iCONNECT - Intergenerational CONtact between studeNts and people with dEmentia through CreaTive education is a project under the umbrella of Erasmus+ KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices and KA203 - Strategic Partnerships for higher education.
This project started on 1 September 2017 and will finish on 30 August 2020. The consortium consists of 6 partners from 4 EU countries with complementary knowledge and backgrounds: Stichting National Ouderenfonds (Netherlands, coordinator), Università degli studi di Udine – Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica (Italy), Hogeschool Utrecht Higher Education Institution (Netherlands), Lahti University Of Applied Sciences (Finland), T.E.I. of Epirus Department of Nursing (Greece), Elliniki Etairia Nosou Alzheimer Kai Syggenon Diatarachon Somateio (Greece).
The aim is that, by implementing the results from this project, all European higher education institutions will be able to contribute to the creation of dementia friendly environments. Intergenerational contact is established through a creative learning module that combines theatre, poetry and music, tapping into the long term memory of older people with dementia. A core component of the module is the open blended learning platform (moodle) that contains all the teaching material and makes it possible for students to exchange information, ideas and content, plan their own activities and report on their results and experiences. At the same time, it allows and encourages the open international exchange of information, thereby also communicating and collaborating with people from other countries, while making contact with people with dementia. The platform will be an innovative tool to bring dementia theory into practice and make it visible for students.
The main learning objectives of the module for the participating students will focus on obtaining transferable skills in communication, creativity, critical thinking and social competences; becoming more caring and compassionate towards older people with dementia; improving knowledge and competences about older people and dementia; developing a culture of support, openness and creativity in their future work environment.
Website: https://www.iconnectdementia.eu/
Website for module: https://www.iconnectdementia.eu/iconnect/module-variations