Conference Context

Conference date: Tuesday 17 June 2008, 10.00am - 4.00pm

Conference Venue: Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick [Map] [Driving Directions]

Older People Learning (OPL) is a project of the Workers' Educational Association (WEA).  The WEA has a long history of providing learning for Older People, and learners over 50 still make up around a third of the WEA's students.

However providing learning for Older People has become increasingly difficult within a changing policy context.  The government agenda for adult education is now very much about qualifications, skills linked to the economy and young people.  Set against this background the WEA is hosting a major conference showcasing the extraordinary benefits of involvement in later life learning. The conference will be addressed by leading researchers and draw upon the experience of older learners. 

Conference Information

We are particularly pleased to welcome as keynote speaker Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. Director of the Center on Ageing, Health & Humanities at George Washington University.  Dr Cohen is an internationally recognised academic and author, whose work includes seminal books such as The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, ground breaking research demonstrating the health benefits of creative activity in later life, and the invention of award winning intergenerational board games.

The conference will also be joined by researchers, practitioners and most importantly older people.

Conference Agenda

10.00  Tea/Coffee and registration

10.30  Introduction

10.45  Keynote address - Gene D Cohen

Learning Capacity, Psychological Growth & Creativity with Ageing: New Research Findings and New Perspectives

12.15  Older People's Voices

12.30 Lunch

1.30    Research findings

2.00    Workshops

3.00    Break

3.15    Plenary

3.45    Closing remarks

3.50    Close

Conference workshops

The conference workshops will be led by practitioners and researchers in the field of later life learning.  They will give an opportunity for more interaction with a smaller number of participants.  On the booking form you are asked to indicate your first and second preference workshops: unfortunately we cannot guarantee your first choice.

Workshop A: The Gender Agenda: Bringing Older Men Back Into Learning

Dr Alex Withnall, Warwick Medical School

Dr Withnall will lead a workshop on male participation in later life learning.  The workshop will look at models of best practice from her research and draw upon the experience of the participants.

Workshop B: The Creativity & Aging Study: Positive Health Effects Among Older Adults Involved in Lifelong Learning & the Arts

Dr Gene D. Cohen, George Washington University

A landmark study examining the positive health effects of active engagement in arts programs in a lifelong learning context will be discussed.  The underlying dynamics explaining these positive results will be examined, and their relevance to other forms of lifelong learning programs apart from the arts will also be reviewed.

Workshop C: Recognising And Affirming Later Life Learning

Jim Soulsby, freelance writer, researcher and practitioner in the filed of later life learning.

Later life learning occurs in many forms and in many places, but is very rarely acknowledged or built upon.  Jim Soulsby's workshop will discuss how to create common practice and procedures in recording, evaluating and building on what already exists.

Workshop D: Looking Back, Looking Forward                    

WEA Staff

This workshop will look at pilot courses run as part of the WEA's Older People Learning project and draw out the best practice.  It will also tap the knowledge of participants to shape the future of learning in later life.

Booking Information

Places at the conference can be booked online through the Events section of the WEA website www.wea-ni.com. Alternatively, information and a booking form can be requested by contacting Carol Aitken at carol.aitken@wea-ni.com, or via +44(0)2890 329718, or The Workers' Educational Association, 1-3 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast BT9 6AW.

If you would like further information about the conference or the Older People's Project, please contact Carolyn Hale, +44(0)2890 329718, carolyn.hale@wea-ni.com

Our online booking process allows you to book places at the No Age Limit - Conference on Tuesday 17 June 2008. Simply provide the requested information on the booking form when prompted below. A red asterisk * means that this is a required field and must be completed before the form can be submitted. A copy of the information you provide us with in the form below will be emailed to you as confirmation that your booking has been successful.
 

To register and book your place at this conference simply click on the link below.  

No Age Limit Conference Booking Form