Universities of the Third Age (eng U3A, pl UTW) Education, activisation, and integration of the elderly.

Universities of the Third Age (eng U3A, pl UTW)

Education, activisation, and integration of the elderly

Polish Federation of Third Age Universitiy Associations

2011

Development of U3A (pl:UTW)

• 1973 Toulouse France, 1st UTW is established - by prof. Pierre Vellas

• 1975 establishment of International Association UTW- AIUTA

• 1975 1st UTW in Warsaw Poland established by prof. Halina Szwarc

• 2004 28 UTW- Program PAFW• 2010 250 UTW in Federation Database • 2011 about 300 active U3As

2011r. – 300 UTW

OVER 100 THOUSAND STUDENTS

Students of UTW

• Women and Men

• Over 45 years old

• Retired, pensioners, unemployed, people approaching retirement

• People with complete secondary education

STANDARDS of UTW

• Close relationships with Higher Education Institutions and scientific environments

• University lecturers and various specialists, lectors, instructors, trainers

• Education Programs divided into academic semesters

• Program Board

• Students’ Council

The role of UTW

• Development of knowledge, acquiring new skills, inciting new interests

• Raising the avareness of lifelong education• A satisfying way of spending spare time, counteracting

social exclusion• Social integration: with people of similar age, and with

other generations• Popularising a new approach to aging, creating a

positive image of the elderly peolpe.

Types of UTW

• UTW at universities

• Standalone associations and UTW foundations supported by universities

• UTW in different associations

• UTW in culture centers, libraries, lifelong education centers,etc.

Forms of Action of UTW

• EDUCATION- lectures, seminars, workshops, foreign language classes, ICT courses, physical activities, publications

• ACTIVISATION – cooperation with institutions, local and regional authorities, NGO, media

• INTEGRATION – meetings, events, mutual support, voluntary actions

POLISH FEDERATION OF UTW ASSOCIATIONS

• 2007 KRAKOW establishment of UTW Federation

• Aims: consolidation of UTW environment, help and support for UTW, representation in contacts with the authorities, presenting problems of the elderly in the public forum

Initiatives of UTW Federation

• UTW Leader Academy – UTW management training programs, fundraising, PR, cooperation with local authorities

• III Age Forum during Economy Forum in Krynica Zdrój and Nowy Sącz (2009,2010 and 8-10.09.2011)

Initiatives of UTW Federation

• Polish UTW Sport Olympics – Łazy – Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska – a regular event

• Regional UTW conferences in cooperation with Polish Ombudsman - Report on „The rights of the elderly in Poland”

Initiatives of UTW Federation

• Małopolskie Forum UTW – Kraków 5.03. 2011

• European Volunteering Year 2011 Senior Volunteering – Warszawa 8.09.2011

• The year of 2012 – The year of UTW in Poland

• UTW congress in Warsaw and other events

UTW

SCIENTIFIC PATRONAGE LOGISTIC PATRONAGE

• UNIVERSITIES

• R&D INSTITUTIONS

• ACADEMIA

• LOCAL AUTHORITIES

• CULTURAL/EDUCATIONAL BODIES

•SOCIAL HELP BODIES

• PFRON

•LABOR MARKET INSTITUTIONS

COOPERATION

NATIONAL

• NGO

• COMPANIES

• INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS

INTERNATIONAL

• UTW

• INTERNATIONAL NGO

• OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Universities of the Third Age

Challenges:• Creating a system of solutions for

including the elderly in lifelong education• Taking action in order to prevent digital

exclusion of the older generation • Creating a wide coalition of the older

generation

Universities of the Third Age

SEKRETARIAT Federacji UTW

33-300 Nowy Sącz, ul. Jagiellońska 18

Tel/fax 18 443 57 08

e-mail: [email protected]

www. federacjautw. pl

Universities of the Third Age

Thank you for your attention

WIESŁAWA BORCZYKPrezes Stowarzyszenia Sądecki UTW i Ogólnopolskiej Federacji Stowarzyszeń UTW