ILP | Testimonials

Testimonials

For more testimonials and reflections from our participants, please go to :
https://intergenerationallearningdcu.wordpress.com/category/testimonials/

Lorna Christie
Student in Masters in Business Management Business School DCU

Lorna is one of the DCU students who participated in the DCU Intergenerational Learning Programme for the academic year 2014-2015. Lorna participated in this study to obtain her PODS which is Personal Opportunity for Development credits. These are credits that are provided to the  master’s students in return for their volunteering in activities that lead to personal understanding and reflection. The PODs provide students with an opportunity to volunteer for various activities that promote social interaction and civic engagement and to reflect on this experience as an integrated part of their academic work. Lorna is currently conducting research for her project work which evaluates the experiences of some of the older students who participated in the ILP.  Here, Lorna reflects on her experience as part of the DCUILP.

The weekly class gave me something to look forward to in my busy college schedule. I enjoyed the personal one-on-one interaction in the course the most. It helped me to develop my communication skills. These skills are extremely important when studying business as in the work environment you are required to be adept at communicating effectively with people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. 

Europe has an ageing population. Currently there are four working people supporting every one retired person but in the future this will rise to only two people supporting every retired person. This course and others like it are crucial to teach the older  population to remain connected and give them skills to take control of their day-to-day lives. This course is unique, integrative and proactive and we need more initiatives of its kind. As populations continue to age, teaching older people to be independent will be of huge importance.

Seán Snee

I signed up help coordinate a module and deliver the module content to a class of learners as part of my masters course in business management in DCU. By doing so not only was I given an opportunity to enhance and develop practical skills, but it also was an opportunity to step back from an often hectic schedule and enjoy a rewarding couple of hours over the weekend. 

For me the most pleasing aspect of volunteering my time with the ILP was seeing the progress that many of the learners made from the beginning of the programme to the end. This along with the gratitude expressed by all the learners to the DCU student volunteers certainly made the whole experience extremely worthwhile.

Professor Mark Morgan, Psychology of Ageing Module

"The ILP students were the most enthusiastic that I ever met and it was a pleasure to discuss important issues with them. Their life-experience played a major role in their contributions. Rather than simply accept all that was in the lecture, they examined the extent to which it linked with their own wisdom."

Testimonials