With students and staff often on site only two days a week, UK universities have felt much emptier in recent years. But an unlikely demographic could hold the key to restoring campus footfall: pensioners.
The operators of nearly 100 “university retirement communities” across the US are confident that the unusual model can also succeed on the other side of the Atlantic. This month US experts responsible for several leading higher education-linked communities will be in London to meet university leaders to discuss potential partnerships.
The model has proved a massive hit with highly educated retirees keen to participate in the numerous academic, cultural and sporting events typically held on campus each week, explained Andrew Carle, founder of University Retirement Communities, which advises universities and retirement communities on this unique set-up.
“These communities are selling out before they are even open, they stay full and there are waiting lists,” said Carle, adding that “a lot of major universities are putting together partnerships of this kind”.
“Many universities have very structured lifelong learning activities on campus so retirees are keen to engage in these activities, both formally, via structured courses, or informally. Then there are the sporting events that happen and many seniors enjoy being around young people,” he continued.
