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DCU Age-Friendly University
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Call for Papers- Generations at Work: A Fairer Future for Learning, Earning and Longevity

Conference
Dublin City University’s Age-Friendly University (AFU) Initiative invites you to be part of an important European conversation at its international conference, taking place in Dublin on 22–23 October 2026.

Held during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, this event will bring together voices from across Europe and beyond to explore how we respond to one of the defining challenges of our time, demographic change and the need for greater intergenerational fairness.

As people live longer and societies evolve, questions of how we learn, work and support one another across generations have never been more urgent. This conference creates a space for meaningful dialogue between researchers, policymakers, practitioners and communities, all working towards more inclusive and sustainable futures.

Led by DCU and the Age-Friendly University Global Network (Europe), the conference reflects a growing European approach to age-friendly higher education, one that recognises universities as civic anchors, connecting knowledge, policy and lived experience to drive real change.

Join us in shaping a collective vision for the future, one where learning, earning and living well are possible at every stage of life.

Conference Themes

We welcome contributions that explore lifelong learning, inclusive workplaces, intergenerational collaboration, policy innovation and health and wellbeing across the life course. Above all, we are interested in ideas and practices that help build fairer systems where opportunity and responsibility are shared across generations.

  1. Lifelong learning and workplace inclusivity

  2. Intergenerational dialogue and collaboration

  3. Policy responses to demographic change

  4. Future workspaces in an ageing society

  5. Promoting health and wellbeing in the workforce

Types of Submissions

  • Full Papers

  • Practice Briefs

  • Panel Discussions

  • Extended Abstracts

  • Parallel Workshops

  • Poster Presentations

Key Dates

Call Opens:

May 1
 

Submission Deadline:

 August 21

Notification of Acceptance:

August 31

Early bird Registration closes:

August 31

Registration Deadline:

October 17

Conference Dates

22nd/23rd October 2026

How to Submit

Submit your abstracts and papers via the conference submission page on the conference website! We encourage diverse perspectives and welcome submissions from all backgrounds, particularly from underrepresented voices.

Check out our Early Bird rates

Find out more at

https://generationsat.work/

Shaping Europe’s future together, across generations.

Conference Registration

Registration is now open on the conference website. Please use the links below to register and pay for your ticket. You will also find instructions on how to use the payment system.

Payment Link:

https://dcu.sybernetsps.ie/dcupayments/dcu/

Payment Instruction:

https://generationsat.work/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AFU-Conference-Payment-Steps.pdf

 

Conference Attendance Costs

Two Days

Early Bird Rate (September 1st): €200

After September 1st: €250

Older People, Students, EFOS/U3A members: €100

One Day

Early Bird Rate (September 1st): €120

After September 1st: €150

Older People, Students, EFOS/U3A members: €50

 

Gala Dinner (Optional): €60
Cultural Visit (Optional): €25

 

For any questions related to conference registration, paper submissions or any related matter, please get in touch with the conference organisers at afuconference@dcu.ie