University of Debrecen Comparing The Experiences of People in their 50s and 60s of the Changes after the Fall of Communism IMRE SEMSEI PhD, DSc Faculty of Health University of Debrecen

Prof. Imre Semsei Dean (Univ. Debrecen, Faculty of Health; UD FH) Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Vice President, Health Expert Group, AGE Platform, Europe Director of Gerontology Science Coordination Center (UD FH) Editor-in-Chief Hungarian Gerontology President of the Society for Preventive Gerontology and Geriatrics Research area: Gerontology – biogerontology – experimental and theoretical gerontology: - genetic alterations - aging hypotheses

PARTNERS: University of Debrecen, Faculty of Health, prof. dr. Semsei Imre Trnava University in Trnava, prof. dr. Marek Smid University of Silesia, prof. dr. Andrzej Kowalczyk University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejkovice, prof. dr. Libor Grubhoffer DATES OF MEETINGS: Trnava: 20-21 March Ceske Budejovice: 28-29 April Katowice: 23-24 June Debrecen: 1-2 December

AIM OF PROJECT: The main aim of the project is to prepare a common comparative research concerning the experiences of the changes after the fall of the communism for people in their 50s and 60s. In the frame of the project we organise workshops, focus groups and lectures to exchange the national experiences, and results of the research, which have already been made in the involved countries. We form a common understanding of the topic, and develop a new common research method.

FUTURE: Visegrad countries have common historical and social background, so it gives a good reason to the comparative research -the active ageing is the ongoing topic all over Europe as well as in the V4 countries -besides the earlier knowledge of the topic, we try to give a new aspect to the examination of the active ageing -how people perceive the effects of macro level changes and how these experiences influence their present life and process of ageing -all the project partners can extend the knowledge of studied topics -the results of this project will be the basis of the later common comparative research.

OUTPUTS: Final paper of the country specific reports. It will contain four country reports, presentation of the new research method and the results of the pilot research. Approx.100 pages, colored cover, black-white pages, A5 size, expected number of copies: 400 (100 per country) Questionnaire. Summarized questionnaire in English. Pilot research in Hungary: 50 tested questionnaires in Nyiregyhaza . On our website we give basic information of the project status and present activities. During the workshops local media will be invited and project goals and the presentations of the experts will be put on the partners’ websites. We invite the local media to the project opening ceremony. Handouts and summaries about the projects will be sent to the media and put on the partners’ websites .

FINAL GOALS: Partners can develop and analyze a common knowledge in the topic. The active and successful ageing influences the life of the identified people in all countries. The common method will help to develop further research in this field. The outcomes of the workshops and final questionnaire: we plan to apply for Visegrad Strategic Funds or other European Funds related to the topic. During the project period we will form a well organized research network which will be the basis of continuation of the project.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION