A Study on the Operational Strategies of University-Based Elderly Education Programs: Focusing on Age-Friendly Universities in California, USA

The purpose of this study is to explore strategies for implementing senior education programs in Korean universities by analyzing case studies from age-friendly universities in California, United States. Focusing on two institutions— the University of Southern California (USC), which operates degree-based programs, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which focuses on non-degree programs— this study conducted a thematic literature review to examine their respective approaches. The findings reveal that USC’s senior education programs, led by the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, are grounded in a multidisciplinary research and practice-oriented educational framework, supported by a global research network. This structure reflects a model of age-friendly research and development(R&D) anchored in the university's academic and industry-related capacity. In contrast, UCLA presents a hybrid model combining elements of age-friendly city and community governance approaches with age-integrated educational initiatives, tailored to the goals and content of specific programs. Both institutions contribute to senior education through distinct strategies that leverage their institutional resources. Drawing on these cases, this study suggests new roles and practical pathways for Korean universities in an aging society and offers insights for establishing universities as platforms for age-friendly lifelong learning.