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showing that there are different levels at which universities can
engage with these communities, from what we call ‘building on
the university brand’ (which is essentially about fundraising) to
integrating them into the learning population which we’ve called
‘building on the community’ Figure 5.1. Another advantage is that,
as individuals within these retirement communities become more
frail, there is an easy transition into care because many universities
in the US have their own hospitals attached to their medical
schools. So, these communities are about providing places where
people can be supported in the latter part of their lives, until the
very end.
I’m not suggesting that retirement communities of that model are
the future here in the UK, mainly because they are inherently elitist.
But I am interested in turning the model established in the US on its
head to think about the creation of learning-centered communities.
We’re learning from cradle to grave these days, so the learning
environment is becoming a bedrock at the core of the community
while boundaries between school, university and college are being
broken down.

Figure 5.1 University linked High:
retirement communities linked to
academic
programme
building on building on
the university the quality
community of care

Level of
university
involvement

building on building on
the university the proximity
brand to care

Low:
revenue
stream
Low: High:
‘independent Level of care ‘assisted
living’ provided living’

20 Life-long learning