close

Events - 24.10.2017 - 00:00 

Future scenarios of an ageing society

On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, Pro Senectute of the Canton of St.Gallen invites the general public to attend a lecture series on future scenarios of an ageing society. The Former Federal Councillor and President of Pro Senectute will launch the series on 31 October. The four-part public lecture series will be part of the public programme of the University of St.Gallen.
Senioren Paar im Park wirft ausgelassen die Krücken in die Luft

24 October 2017. As an independent social organisation, Pro Senectute has supported elderly people for 100 years: people should be able to determine their lives themselves in old age, free from material and immaterial needs. The demographic perspectives alone indicate that Pro Senectute's activities will continue to be in demand in the coming years. At present, one in three inhabitants of this country is over 65 years old; in mid-century, the ratio is likely to be every second inhabitant, with the proportion of the very old increasing particularly strongly.

First lecture evening in three parts

On the first evening, on 31 October, the President of Pro Senectute Switzerland, former Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, will outline the social and economic importance of Pro Senectute. Subsequently Boris Tschirky, Mayor of Gaiserwald and Chairman of the Association of St.Gallen Mayors, will portray the future of an ageing society from the perspective of the municipalities. Then Widmer-Schlumpf and Tschirky will discuss important questions concerning the future of an ageing society in a panel discussion. Beata Studer (President of Pro Senectute, Canton St.Gallen) and Albert Baumgartner (social worker, Pro Senectute) will round off the panel.

Challenges and opportunities from three different perspectives

How safe are our pensions? The development of material old-age provision will be illustrated by Walter Ackermann, Retired Professor of Social Policy, on 7 November. Care for the elderly will also be affected by the current wave of digitisation. The developments, opportunities and risks connected with this will be sketched by Hubert Österle, Retired Professor of Business IT, on 14 November. The lecture series will be rounded off on 21 November by reflections by Verena Kast, Retired Professor of Psychology at the University of Zurich, on the individual opportunities and options of ageing.

Picture: Fotolia/Robert Kneschke

Dates
The lectures will take place at the University of St.Gallen in the Audimax (Room 09-010) every Tuesday and start at 6.15 p.m.
31 October
  • Pro Senectute – 100 years in the service of elderly people
    Former Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, President of Pro Senectute Switzerland
  • The future of an ageing society from the perspective of the municipalities
    Boris Tschirky, Mayor of Gaiserwald and Chairman of the Association of St.Gallen Mayors
  • The social significance of working for elderly people
    Panel discussion with Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Boris Tschirky, Beata Studer (President of Pro Senectute, Canton St.Gallen) and Albert Baumgartner (social worker, Pro Senectute)
7 November The future of financial old-age provision: how safe are our pensions?
Prof. em. Dr. Walter Ackermann, Retired Professor of Business Administration and Social Policy
14 November Ageing in a digital world: will we be cared for by machines in the future?
Prof. em. Dr., Dr. h.c. Hubert Österle, Retired Professor of Business IT
21 November Ageing – always good for a surprise
Prof. em. Dr. Verena Kast, Retired Professor of Psychology at the University of Zurich

 

 

 

Discover our special topics

north