keep active. Improved health among pensioners has contributed to the growth of this group. Second, many pensioners need to work. For them, income after retirement from state pensions, occupational pensions, accumulated savings and other sources is just too low.
Impact of the recession - older workers are less affected
Keeping older employees in the workforce for longer has been at the heart of national and European policies since the late 1990s. These policies have had an impact. Employment rates for older workers aged 55 to 64 have increased considerably over the last ten years, from 38% to 47% (Eurostat, 2000–2010). Recessions tend to hit younger workers especially hard, and this recession has been no exception. However, Eurofound research reveals that employment of older workers in the EU has increased in all types of jobs, and especially in the health, education and social work sectors.
Demographic change - its impact on Europe
Europeans are living longer than ever before, nearly ten years more than in 1960. The increased lifespan is great news but also poses many questions for individuals, their families and social systems. Other demographic developments reinforce the challenges: fewer children are being born, which means fewer people are paying into state pension and healthcare systems, and there is a smaller pool of potential carers. Europe's population growth is still fuelled mainly by immigration. Non-EU citizens have been joining EU countries at a rate of one to two million per year and intra-EU mobility has also increased. By 2060 the proportion of migrants and their descendants will have doubled (Eurostat, 2011).

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) held a public meeting on December 11-12, 2012 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. NACIQI is the advisory body that provides recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education on the recognition of accrediting organizations.

Accrediting organizations scheduled for review during the two-day meeting were:

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition of Accrediting Organizations

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

Compliance Reports

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
• American Board of Funeral Service Education
• Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
• Distance Education and Training Council
• Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
• Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
• North Central Association of Colleges and School, The Higher Learning Commission

Staff reports are available on the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Website. Of the 13 non-governmental accrediting organizations before the committee, six were presenting petitions for renewal of recognition and seven were presenting compliance reports for renewal of recognition. The committee followed staff recommendations in most cases. A summary of the committee's deliberations will likely be posted to the NACIQI Website later this winter.

EU-DRIVERS. Universities and Regional Innovation: A Toolkit to Assist with Building Collaborative Partnerships. 2012. Brussels: European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities

IAU-ACUP. Report on the International Seminar on Innovative Approaches to Doctoral Education and Research Training in sub-Saharan Africa. 2012.
This document reports on the outcomes and recommendations that were issued at the Seminar on Doctoral Education and Research Training in Sub-Saharan Africa, co-organised by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP). Hosted by the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) at Addis Ababa University, the seminar took place on July 12th and 13th, 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The report summarises the suggested steps for future action to improve doctoral education in Africa. These outcomes were presented in San Juan during the IAU General Conference.
For more information, follow this link.

The charter is made up of a commitment document and two operational tools which are specific to higher education
The first Charter on Biodiversity in Higher Education and Research Institutions was presented On 17 October 2012, during the annual meeting on sustainable development of the Rectors' Conference of Universities (CPU) and the Conference of Grandes Ecoles (CGE).
The objectives of the Charter are well beyond the simple ecological management areas of the campus, and the tools allow the participating institutions to voluntarily go further by addressing all aspects relating to biodiversity.
The operational tools for the Charter come from CPU, CGE and other consultations conducted with members of Sustainable Development commissions.
Institutions have until the end of the year to amend the draft charter.
For more information, follow this link.

Since 2010 the Program works for the sustainability of solidarity projects in universities of the region

The Portal is a contribution to the UN-Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (UN-DESD)
The International Association of Universities (IAU) has launched the initial draft of a portal on the role of Higher Education in Promoting Sustainable Development (HESD) during the IAU 14th General Conference. The portal maps out actions and initiatives developed by higher education institutions and Associations of higher education, which are IAU Members, to promote sustainable development. Providing detailed contact information on where actions are undertaken, the portal aims at better networking between initiatives.
The initial draft of the portal will be improved in the next few months thanks to comments received. IAU Members are invited to send information on initiatives they would like to see featured on the portal.
For more information, follow this link.

Peruvian and Argentinian rectors meet to discuss the initiative

The platform is published on behalf of the Society for Research into Higher Education

This national two year project is now available