Our main goal was to involve learners from various age groups, including those in degree programs and lifelong learning, with a focus on encouraging civic engagement and fostering connections between different generations. We aimed to make a significant contribution to address the digital transformation and the need for innovative teaching and learning practices in the higher education sector and in education as a whole. Our goal was to create and implement a new teaching method that enables university staff and instructors to incorporate intergenerational digital service learning into their teaching practices effectively. A key aspect of our project was to significantly improve the skills and abilities of one of our main target groups: HEI academic staff, tutors, and lecturers. Service-learning is gaining momentum in Europe, but the challenges of the pandemic and the ongoing digitalization show that new forms of practice are needed. IDOL responds to this by introducing two further innovative elements: the intergenerational aspect and a digital dimension to service-learning. In addition, the tandem teaching was incorporated into the project, which promotes closer collaboration between university lecturers and community partners.
The idea of IDOL was developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has posed enormous challenges to social cohesion. The pandemic has increased the risk of social isolation and loneliness, exacerbated social inequalities and a gap between generations. It has raised questions about how older people are valued in society and increased ageism, with ageing often seen as a burden and older people portrayed as vulnerable and weak. At the same time, measures to protect older people have placed a challenge on younger people, both economically and socially. This has resulted more in a divide than a social cohesion. In response to these challenges IDOL grew out of concern for the civic engagement responsibilities of HEIs during the pandemic and the need to do more to help students tackle intergenerational tension. It aims to assist students in navigating intergenerational tensions while also addressing community needs through intergenerational digital service learning.Our Partners recognize that civic engagement and shared European values are more important than ever. We also know that we NEED to be doing more to tackle these issues, and not just because it meets our “third mission”.