Leadership Course on Ageing is Living: Unlocking the Potential of Population Ageing

Welcome to the 2026 Open Application for the Leadership Course on Ageing is Living: Unlocking the Potential of Population Ageing

The Division of Health Systems of the WHO European Region and the Nagusi Intelligence Centre of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia are pleased to invite you to submit your application for the Leadership Course on Ageing is Living: Unlocking the Potential of Population Ageing, taking place in Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain, from 13-15 May 2026. 

The course aims to equip national, regional, and local government officials, politicians, change makers (in decision-making and coordination roles), senior managers, and media and communication specialists with the strategic vision, leadership skills, and systems thinking perspective needed to build and strengthen effective intersectoral partnerships (including civil society, the private sector, and older people), foster shared accountability, and drive transformative, coordinated action in the four action areas of the upcoming Ageing is Living: A Strategy for Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-being in the WHO European Region (2026-2030), including prevention for lifelong health, transforming care systems; creating enabling age-friendly environments; challenging ageism. 

By the end of the Course, participants will be able to:  

• Apply a systems-thinking perspective to address the complexities of healthy ageing and long-term care across sectors and levels of government. 

• Understand health and social care systems as a complex adaptive system shaped by demographic change and its social, economic, and policy implications. 

• Strengthen leadership competencies in strategic thinking, governance, policy influence, behavioral economics, and partnership building.  

• Lead multisectoral and multilevel policy and programme development in the four action areas of the Ageing is Living Strategy.  

• Build and sustain cross-sectoral partnerships across health, social care, housing, transport, education, urban planning, communications, and other relevant sectors.  

• Communicate effectively to influence public opinion, tackle ageism, and promote a balance narrative on age and ageing.  

The training will take place from 13-15 May 2026 in Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain. The teaching language will be in English. The application process will open 15 December 2025 and close 16 January 2026. 

Are you ready to start your application? 

Please read all questions carefully and submit all items requested.