Bridging Eastern and Western views on IGL: 2nd International IG Conference 

On 27 January 2024, 50 scholars and IG leaders came together to present and discuss the latest research and innovation in IGL at the Second International Conference on Intergenerational Learning in Hong Kong. The organisers were the Hong Kong Jockey Club IGL and Reading Project and the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong. The hybrid format of the conference meant that presenters could also join online from China, Singapore and Japan as well as from Australia, Europe and the USA.

Topics discussed were wide-ranging and included: what meaningful IG interaction in nonformal and formal education contexts entails and what it means for IGL programme design; the contribution IGL can make to formal education at a time when universities and schools are being challenged to be relevant and meaningful and the role and responsibilities public libraries have in promoting IGL.

Digital technology as a learning bridge between different generations was prominent in many of the research studies and initiatives presented. Culture and the arts were also highlighted as an impactful way of bringing generations together. We heard about an IG dance initiative from Singapore, the ‘Weaving Wisdom’ IG project from Pennsylvania, social knitting for wellbeing in Sweden, and doing calligraphy together in Japan. The TOY blog series will feature some of the inspiring practices and innovations presented at the Conference over the coming months.