On October 8, 2025, Professors Anita Pipere, Aleksejs Ruža, and Dzintra Iliško participated in the Psychology Days Symposium, delivering a lecture titled “Docētājs seniors augstskolā – izaicinājumi, risinājumi un nākotnes iespējas” (“Senior Lecturers in Higher Education – Challenges, Solutions, and Future Opportunities”). The Psychology Days symposium was organized by the Latvian Association of Health Psychology.

The presentation addressed an increasingly significant topic in the context of demographic changes and the evolving landscape of higher education—the role, status, and well-being of senior academics within contemporary universities.

The lecture provided a comprehensive exploration of multiple dimensions shaping the experience of older adults in academia. The professors systematically examined widespread myths about aging, highlighting how stereotypes and misconceptions about older professionals’ capabilities. A critical discussion followed on stigma and ageism, demonstrating how implicit biases can marginalize senior faculty and limit their participation in academic decision-making and innovation.

The presentation distinguished between institutional, cultural, and structural barriers faced by senior lecturers and older adults in academia. Institutional barriers were discussed in relation to formal regulations, policies, and administrative practices that may unintentionally disadvantage older staff. Cultural barriers were associated with attitudes, informal norms, and generational assumptions that shape workplace dynamics. Structural barriers were linked to broader societal systems and organizational structures that reinforce inequities in professional development, recognition, and intergenerational collaboration.

The presentation provided an insightful and timely contribution to current discussions on aging, inclusion, and diversity in higher education. Their interdisciplinary perspective offered actionable strategies for building more equitable, inclusive, and resilient academic environments.

Further information:
Daugavpils University professor, Ph. D. Dzintra Iliško
dzintra.ilisko@du.lv