About us
Issues of old age and ageing affect every individual, as well as society as a whole. They can’t be solved from any single perspective. The Institute on Ageing brings together a team of dedicated, experienced experts from a variety of disciplines who collaborate on pioneering research, continuing education and consulting services.
The Institute on Ageing was established in 2012 and offers research, continuing education and consulting services in three themed focus areas. Since 2022, it has been carried equally by the Departments of Social Work and Health. The Institute has a dedicated, interdisciplinary core team, supported by experts from other BFH organisations in line with the problem at hand.
Management
Prof Jonathan Bennett studied psychology at the University of Zurich (licentiate 1998, doctorate 2005). He has been working at Bern University of Applied Sciences since 2009, initially in the former division of social work, and since 2012 as a lecturer at the Institute on Ageing. He has been head of the Institute since August 2016 - since 2022 in co-management with Karin Haas.
Karin Haas, Dr. rer. nat., studied nutritional sciences at the University of Vienna (Magistra 2002, doctorate 2006). Since 2007 she has worked as a lecturer at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics. Since 2022 she has headed the Institute of Ageing together with Jonathan Bennett.
Advisory Board
- Michael Kirschner (Head of Ageing, City of Bern)
- Cornelia Waser (Head of Programme Development, Health Promotion Switzerland)
- Klaus Wegleitner (Head of the Division of Public Care, University of Graz)
- Christina Zweifel (Director Curaviva)
Partnerships
We cultivate a broad, active expert network comprising universities, politics and professionals in the field domestically and abroad. Our long-standing partnership with Pro Senectute Switzerland, collaboration with the Swiss Society for Gerontology (SGG-SSG) and the cooperation with Domicil Bern, Spitex Bern and Zentrum Ergolz Ormalingen are particularly significant.
Staff
The Senevita «Designing Lifestyles in Old Age» endowment prize
Students from all subjects who are studying the topic of old age as part of a bachelor’s, consecutive master’s, CAS, DAS or MAS at Bern University of Applied Sciences, can enter for the Senevita Foundation prize. The prize is awarded for outstanding, innovative theses within the last two years. Its aim is to engage students’ interest in the topic of ‘Lifestyle design in old age’ and support knowledge transfer between research and practice.
The Senevita Foundation’s objective is to improve quality of life and accommodation in old age. It supports projects on issues relating to old age, living arrangements and lifestyles in old age and intergenerational relationships in Switzerland. The prize is organised and administered in collaboration with the Institute on Ageing.
