Course Code: GER502
Synopsis
In this course, GER502 Ageing and Society in Asia, students will take a multi-dimensional perspective to the study ageing and society in Asia. Beginning with the conceptual and theoretical foundations for understanding the individual, this course will proceed to examine the social, economic, cultural and ethical implications of an ageing population within the Asian context. Various policies and initiatives relevant to ageing, such as, Healthy Cities, Active Ageing, Age Friendly City, from the World Health Organization, United Nations etc., in the Asian Region will be introduced. Current issues that cut across disciplines, such as caregiving and intergenerational tensions, changes in family dynamics resulting from global as well as local social changes, ageism in the private and public spheres will be discussed. Policies and legislations affecting older adults and their families will be debated and assessed for effectiveness. This course has a practical focus (e.g. field visit), and students will be encouraged to propose strategies to address these challenges/issues in multidisciplinary teams.
Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY
Topics
- Global ageing phenomenon
- Opportunities and challenges in an ageing society
- Key International Ageing related initiatives
- Social policies related to ageing in Asia
- Case Studies relevant to ageing in Asia
- Key concepts and theories of ageing
- Healthy City and Age Friendly City
- Ageing, Family and Caregiving issues
- Ageing and Health Promotion
- Ageing, work and Retirement
- Ethical issues in ageing
- Future of Ageing in Asia
Learning Outcome
- Discuss the broad multi-disciplinary perspective on the ageing process on both societal and individual basis.
- Critique and apply potential aged care practices and models in the Asian Content.
- Examine the issues and challenges in an ageing society.
- Assess the opportunities and challenges in an ageing society.
- Appraise the ethical, legal and social issues related to older persons.
- Prepare an ageing related case study based on the Asian context.
Dates for 2026 January Semester
| Session | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 Aug 2026 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 2 | 16 Aug 2026 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 3 | 22 Aug 2026 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 4 | 23 Aug 2026 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
Who Should Attend
- Executives in eldercare sector
Relevance of Course to Employment / Upskilling / Reskilling
GER 502 Ageing and Society in Asia examines ageing within diverse social, cultural, economic, and policy contexts across Asian societies, providing students with a strong foundation to understand the structural and societal forces shaping later life. As Asian countries—including Singapore—face rapid population ageing, shrinking family sizes, and increasing care needs, the eldercare industry requires professionals who can situate individual care needs within broader social systems, cultural norms, and policy environments. This course equips learners with critical sociological and comparative perspectives that are directly relevant to eldercare service planning, delivery, and innovation.
The course enables students to analyse how demographic change, family transformation, urbanisation, migration, social inequality, and cultural values influence ageing experiences and care arrangements in Asia. These insights are essential for professionals working in eldercare, community care, healthcare, social services, housing, and policy sectors, where effective interventions must be culturally sensitive, socially informed, and system-aware. By understanding variations in ageing policies, care models, and societal responses across Asian contexts, students are better prepared to design, implement, and evaluate eldercare programmes that are responsive to diverse older populations.
For working professionals, GER 502 supports upskilling by strengthening analytical, policy literacy, and socio-cultural competencies needed to improve service quality, programme development, and organisational decision-making within the eldercare industry. For learners transitioning into ageing-related sectors, the course facilitates reskilling by providing essential grounding in ageing issues, care systems, and societal trends that underpin roles in eldercare operations, community engagement, advocacy, research, and policy support. Overall, the course enhances employability and professional adaptability by preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s and Asia’s evolving eldercare and ageing ecosystem.
Admission Prerequisites
- A recognised Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required as a prerequisite for entry into this course.
Please refer to Graduate CET Admission Eligibility Criteria for Graduate CET Modular Courses.
Schedule
| Session | Time | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 8:30am to 1pm | Topic 1: Global Ageing Population
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 1pm to 5:30pm | Topic 2: Key International Ageing-Related Initiatives from the UN and WHO and the Global Roadmap
| |
| Session 2 | 8:30am to 1pm | Topic 3: Key International Ageing-Related Initiatives from the UN and WHO and the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 1pm to 5:30pm | Topic 4: Ageing related issues 1
| |
| Session 3 | 8:30am to 1pm | Topic 5: Ageing related Issue 2
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm to 5:30pm | Topic 6: Future of Ageing
| |
| Session 4 | 8:30am to 1pm | Student Group Presentations (Compulsory Attendance)
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm to 5:30pm | Continuation + Guest Speaker (after lunch, to be confirmed)
|
Assessments
- Assignments
About the Trainer
Associate Professor Carol Ma
Associate Professor Carol Ma is a leading expert in Service-Learning (S-L) and ageing in Asia. She heads the Gerontology Programmes and is the Senior Fellow (Experiential Learning) at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. She drives curriculum development, community engagement, and applied gerontology research, championing transdisciplinary approaches to ageing. She pioneered different new applied research and initiatives with the community partners, including the first geragogy guideline, community age+living lab and the reminisceince facilitation training for the older adults, etc. She serves as an advisor for caregiver and eldercare services with the NCSS, a member of the Coordinating Committee for the Silver Industry of Enterprise Singapore, an advisor for the International Longevity Centre Singapore and inclusive learning for the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.
Carol also advises government-linked (e.g Silver Industry of Enterprise Singapore) and international organisations (e.g. World Health Organization, UNESCO and Uniservitate). Her work is widely recognised. She has been a visiting scholar/professor at UMass Boston and Simon Fraser University, and was recognized as a Smart Ageing Leader (Changemaker) by the Golden Age Foundation in Hong Kong.
Her Linkedln: (2) Carol Ma | LinkedIn
Her Researchgate: Ma Hok Ka Carol
Ms Susana Concordo Harding
Ms Susana Concordo Harding is the Senior Director of the International Longevity Centre Singapore, Tsao Foundation. With 24 years of work experience in the ageing and longevity sector in Singapore and the region, she has expanded her role to Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the College of Health and Social Sciences, Flinders University and Co-President of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance.
She has published articles, reports, policy briefs as co-author in renowned peer-reviewed international journals and in regional (the ASEAN magazine) and global policy journals (Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights or OHCHR). She is also a Reviewer Manager of The Lancet. Her research and policy relevant interests are on ageing and longevity, population health, intersectionality of ageing and gender, gender equality, intergenerational solidarity, long-term care, caregiving, resilience, financial literacy and inclusion, healthy and productive ageing.
Susana has a degree in Economics from the University of Santo Tomas (Manila) and Master in Public Adminstration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at NUS.
She was awarded the Gary Andrews International Fellow 2024 by the Australian Association of Gerontology and Global Ageing Trailblazer 2025 by Ageing Asia.
Her Linkedln: (2) Susana Harding | LinkedIn
Course Fee
| International Participants | Singapore Citizens (below 40yrs), Permanent Residents | SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy1 (S'poreans aged 40 and above) | Enhanced Training Support for SME2 (Singaporean and PRs) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Course fee (A) | $3,168.00 | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 |
| SSG grant (70%) (B) | - | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 |
| Nett course fee (A) - (B) = (C) | $3,168.00 | $792.00 | $792.00 | $792.00 |
| 9% GST on nett course fee (D) | $285.12 | $71.28 | $71.28 | $71.28 |
| Total nett course fee payable, including GST (C) + (D) = (E) | $3,453.12 | $863.28 | $863.28 | $863.28 |
| Less additional funding if eligible under various schemes (F) | - | - | - | $528.00 |
| Total nett course fee payable, including GST, after additional funding from the various funding schemes (E) - (F) = (H) | $3,453.12 | $863.28 | $335.28 | $335.28 |
Singaporeans aged 40 years and above may apply to offset out-of-pocket course fees from their SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) 60 days before the programme start date, and up to 90 days after the programme start date. More information at /academics/executive-lifelong-learning/courses/grant---schemes/skillsfuture#skillsfuture-credit
For payment, please refer to /payment-modes for the various payment modes.
For Refund Policy, please refer to /admissions/financial-matters/tuition-fee-subsidy/cet-courses#refund-policy.
- A written request for a refund must be submitted and is subject to approval.
- If written notice of withdrawal is given within the cooling off period and before the course start date, a full refund of the fees paid less an administrative charge of $110.00 (exclusive of GST) will be given.
- No refund will be given for withdrawal thereafter.
- The cooling off period is defined as 7 working days after payment of course fee.
Course Completion Requirements
- Participants are required to achieve at least 75% attendance and pass any prescribed examinations/assessments or submit any course/project work (if any) under the course requirement.
- Participants are required to complete all surveys and feedbacks related to the course
- The course fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the course fees without prior notice.
- Singapore University of Social Sciences reserves the right to amend and/or revise the above schedule without prior notice
For clarification, please contact the SUSS Academy via the following:
Telephone: +65 6248 0263
Email: [email protected]