GRADUATE EDUCATION INITIATIVES FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON AGING AND HEALTH IN SWEDEN

摘要

Sparked by the development of a Nordic Master’s Program in Gerontology, and followed by the establishment of graduate schools integrated with national aging research centers in Sweden, a national Graduate School for Ageing and Health (SWEAH) was established. SWEAH is a partner of the International Summer School on Ageing (ISSA). Program evaluation results show that students appreciate the networking and interdisciplinary ambitions of these programs, but they also display challenges inherent in motivating students to get seriously involved in activities requiring that they leave their disciplinary comfort zones. Based on experiences and evaluation results gained from these programs over the years, we describe and problematize requirements for efficient capacity-building in a national and international context. Spin-off effects in terms of international engagement and collaboration in supervision teams and examination committees serve to strengthen the interdisciplinary competence and capacity for international collaboration of the management teams and teachers involved.