Join Cohehre in Aalborg

Dear colleagues,

I cordially invite you to participate and contribute to the upcoming Annual Conference of Cohehre, to be hosted 18-20 April 2012 by the University College of Northern Denmark in Aalborg.
 

As in past years, Cohehre has aligned its Conference theme with that of the European Year.
2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. We feel this is a chance for all of us to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before — and to realise the opportunities that represents.

Active ageing can give the baby-boom generation and tomorrow's older adults the opportunity to:

• stay in the workforce and share their experience
• keep playing an active role in society
• live as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible.
 

It is also key to maintaining solidarity between generations in societies with rapidly increasing numbers of older people.
The challenge for politicians and stakeholders will be to improve opportunities for active ageing in general and for living independently, acting in areas as diverse as employment, health care, social services, adult learning, volunteering, housing, IT services or transport.
 

The European Year seeks to raise awareness of the issues and the best ways of dealing with them. But most of all it seeks to encourage all policymakers and stakeholders to set themselves goals and take action to meet them. 2012 should go beyond debating; it should start bringing tangible results; it should foster Innovative Education for Active Ageing in our institutions.
 

In order to promote reflection on this theme the conference programme will offer keynotes, workshops, oral sessions and paper contributions on four areas:

• Empowered Ageing
• Use of Welfare Technologies
• Future Professional Skills and Competences
• Integrated Care and Inter-professional Approaches

The Staff Programme is scheduled from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 April and the Student Programme will last from Monday 16 to Friday 20 April.

I am confident this conference will again be a source of inspiration for staff and students. I wish that the sharing of knowledge and experiences may result in actions that support innovative teaching and learning in our member institutions. I surely hope that member institutions join forces in cooperation projects that enable or reinforce the realisation of their (international) ambitions.
 

And I do look forward to meet a great number of you in Aalborg, in April 2012!
 

Cor Segeren

President Cohehre