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: federacjautw@interia.eu

www. federacjautw. pl

Universities of the Third Age

Thank you for your attention

WIESŁAWA BORCZYKPrezes Stowarzyszenia Sądecki UTW i Ogólnopolskiej Federacji Stowarzyszeń UTW