The aim of implementing the project was to achieve the following results: Identify the specific needs and preferences of middle-aged individuals in the field of wellness and healthy lifestyle. Assess best practices in service design and wellness teaching in each partner country. Develop, pilot, and implement an online study module (4 courses in English) on service design for wellness and healthy ageing, focusing on the 50+ age group. Develop, pilot, and implement learning materials for students and teaching method guidelines for teachers. Conduct an intensive pilot course for students and teachers to gather feedback on the developed study module and improve it if necessary.
We applied for this project to respond to societal challenges related to ageing population, growing demand for wellness services, and the need for interdisciplinary approaches in higher education. The ageing population creates significant demands on healthcare and social services while opening opportunities in wellness sector. Educational programs integrating service design with wellness and healthy ageing theories are essential. Traditional service design does not always address the specific needs of ageing populations, even though they are becoming a dominant consumer group. By developing an innovative study module, we aimed to equip students with skills to create age-friendly and inclusive services that support wellbeing. This project sought to address these challenges by fostering a transdisciplinary learning approach, encouraging collaboration across fields, and preparing students for real-world challenges in wellness and service economy. Lastly, universities and other sector organizations are increasingly interested in integrating inclusive design and healthy ageing principles. Our project aims to meet this need by developing a module adaptable for higher education and training professionals in health and wellness industries