ESU Annual Report 2023
Online
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On July 20, 2023, ESU-president An Hermans was invited to speak before a group of retired professionals in Kortrijk, Flanders. The group, named ‘Probus,’ is led by emeritus Professor Marc Depaepe, who used to be An Hermans’ colleague at the university. Probus is affiliated with the global Probus organization and provides a platform for active retired professionals to attend regular meetings, exchange ideas, engage in lifelong learning, and enjoy camaraderie.
During the event, An Hermans had the opportunity to present her publication titled The digital era? Also my era! – Media and information literacy: a key to ensure seniors’ rights to participate in the digital era rights to participate in the digital era’ which had been shared with all participants in English, along with a synopsis in Dutch. The subject sparked great interest among the group, as they all recalled their encounters with the digital information transformation during and after their professional lives.They were acutely aware of the digital challenges and the importance of continuous learning to keep up with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
One song, in particular, resonated with the participants, the 1981 Willem Vermandere song ‘Lat Mie Maar lopen’: ‘k Moest heel mijn jong leven studeren En ‘k wierd computerspecialist ‘k Kost het zodanig programmeren Totda ‘k van toeten noch blazen ni meer wist” which brought back nostalgic memories in the group of participants between 65 and 94.
An Hermans shared how she came about writing the publication and mentioned the encouragement she received from Patrick Penninckx, the head of the department of information at the Council of Europe. He emphasized the significance of involving older individuals in policy processes concerning ‘digital equity for all,’ a statement that found unanimous agreement among the participants.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the essential nature of participating in the digital era, as it became evident that being part of the digital environment was no longer just a choice, but a necessity for everyone. An Hermans’ meeting with the Probus group proved to be empowering and motivating, inspiring all participants to embrace the digital world with confidence and enthusiasm.