Ismail Tufan
Prof. Dr. İsmail Tufan is the founding chair of the Akdeniz University Gerontology Department in Antalya, Turkey. He is also the founder of the '60+ Renewal University,' the first third-age university model supporting Gerontology Departments and lifelong education in Turkey. Prof. Dr. Tufan, who is a gerontologist, sociologist, psychologist and social pegagog educated in Germany, has designed, started and coordinated numerous Social and Applied Gerontology projects and symposiums in Turkey since 1999. All these practices are pioneering applications, services, and models for aging and the elderly. Thus, he is regarded as the father of Gerontology in Turkey. He is also the President of the National Association of Social and Applied Gerontology of Turkey. In addition to his international teaching positions in Europe, at present, he teaches at Muş Alparslan University as a visiting professor, where he works voluntarily to improve the field of gerontology and elderly education in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. His studies specifically focus on social policies that need to be improved for the disadvantaged population, especially the elderly, regarding the expected results of global demographic changes, the need and importance for care insurance in Turkey, applied gerontology in demantia and Alzheimer patients, their relatives and caretakers, and life-long learning.