Intergenerational activities are becoming increasingly important in today’s society. They respond to the weakening of natural social ties, promote community cohesion, and develop soft skills across generations. “In the context of current social challenges, we recognize the importance of strengthening intergenerational ties and supporting inclusive education. This project is proof that a university can be not only a place for students, but also a space for building bridges between people of different ages and life experiences,” said Ján Čelko, rector of the University of Žilina.
As part of the STEAM project, experts conducted a detailed collection of data on current intergenerational programs in Czechia and Slovakia. They identified more than forty organizations that together provide over seventy intergenerational programs in the Czech Republic, while in Slovakia the number is slightly lower. “This is a significant increase compared to 2009, when a similar survey was conducted for the first time and the number of programs was considerably smaller. This trend confirms the growing interest in intergenerational education and its gradual professionalization,” said Kateřina Pevná from the Department of Senior Education at ICV MENDELU.
MENDELU brings to the collaboration its long-term experience with the Intergenerational University, which connects children, young adults, adults, and seniors and has become an inspirational model for the STEAM project. This expertise will be further developed during the December training of Slovak colleagues in Brno. “The course is based on interactive forms of teaching—for example, participants become part of a model intergenerational group within the program, which will take place in cooperation with the Brno City Museum, specifically with the Arnold Villa. This gives them a deeper understanding of how intergenerational programs work, how they can be sensitively facilitated, and how to respond to specific situations or risks. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable – stepping out of your comfort zone – but it is always extremely enriching. No manual can replace this experience,” added Pevná, who is a lecturer on the course alongside Lenka Kamanová.
The final outcome of the project will be the opening of an intergenerational university in Slovakia and the implementation of the first intergenerational programs under the auspices of the University of Žilina in Žilina.