On April 22–24, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) with the Networks of European Society for Research on the Education of Adults (ESREA): “Network on Education and Learning of Older Adults“, “Life History and Biography“, “Research Network on Adult Educators, Trainers and their Professional Development“ hosted a three-day joint international scientific conference “Research Diversity in an Ageing Society”. At the conference scholars, practitioners, educators and researchers from Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Ireland, South Korea, Turkey, Cyprus and Israel examined the multifaceted phenomenon of population ageing and its transformation, the experiences of adult learners and educators, their professional development, and their biographical learning journeys. Presentations also addressed such themes that are increasingly relevant in today’s world: intergenerational solidarity, community participation, ethical engagement with vulnerable groups, and the development of competencies – including care literacy, artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, and relational skills.
Today our economy and society operate in the context of significant demographic transformations that are shifting towards aging population. For higher education, an aging society presents twofold challenge: declining student enrollment and the difficulty of ensuring a generation turnover for the current academic staff. However, this shift also offers a unique opportunity to innovate in lifelong learning, conduct research that helps public policy, businesses and societal systems to adapt to demographic changes. For this reason, the development of educational science is especially important because in an ageing society, education extends far beyond formal schooling. It encompasses lifelong and intergenerational learning, supports social participation, and promotes the development of digital and civic competencies across the lifespan.
”This conference responds to these developments by creating an academic platform for the exchange of research findings and theoretical reflections on the multifaceted phenomenon of population ageing and highlights the essential role of research in understanding how individuals and societies adapt to longer life courses and changing social realities. The conference program is impressive not only for its thematic diversity but also for its broad geographical reach, bringing together scholars, practitioners and educators across Europe and Asia. It also embraces a wide range of research paradigms and methodologies – from life course and biographical research to sociological, psychological, and pedagogical approaches,” at the opening ceremony said MRU Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation Dr. Eglė Malinauskienė.
Prof. Dr. Laura Formenti, the convenor of the ”Life History and Biography” network noted that diversity has been the center of attention of the Network for many years. Not only diversity among people, but histemological diversities, methodological diversities, the differences of an academic cultures in Europe. The Network members are interested in developing good ideas around biographies. Biographies became very optional in education, since the 1990, they have grown in education and research. This conference provides a space to reflect on the most relevant topics.
Through plenary lectures, paper sessions, roundtables, workshops and panel discussions, the conference facilitated critical reflection on the role of educational science in responding to demographic change while fostering a society that values knowledge, participation, and learning at every stage of life. It is believed that these discussions have led to new insights, suitable ways of teaching older adults and helped to discover the ways how to encourage learning at every stage of life and strengthen collaboration between ESREA Network members.
