University of the Third Age – my experience

PhDr. Soňa Pokorná

COOPERATION, NEED FOR COMMUNICATION AND RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE IN RELATION TO AGE-GROUPS

2nd International Conference, Częstochowa, 26th-28th June 2013

ContentsIntroduction The second life programmeUniversity of the Third AgeU3A at Comenius University U3A – my experienceU3A ClubPhoto GalleryLiterature

Introduction

The present-day changes of the society bring about new tasks to cope with by the aging population upon its retirement. The contemporary society forces also an older man to adapt to the new conditions as well as to shape his personality, to develop intellectually.

One of the most progressive ways to cope with the task is represented by the programmes of the further education.

Within the framework of Europe and Slovakia we distinguish several types of educational programmes and projects for older people based on specific conditions and possibilities of individual areas, regions and countries.

The second life programme

The second life programme for an aging population leaving active working life

Institutions of leisure education - progressive forms of lifelong education designed for seniors:

Universities of the third age Free time universities (France) Universities for all (France) Senior academies (the Netherlands, Germany) Academies of the third age (France)

to offer programme of activities responding to the conditions, needs and aspirations of older people 

to provide for older people the right to education and participation in culture through the school policy oriented in that way

to organize congresses, symposia, workshops, realize researches, issue leaflets and information materials with the purpose to develop education of seniors

University of the Third Age (U3A)

The first University of the Third Age - prof. Pierre Vellas,Toulouse1973. The main aim of the U3A is:

University of the Third Age (U3A)

Decisive factors for study at U3A

Motivation; interest in the study; previous experience with the level of past knowledge, self-realization and level of aspiration

Motivation incentives:

an interest to improve one’s knowledge in a new branch a need to spend one’s free time more usefully a desire to study at a higher education institution a need of social contact a necessity to broaden one’s knowledge needed at work an effort to get equal to the surrounding community

Mission of the U3A

to realize special-interest education of seniors in HEIs

to contribute to securing the right of older people to education

to gain the highest possible number of those interested in education from among the older people

to contribute by their programme and concept to a high-quality use of the seniors’ free time

to create a new high-value life programme of the seniors

to help the pensioners at their transit to retirement and integrate them into the society

to contribute to broadening of one’s horizons, knowledge, clarification of facts still unknown to them, and to improve their cognitive functions

to contribute to psychophysical conditions of the seniors

to take part in the care for the older generation who deserve attention for their lifelong results

to slacken conservativism and dogmatism, to avoid desperation of the old men, solitude and fear of death

to contribute to improvement of interhuman relations and to foster positive self-evaluation and self-esteem

Functions of U3A

Social - for benefit of the society

Educational - acquiring knowledge

Health - improving health state

Psychological - no depressions

Research - subject of research

Working - U3A as a new lifestyle

Philosophical - new view of the world, new opinions on doings around them

Economic - saving finances of the health sector for treatments

CU University of the Third Age (CU U3A)

The first U3A in Slovakia - founded at the Comenius University (CU) in Bratislava, 1990, under the auspices of the Centre for Continuing Education

In the pilot year - 235 students, today 1834 students attending 32 study courses in 13 CU faculties. The most popular is Faculty of Arts that offers most attractive study courses – the humanities, social and natural sciences.

The study takes as a rule three years –the first year is general to be followed by2 years of specialised courses. After the three-year study the U3A offers the extension course to be open to all those interested in continuing the study.The study programme includes14 lecturesheld twice a month for two hours.

CU University of the Third Age

Model of study at U3A

1st year - generally aimed study (including subjects of general background)

2nd and 3rd year of study – specialised courses

extension lectures – offered to all those interested in study after the 3-year study U3A Club

Each year is completed by tests

CU University of the Third Age

Admission requirements: no entrance examinations - secondary education completed with secondary

school-leaving examination - the age of 50 and over

The admission is conditional on submitting the filled-out application form; an evidence of the previous education – a secondary school-leaving certificate or diploma; an evidence of tuition fee payment.

The academic year starts with immatriculation of the newly-enrolled students and is concluded by completing the 3-year study with a solemn graduation ceremony.

The academic year consists of winter and summer term at the end of which the students take tests or write a thesis (depending on the course studied). The mark (passed or failed) is entered in the student‘s record book.

The lecturers are teachers and research workers of higher education institution, Slovak Academy of Sciences and highly qualified experts from practice (ca 300 teachers).

CU University of the Third Age

Forms of education in the study programmes

lectures discussions seminars excursions brainstorming round table self-learning individual consultations exercises research projects others

Study courses for academic year 2013/2014 at CU U3A

Archeology II, III (incl. new students) Astronomy I Man and Nature III (incl. new students) History and Monuments of Bratislava I, II, III History of Christianity II History of Literature I History of Slovakia I General History II History of Performing Arts II, III History of Performing Arts I, II, III Theatre and Music I, II, III Empathic Assertiveness I, II Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology II, III Expressive Therapies I Philosophy III History and Culture of Austria II Gerontology I

Yoga I, II Balneology II Latin and Culture of Antique Rome III Medicaments and Health I, II, III Museology and Cultural Heritage I, II Computers and Informatization I, II, III Law II Psychology I, II, III Life and Culture of Italy II Regeneration of Psychophysical Strengths I, II Social work I World of Opera II, III Topography of Antique World III UNESCO I Gardening II (incl. new students) Journalism II (incl. new students)

U3A - my experience

Motivation

a necessity to make more efficient use of my free time

a need to develop my knowledge in different branches

a desire to make friends and new relations

the study programme Gerontology offered a good chance to learn more about my body and advice how to avoid age-related health problems

the chance to participate in interesting events and excursions organized by the U3A and its Club

the study programme of Psychology offers a good chance to learn also one‘s psychical disorders, besides physical problems learnt in Gerontology, and how to avoid them

U3A - my experience

GERONTOLOGY I Biological consequences of interaction of physical factors and biological

systems Starting points of clinical gerontology Gerontology in the light of the world-wide community concern Physical movement and rehabilitation of people in older age Laws of relations: Medicine-patient Psychical hygiene Psychical changes and diseases in older age The most remarkable dermatological illnesses Diseases of motor apparatus in older age Changes in eye conditioned by age Functions and diseases of gastrointestinal tract Illnesses of respiratory system Cardiovascular diseases in older age Climacterium and senium of woman and views of gynecology

U3A - my experience

PSYCHOLOGY II Counselling in  Humanistic Psychology (+ seminar)

Personality from the view of S.Freud’s Classic Psychoanalysis (+seminar) Lifestyle, Family Constellations according to Individual Psychology of

A.Adler (+ seminar) Role of Mother and Father in the Present-day Family (+ seminar) Sexuality with seniors Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, Care for Disabled Person in Family Ethology of Animals and Psychology of Man Behaviour and Communication

Disorders in line with Evolution How to Hold Effective a Counselling Conversation with Client Treatise 

U3A - my experience

CU U3A also offers further possibilities of spending free time - special-interest activities

The educational process at CU U3A is supplemented by various other educational and social events. Besides the lectures and seminars

the students are engaged in:

project activities, excursions, visits

language courses (English, German)

physical training, tours, walks (yoga, tourism)

summer courses (Modra)

social events (theatre, concerts,etc.)

U3A - my experience

After finishing the first year of the study in 2009 I made use of a recreational summer course in the beautiful surroundings of the Small Carpathians where a group of 70 seniors of various courses spent a nice week in the study centre of the CU Center of Continuing Education in Modra, 40 km from Bratislava. The morning lectures on healthy lifestyle, such as yoga exercises, eye yoga or foodstuff effects on a man‘s health included both – theory and practice. The afternoon swimming course was held by a coach.

The instructional part of the day was enriched by trips to a nearby castle Smolenice and a tour to DRINY, the well-known cave. Still more amusing and memorable was the last day of our stay in the Centre – the camp fire evening when we baked sausages, sang popular songs, talked stories, made new friends and wished the nice evening never ended.

U3A Club

The U3A Club was founded at the Comenius University in 1999 on the ocassion of International Year of Older Persons. It organizes educational, cognitive and social events throughout the year and I became its member in 2010.

The U3A Club‘s activities are organized as follows: January - Annual meetings February - Shrovetide eveningMarch – Visit of a celebrity, lecture/chatting April – Meeting a celebrityMay – Meeting at the end of academic yearJune – Trip to natureOctober – New Academic Year – a walk November – Meeting a celebrityDecember – X-mas meeting

Educational, cognitive, cultural and social events, meetings of celebrities, Mayor of the City, President of the Slovak League against Cancer, visit of Vienna (City), Kittsee (Hauswirth Chocolate Factory), Hainburg (Kulturfabrik-exhibition), walks, sightseeing of the City, tours, excursions, trips, etc.

Photo Gallery

Literature

Baláž, V.: Ako sa dožiť vysokého veku. Osveta. Martin 1983. Cirbes, M.: Didaktika dospelých.Obzor, Bratislava 1989. Hegyi, L.: Príprava na starnutie.In: Obohacovane života ľudí.1993. Hegyi, L., Krajčík, Š.: Sociálna gerontológia, Herba, 2010. Hrapková, N.: Štúdium na univerzitách tretieho veku (Study at

Universities of the Third Age) – podpora kvality života. www.cdvuk.sk

Thank you for your attention!