The project “Seniors ZONE in gamification and art-therapy” is a European partnership, co-financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, which brings together three organizations from Romania, Spain and the Netherlands. The partners involved are:

“Integrare Europea” Association from Romania – with extensive experience in adult education and in the development of e-learning platforms for seniors.

Abarka NGO from Spain – specialized in social inclusion and innovative methods of non-formal education.

Stichting CODINE from the Netherlands – recognized for the development of transnational projects and the use of gamification in adult education.

The aim of the project is to reduce the risk of social exclusion for people over 50 years old through innovative methods, such as gamification and art-therapy. Through this initiative, the project supports social inclusion, the development of digital skills and the promotion of lifelong learning.

Description of the mobility in Bilbao

The mobility held in Bilbao from 27 to 31 October 2024 was organised by Asociación Abarka and focused on exploring gamification techniques applicable to adult education. The activity had as its main objective the training of extended skills for adult education workers, specialised in working with seniors.

Agenda of activities:

Day 1: Introduction to the project, theoretical presentation of game-based learning and exploration of the advantages and limitations of gamification.

Day 2: Development of strategies for integrating games into e-learning plans and differentiation between game and gamification.

Day 3: Creation of gamification activities through ICT integration and evaluation of their impact.

Day 4: Identification of good practices in Europe and implementation of non-formal demonstration activities.

Day 5: Intercultural exchange of experiences and thematic visits to local institutions specialised in social protection and technology for seniors.

Each session was complemented by practical workshops, demonstrations and interactive discussions between participants.

Impact of the activity

The Bilbao mobility had a significant impact on the participants:

Development of professional skills: The 9 adult education workers learned to use gamification to make the learning process more attractive and effective for seniors.

Creating an intercultural framework: Participants benefited from a collaborative environment, which allowed the exchange of ideas and good practices between organizations.

ICT integration: Innovative ways of using technology to support lifelong learning and reduce social isolation of seniors were explored.

Conclusions

The Bilbao mobility proved to be a key milestone in the “Seniors ZONE in gamification and art-therapy” project, significantly contributing to the achievement of the set objectives. Participants went home with an improved vision on the use of modern methods in adult education, opening up new opportunities for the development of successful programs for seniors.

This project is an excellent example of transnational collaboration supporting social inclusion, innovation and lifelong learning. The results of this mobility will be integrated into subsequent activities and disseminated at European level through the EPALE platform and other relevant channels.