U3A

UNIVERSITY of the THIRD AGE
connecting seniors to lifelong learning



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U3A

About U3A


U3A is the University of the Third Age and it connects seniors to life long learning.

The University of the Third Age is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community, those in their third "age" of life. It is commonly referred to as U3A.

There is no universally accepted model for the U3A. Its original conception in France as an extramural university activity was significantly modified in the United Kingdom where it was recognised that most people of retirement age have something to contribute and the emphasis has been on sharing, without formal links to traditional universities.

U3A membership is not related to a specific age but to a period in one’s life (the third age) after the second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility. Anybody in their third age can join U3A and this includes people who are working part-time. There is no lower age for membership.

Our People


The University of the Third Age is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community—those in their third "age" of life.

The U3As are normally based in metropolitan, regional and rural areas, and follow the British self-help model of teaching and learning over a wide range of subject areas, dependent upon the membership's own expertise, knowledge and skills.

U3As do not issue diplomas but rather certificates and teach practically in all fields according to the interests of the groups of elderly students (usually 55+) such as computer skills, languages, entrepreneurship, hereditary law, religion, politics, etc. Sometimes U3As provide groups with vocational training and formal continuous education opportunities.

Our Objectives


U3A is the University of the Third Age and it connects seniors to life long learning.

The U3A can provide a valuable resource in considering many local and national issues.

Membership includes many with experience and expertise in almost all walks of life and letters.

Although strictly non-political, U3A members have time to reflect in a mature fashion on such topics as the operation of public services, crime and punishment, the future of energy supplies, public funding of the arts and so on, and can reply to invitations to engage in public consultations with carefully considered and argued responses.

Our Funding


In keeping with the U3A ethos, U3A is a self-funded, voluntary organisation formed to provide learning opportunities to members aged 50 plus who are retired or not working full-time.

A critical feature of all U3A is the self-determination and self-help principle. A committee of management is elected annually from the membership, and all administration and tutoring is carried out by volunteers. There is an expectation that every member will, at some time, contribute to the extent that they are able.


Our Approach

Lifelong Learning


U3A is the University of the Third Age and it connects seniors to life long learning.

Typical courses include Art, Classical Studies, Conversation, Computers, Crafts, Debate, Drama, History, Languages, Literature, Music, Sciences, Social Sciences, and Philosophy.[14] Some study groups do not have a prepared syllabus, but draw on reports of current affairs in their topic subject to prompt conversation and research. Some groups are designed to cross disciplinary boundaries, for example, combining Society, Technology and Science in a fashion not practical in more formal academic environments.

There are also many less educationally focused activities, including Games, including bridge tuition and duplicate bridge playing groups; Health, Fitness & Leisure, including countryside walks, Theatre/Concert Clubs, Travel Clubs, and Dance in all its forms.

How U3A Works


U3A is membership based organisation for people aged 50+, are retired or semi-retired from the workforce and want to keep their brain and body active and develop new social networks.

U3A provides the foundation for members to share their skills and experience with others.

Volunteer tutors and course leaders offer extensive course programs to all members.

There are no academic prerequisites or entrance requirements other than a passion for and interest in learning and wherever possible sharing your own knowledge and skills.

There are no examinations or tests, and no awards are granted.

U3A is a self-help, voluntary, not-for-profit global organisation.

What are the U3A Core Values?


U3A groups are well positioned to conduct serious research into local history and genealogy.

Some groups aim to bridge the generation gap in the field of information technology, opening up an exciting new world to many who might have been oblivious of it otherwise.

Internet marketing is especially important for members in more remote locations.

Community Contribution

Late Life education


There are five major reasons why late life education is important:

1. Education can foster the self-reliance and independence of the elderly thereby reducing the increasing demands being made on public and private resources.

2. Education is a major factor in enabling older people to cope with innumerable practical and psychological problems in a complex, changing and fractured world.

3. Education for and by older people themselves strengthens their actual or potential contribution to society.

4. Self-awareness by older people, their self-interpretation and the communication of their experiences to other generations fosters balance, perspective and understanding which is valuable in a rapidly changing world of conflict.

5. Education is crucial for many older people who strive for expression and learning.

Independence


There is an increasingly important role which education can play in delaying or minimising dependence by the rapidly growing older population, on the public purse.

Those with knowledge of a range of options in later life are more likely to be able to retain their independence than those whose options are limited.

A rapidly growing range of adult education programs for older people is now available specifically to meet the needs and interests of older learners. U3A is an international adult education success story for older learners.

Self-Help


U3A adopted an approach in which there was to be no distinction between the teachers and the taught.

Members would be the teachers as well as the learners and, where possible, members are engaged in research activities.

The "self-help" ideal was based on the knowledge that experts of every kind retire, thus, there should be no need for older learners to have to rely on paid or unpaid Second Age teachers.

Some of the strengths of the approach include: minimal membership fees; accessible classes run in community halls, libraries, private homes, schools; flexible timetables and negotiable curriculum and teaching styles; wide course variety ranging from the highly academic to arts, crafts and physical activity; no academic constraints such as entrance requirements or examinations; and, the opportunity to mix with alert like-minded people who enjoy doing new things.

Each U3A is independent and is run by a democratically elected management committee of members.

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