Networking and Collaboration Outcomes at Japan's First National Intergenerational Conference

Abstract

This Manuscript examines a conference to promote intergenerational programs and practices, which was held in Tokyo in the summer of 2006. We especially focus on: (a) some of the factors that promoted social networking activities for intergenerational unity among participants at the conference and (b) some of the ways in which the networking activities affected participants' satisfaction and motivation to be repeaters. Our findings are drawn from a review of participants' responses on a questionnaire that they filled out at the conclusion of the conference. In short, the conference a useful opportunity for those interested in social networking in intergenerational unity. It was found that successful networking experiences can serve to encourage participants to be repeaters of future conferences, which implies for contributing to more stability and unity in the emergent intergenerational movement.

KEYWORDS:

• intergenerational initiatives
• international conference
• network building
• conference evaluation, Japan

Notes

1. The item on the questionnaire read as follows: “Among the people with whom you have become acquainted, how many people do you plan to have future contact with for purposes of exchanging information and ideas or to collaborate with in some way?”