The aim of the article is to present the potential of GERT ageing simulators as an innovative teaching tool in architectural education. In the face of an ageing society, universal design is becoming one of the key challen-ges for architects. The author points to the need to supplement traditional teaching methods (lecture, laboratory, project) with active forms that allow students to experience the limitations of older people. The article discusses the results of workshops conducted at the Faculty of Architecture of the Poznań University of Technology, in which GERT simulation sets were used. By analyzing the accessibility of the space of the university building, the participants gained a new perspective of a user with limited mobility. A survey conducted after the classes indicated the high effectiveness of this method in the process of designing spaces for seniors. Simulation allows students not only to understand the needs of older people, but also transla-tes into the quality of their projects, taking into account the principles of universal design. The use of simulators allows for empathetic engagement, which promotes the development of social competences and increases the awareness of the designer's responsibility towards users with diverse needs.