improve opportunities for active ageing raise awareness of the issues and the best solutions

1. Universities of the Third Age: A demographic priority Case study in PolandCatherine Lockhead-Strzępka, M.B.A.Institute of EconomicsUniversity of Information Technology and ManagementRzeszów, Poland

2. improve opportunities for active ageing • raise awareness of the issues and the best solutions • encouragepolicymakers and stakeholders to set themselves goals and take action

3. European Commission ThirdDemography Report - April 2011 • EU population aged 65+ • increasedfrom 13.7% in 1990 to 17.4% in 2010 • by 2060 - about 30%

4. EUROPEAN AGENDA FOR ADULT LEARNING Priority area for the period 2012-2014 Enhancing learning opportunities for older adults in the context of activeageing, including volunteering and the promotion of innovative forms ofintergenerational learning and initiatives to exploit the knowledge, skillsand competences of older people for the benefit of society as a whole.

5. Universities of the Third Age • intellectual, physical and social aspects of non-formal education, • learning opportunities for older adults in the context of active ageing, • Encouragingthoseno longer in full-time employment to join together in educational creative/leisure activities.

6. TwoApproaches (1972) Frenchmodel teaching and learning taking place in traditional university systems (1981) British model ‘self-help’ run entirely by retired volunteers, often in low cost or highly subsidized community premises, orevenmembers’ homes, with little or no support from formal education providers

7. Poland • Adulteducation = ‘post-compulsory’ (ages 24-35) (formal, vocational) • Participation of adultsin continuing education in out-of-schoolforms5.6 %, (EU average 9.1%) lowestamongthoseaged45-64

8. U3As in Poland • since 1975 • 320 U3As, over 100,000members (2% of pop.segment) • 2012the Year of the U3A in Poland • associations or foundations (65%) • within a university structure (13%) • within local public administration (15%) • 89% of all U3As in Poland financed by membership fees, 63% receive some local government support

9. University of the Third Age in Wrocław • founded in 1976 • 750 participants (spaceavailablebasis) • Lower Silesian Forum of U3As 5 urban + 25 smalltown initiators active seniors Universityassistance links to local public administration

10. Link to LocalLevel Public Administration • Decentralizingnational reforms • Provideeducational and recreational functions andperform a social role • Public outreach • Interest lobby • Possiblevolunteeropportunities

11. Challenges ACCESS - thosewithouthighereducation (58% vs. 7%) - socialattitudes

12. Benchmarks • Effective (participationgrows) • Efficient (volunteerbasis) • Relevant (demographics) • Sustainable • Synergies (public services) • Transferable

13. Local and regional actors will be at the forefront of capitalising on the opportunities for active ageing. • They are the ones able to understand and respond to the specificchallenges that demographic ageing posesto their communities.

14. It is at local and regional levels that many of the most essential services areprovidedthat enable older people to remain active. • A crucial issue is therefore enabling local and regional actors to play their part.

15. Universities of the Third Age: A demographic priority Case study in Poland Contact: cstrzepka@wsiz.rzeszow.pl