University of the Third Age

University of the Third Age (U3A) is a national movement aimed at education and motivation for retirees in society, those who are in "the third age" of life. It is usually referred to as "U3A".

There is no universally accepted model for "U3A". The original concept was modified in France, becoming a university activity outside the traditional university walls in the United Kingdom, where it was recognized that most people in retirement have something to contribute, and the focus was on participation without formal links or traditional universities.

Many English-speaking countries followed this model, while European continental countries mainly adopted the French model. For historical reasons, "Institutes of Lifelong Learning" is a term used in the United States for organizations similar to "U3A".

The British University of the Third Age website reports on the eligibility for membership: "Membership of U3A is not related to a specific age but to a period in a person's life (the third age) after the second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility. Any individual in their third age can join U3A, including those who work part-time. There is no lower age limit for membership."

History

France
The University of the Third Age began in France at the Social Sciences Faculty in Toulouse in 1973.
It was started by Professor Pierre Vellas in France, and each group of U3A is usually linked to a local university.
This academic model is used in many other countries, especially in continental Europe.
Membership provides opportunities such as high-level teaching staff, a diverse range of course materials, and the opportunity for students and colleges to conduct research based on practical experience, cultural or historical experiences of older people.

U3A universities do not issue diplomas, but instead certificates of appreciation. They teach in many fields according to the interests of an older student group (usually over 55 years old) such as computer skills, languages, religion, law, politics, genetics, entrepreneurship, etc.
U3A universities sometimes provide professional training groups and opportunities for continuous formal education.

In the 1990s, the concept expanded in France to the concept of "University for All Ages" (UTA) or "Leisure University" (UTL).
The French Union of Universities for All Ages (UFUTA) changed its name while keeping the acronym, while some university sections adopted the title "Leisure University".

The International Association of U3As (AIUTA), a global and international network of U3As, including institutions from most European continental countries, Central and Eastern Europe, China, Russia, Latin America, etc. includes Mauritius and other features. Its president is Professor François Vellas from the University of Toulouse, son of the founder of the first "U3A", Pierre Vellas.

United Kingdom
The concept reached the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, where it changed fundamentally to become a self-help organization under institutional influence, Peter Laslett, Michael Young, Eric Midwinter.
This model was also used in Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic.

In the British peer-to-peer learning model, it is assumed that retirees have long-term experience and collectively possess a vast amount of knowledge. This is used to organize courses for each subject, where each meeting is usually led by a member of the group with strong interest or specialized knowledge.
Each U3A group pays membership fees to the national coordinating body,
The third age is defined as the period after full-time employment and parental responsibility.

In the UK model, there are no formal qualifications or exams. The focus is on participation and learning for its own sake.