Universities must offer suitable courses for people aged 50 and above, a Universities UK report says, writes Katherine Sellgren for BBC News. The study says the ageing population in the UK "offers higher education institutions a serious challenge".

It says universities should set up centres in areas where there is a high density of retired people. They should offer a range of courses such as moving from full-time to self-employment, ageing healthily, human rights and environmental citizenship.

The Universities UK report, "Active Ageing and Universities: Engaging older learners", suggests universities help people prepare for the "probable two decades" beyond their main working career. They could be a key partner in "unlocking mental capital and promoting wellbeing in later life", it says. And universities should apply their widening participation agendas to all age groups, not just the young and working adults.

Full report on the BBC News site

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