Gerontology at the crossroads: The need for increased marketing and competency-based education in gerontology
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Gerontology is ready to take the next steps to becoming a mature area of study, which requires increasing the field’s visibility to potential students. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines have created excellent marketing and public policy programs to increase visibility and enrollment in STEM programs. Gerontology needs to take similar steps, as too much of our marketing is directed to students who are already enrolled in our programs, which is akin to “preaching to the choir.” It is now time to utilize new marketing and advocacy efforts to increase visibility of and enrollment in gerontology programs. If gerontology is to grow and become a more in-demand field of study, similar to the STEM disciplines, we, as gerontologists, must invest time and resources into marketing campaigns that reach a wider audience and promotes competency-based education. These campaigns should also advocate for policies that carve out career niches for trained gerontologists and acknowledge their unique skill set and expertise.
