“We consider the practical focus of the conference to be its greatest strength. We do not simply want to talk about why intergenerational learning is important, but above all demonstrate how it can be meaningfully developed and implemented in practice. The conference will bring together experts and representatives of organisations from the Czech Republic and Slovakia who already have experience with intergenerational programmes, alongside those who are just beginning to explore this field. It will therefore provide an opportunity not only to share inspiring examples and proven practices, but also to engage in an open discussion about the challenges and obstacles involved in implementing intergenerational programmes,” said Kateřina Pevná, Head of the Senior Education Department at MENDELU’s Institute of Lifelong Learning.

The conference is organised by Mendel University in Brno in cooperation with the University of Žilina. The Brno City Museum is a partner of the event. It has received financial support from the South Moravian Region and is held under the auspices of Governor Jan Grolich.

For the past seven years, Mendel University in Brno has been supporting intergenerational learning through the implementation of intergenerational programmes. These activities are not simply about bringing younger and older people together. Their main purpose is to encourage participants to work on something together, solve tasks, discuss ideas and learn from one another. “In an ageing society, we should not focus solely on ensuring a good quality of life for older people. We should also consider how to foster relationships and mutual understanding between generations,” Pevná added.

Intergenerational programmes do not necessarily have to take the form of traditional teaching, in which one person passes on knowledge and another receives it. They can involve a scientific experiment carried out by a grandparent and grandchild, working together to solve a particular problem, or university students and older adults collaborating on a shared project. An older participant may contribute experience or a different perspective on an issue, while a younger person may bring a fresh idea. However, neither role is predetermined. What matters is that everyone has the opportunity both to share something and to learn something new.

This is precisely the principle behind MENDELU’s Intergenerational University, established by the university in 2019. The programme makes use of the university’s facilities, including its laboratories, specialist departments and botanical garden. In addition, MENDELU develops programmes that bring university students together with participants in its University of the Third Age. The importance of such contact is also evident in its potential to challenge stereotypes.

“We sometimes hear that young people are irresponsible or think only about themselves, while older people are described as conservative and unwilling to learn new things. Yet such assumptions are often based more on stereotypes than on personal experience. When people from different generations work together, they have the opportunity to discover that reality is far more diverse,” explained Lenka Kamanová, coordinator of MENDELU’s Intergenerational University.

Intergenerational learning can also play an important role in addressing loneliness and social isolation. These issues are not solely related to whether someone has people to spend time with. They can also be connected to the feeling that a person is no longer important to others or has nothing to offer. When a joint activity demonstrates that an older participant’s experience has benefited the entire group, or that a younger participant’s idea has helped move a shared project forward, both can experience the feeling that their skills and opinions are valued. Such activities cannot solve loneliness on their own, but repeated encounters can create opportunities for new relationships, friendships and a sense of belonging.

That is why the way intergenerational programmes are designed and prepared is also crucial. “What matters is that we do not assign roles to participants based on their age, but give everyone the opportunity to contribute their skills while also learning something new,” Kamanová added. MENDELU also aims to apply its findings beyond the university environment. As part of the international Intergenerational STEAM University project, it is developing educational activities and methodological materials that can be used by schools, libraries and other organisations.

The university has compiled its experience in the specialist publication Intergenerational Learning in Practice and is also preparing a methodological guide entitled How to Develop an Intergenerational Programme. The guide is intended to provide practical support for the preparation, implementation and further development of intergenerational programmes.