Module overview
Improvements in life expectancy have been one of the major achievements of the twentieth century. Around half of all children born today in the UK are expected to live to celebrate their 100th birthday and two-thirds will celebrate their 90th birthday. This exciting interdisciplinary module examines the implications of the new 100-year life, considering how individuals, families, the business sector, the economy, governments, and society more broadly will need to plan and adapt. It provides valuable insights into what do you need to know to live to 100 and enjoy it. Lectures and seminars will examine how the new norms around longevity will reshape all aspects of society.
The first part of the module will discuss the trends and drivers of population change, drawing out the implications of the changing lifecourse for individuals and families. The module will also look at how patterns life expectancy and population ageing vary across different countries and amongst sub-groups. It will also examine changes in health, how we can age healthily and whether there are limits to further improvements in longevity.
The second part of the module focuses on understanding how the economy and the business sector will need to respond to reap the benefits of longer lives. What does it mean for employers, workers and consumers?
The module then moves into the world of policy and planning and looks at how communities and governments should respond. Here we focus on issues such as the implications for government income and public spending; and prospects for designing lifecourse-sensitive policies. We also explore the role technology and the digital revolution can play in facilitating longer lives and how our built environment can adapt.
The final part of the module challenges students to reimagine their futures. The sessions address the meaning of moving from a traditional lifecourse to a multistage life. Students will discuss what makes for a good long life and assess overall readiness for the100-year life across sectors (families, business, government etc); and what further planning and innovation is needed?
The interdisciplinary module combines empirical evidence, theories, case studies and new ideas from a broad range of disciplines drawing upon recent research from within demography, gerontology, economics, business and management to technology, epidemiology, medicine and environmental sciences. The module is offered as an optional module to students from across the University. There are no requisites.