Between March and May 2024, IHF asbl successfully organised three international dissemination events as partner of the BOOMER project, co-funded by the E+ Programme of the European Commission. These events aimed at expanding digital literacy among seniors, in line with the project’s objectives, attracted a diverse international audience and fostered collaboration across sectors. By engaging stakeholders from Europe and beyond, the events positioned the BOOMER project as a best practice for senior digital education and cross-border cooperation in training and education. The first event, held on March 26, 2024, attracted 7 participants, including representatives from the Corporate Women Association. The session centred on the intersection of gender and digital competences, emphasising the unique challenges faced by senior women in accessing digital tools and services. Discussions explored how gender issues can influence digital literacy outcomes and how tailored interventions can close the gap. This event not only raised awareness about gender equity in the digital space but also inspired dialogue on future initiatives that could foster inclusive digital training programmes, particularly for senior women. On May 21, 2024, IHF asbl participated to a broader dissemination event at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium welcoming 15 international participants, including university students, higher education representatives, and digital and HR experts. This event aimed to highlight the BOOMER project’s key achievements and potential collaborations across the education sector, both in Europe and globally. The international mix of attendees, with many coming from Asia, provided an ideal platform for knowledge sharing and networking. Participants discussed future cooperation opportunities, contributing to the project’s sustainability and ensuring its relevance to different education sectors. This event reinforced the importance of integrating digital literacy into university curricula and emphasized the project’s capacity to build long-term partnerships with institutions worldwide. The third event took place on May 23, 2024, in Brussels, during a meeting with stakeholders engaged in training and education from different European countries. This event focused on creating lasting partnerships and exploring international collaboration opportunities. The diverse audience, including experts in adult education and representatives from various sectors, engaged in discussions on how to further expand the impact of the BOOMER project. With a focus on sustainability, participants explored new avenues for scaling the project’s efforts, fostering continued innovation in senior digital education across borders. Through these three international events, IHF asbl has significantly advanced the BOOMER project’s mission, bringing global visibility to its efforts in digital literacy for seniors. The networking opportunities created during these sessions have strengthened the project’s sustainability and set the stage for future international collaborations, ensuring that the BOOMER project continues to thrive and expand its positive impacts. For more information about the BOOMER Project, please visit our website.

IDP European Consultants, partner in the BOOMER project 2022-1-HR01-KA220-ADU-000085230 - co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission - recently organized two successful dissemination events in Italy. The events, which took place in collaboration with local partners, were part of Work Package 5 (WP5) of the BOOMER project, which aims to promote digital literacy among senior citizens, addressing the urgent need for upskilling seniors in digital competencies across Europe. The first event, held on June 25, 2024, was organized in collaboration with the Formula A.P.S. Association, an organization that works closely with municipalities to provide essential services to citizens. This event attracted a diverse audience, including a policymaker responsible for social issues and adult education. During this session, participants explored the broader impact of integrating digital education into senior-focused social services. The discussion highlighted the systemic improvements that such initiatives can bring to local communities, especially in terms of adult and senior education. By facilitating access to new resources and digital tools, the event inspired local stakeholders to explore further initiatives that address the needs of elderly citizens. Moreover, the presence of a policymaker opened avenues for strengthening the link between adult education policies and the BOOMER project’s outcomes. The second dissemination event, held on July 31, 2024, at the "Centro Sociale Anziani" (Seniors’ Social Center), gathered 25 participants, including senior citizens and a local policymaker. A representative from IDP European Consultants introduced the audience to the BOOMER project, effectively bridging the gap between digital technologies and the real-world needs of seniors by using relatable and analogy examples to ease comprehension. The event integrated gamification elements, such as interactive quizzes, to engage participants actively. These interactive tools helped maintain high levels of attention, ensuring that seniors could grasp and retain key concepts while fostering motivation and participation. The quizzes not only served as a teaching tool but also encouraged dialogue among participants, sparking meaningful conversations about their experiences with digital tools. One of the key outcomes of this session was the enthusiasm shown by the participants for the BOOMER project and the event. They expressed a strong interest in the topics covered, particularly cybersecurity, as they learned new skills to protect themselves online, boosting their confidence in navigating the digital world safely. Although the session introduced only basic concepts, the participants were highly motivated by the relevance of the training, and many expressed their desire for additional events and similar initiatives in the future. The lively discussions during the session reflected the value that seniors placed on having dedicated resources tailored to their digital education. By the end of the event, many participants expressed a strong desire to continue learning and improving their digital competencies, demonstrating the lasting effect of the BOOMER project. For more information about the BOOMER Project, please visit our website.

IDP European Consultants and IHF asbl recently concluded two successful sessions as part of the BOOMER project’s Test and Validation (T&V) phase, aimed at improving digital literacy for seniors. These sessions are part of the broader BOOMER initiative, co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Programme, which seeks to address the need to upskill seniors in digital competences across Europe. The first session, held online on April 10, 2024, was organised by IHF asbl and engaged 25 participants from across Europe. Delivered via Zoom, the session focused on topics such as international collaboration, cybersecurity and misinformation, reaching a diverse audience of students, digital experts and representatives of European associations. The use of BOOMER Digital Warehouse and training modules—covering essential skills like managing digital identity and navigating the world of disinformation—played a pivotal role in fostering interaction and engagement. The second session, co-organised by IDP European Consultants and IHF asbl, took place on April 19, 2024, at the University "G. d'Annunzio" in Pescara. This face-to-face event brought together 21 participants, including local students and members of associations. The training featured hands-on activities and practical exercises, such as managing online safety and understanding digital misinformation. Feedback gathered highlighted the value of tailoring content to real-world scenarios, which helped participants relate theoretical concepts to their everyday lives. One of the key lessons from the sessions was the effectiveness of a blended learning approach, combining in-person and digital training, to cater to various learning preferences. Interactive materials such as quizzes, visual aids and group activities were highly appreciated, particularly among learners with less digital experience. Continuous feedback from participants helped trainers refine the delivery, ensuring that all learners, regardless of their skill level, felt supported. The BOOMER project, bringing together partners from five countries (Croatia, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain), is dedicated to bridging the digital divide by empowering seniors with the skills necessary to participate actively in the digital age. Through training modules and support tools, BOOMER aims to integrate digital technologies into adult education, ensuring the sustainable adoption of these tools. For more information about the BOOMER Project, please visit our website.

At the end of June 2024, the BOOMER project was presented to scientists from the University of Aachen and the Institute of Labour Sciences and, in particular, the modules developed. At a time when the population is ageing, the group of senior citizens in particular (both those who are still working and those who are already of retirement age) are called upon to deal with all aspects of digitalisation. The project content and qualifications presented are also invaluable for scientific institutions that deal with the topic of an ageing population in teaching and science. The participating scientists followed the findings with great interest and look forward to further work by the project consortium on this topic.