L - R: Dr Flora Douglas, professor Catriona Kennedy, Abodunrin Aminu, professor Angela Kydd, professor Ian Murray
The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Robert Gordon University (RGU) has welcomed the first of two international early career researchers, who will be employed at the School to undertake PhDs on aspects of ageism.
Abodunrin Aminu is one of 15 global early career researchers, who have been employed a part of the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network on EuroAgeism.
Ghulum Nasir will be joining the university from Pakistan in February.
Professor Ian Murray, head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, welcomed Abodunrin to RGU this week.
He said: “It was a real pleasure to meet Abodunrin and I look forward to seeing the work that he will produce over his time as part of the School. I am certain that both he and Ghulum will benefit from the support they’ll receive at the hands of professor Kydd over the course of their further research.”
Professor Angela Kydd will utilise her long history of working in the field of gerontology and will lead leading the university’s work as part of EuroAgeism. She will act as director of studies to the two PhD students.
EuroAgeism is an international, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial network of researchers, policy makers, health and social care professionals, dedicated to the training of a new generation of early career researchers in the field of ageism.
The proposed research is a direct response to the European Commission’s Active and Healthy Ageing initiative, with an overarching goal to improve the quality of life of older people.
RGU will take an active role in the EuroAgeism consortium, alongside partners in the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland and Israel.
Professor Kydd explains: “By pursuing 15 research projects, we aim to explore ways to improve the active participation of older adults in the workforce, address ageism in relation to goods and services, and promote an age-friendly society, which helps older adults realise their full potential.
“These findings will then be disseminated to policy stakeholders and the general public, to decrease ageism in everyday life, in clinical and in social practice.”
As he begins his work at RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Abodunrin said: “I would like to thank everyone for such a warm welcome to the university. Ageism is a growing and important field of health research and one which impacts every one of us in some way. I look forward to working closely with professor Kydd and Ghulum on this important and impactful work.”