MALGORZATA STANOWSKA & IZABELA KATO

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE IN LUBLIN - POLAND

Official name: Republic of Poland • Location: Central Europe

• Language: Polish

• Capital City: Warsaw (Warszawa)

• Population: 39 000 000

• Religions: Roman Catholic 89,8 %, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish.

• Currency: Złoty • Climate: moderate with both maritime and continental elements (the average

temperature in winter is -2°C, the average day temperature in summer is 22°C ).

Forecast of the population of Poland, 2007 – 2035

Source: Polish Central Statistics Office

the age pyramid of the population in

2035

the age pyramid of the population in

2007

Age pyramid in 2020

Source: Polish Central Statistics Office

MAIN FEATURES OF AN AGING

SOCIETY

feminization

Single one generation households

Double aging in 80+ group

decline of economic

status & health

Demographic aging of society and

its consequences

the growth in the absolute number of senior citizens

the need to develop strategic programmes for the elderl

the necessity to help organise the lives and meet the needs of senior citizens

The demographic aging of society, a process that manifests itself in

an increase in the proportion of the elderly in the population, results in

many problems, some of which are:

Demographic aging of society and

its consequences

the need to learn about the aging processes in the body and about the biological, medical and social consequences of these processes

the requirement to develop preventive programmes aimed at ensuring that people remain physically and mentally healthy long into their old age

the need to ensure geriatric medical training for physicians in primary healthcare

The dynamic development of the

Universities of the Third Age in Poland

The dynamic development of U3A źródło: http://zoomnautw.pl

Factors U3As "boom":

•Increasing number

of retired people in

Poland

• Financial support for new U3As

• by Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFW)

• A new generation of retirees

Universities of the Third Age in Poland

500 Universities of

the Third Age

150 000 students

48 – the average

number of lectures on

each U3A

Today there are 500

Third Age Universities in Poland

150,000 active members,

willing to share their experiences

and build something

for future generations.

Legal form of U3As

19% public and private universities

22 % local government institutions

54 % the form of associations (NGO)

Main objectives of U3As 85% education

65% personal development

/development of interests

and hobbies

27 % give U3A students the

opportunity to socialize

with people

41% popularizing

a healthy lifestyle

65% creating attractive

forms of free time activities

Sources of financing U3As

77% - students’ fees

60% local government subventions

36% support from the institutions patronizing U3As

17% donations

13% subventions from public institutions, grants from competitions

9% grants from the European Community

Government programme

“Social Activation of the Elderly”

Supporting the education of the elderly.

Supporting the development of social activities promoting intra-and inter-

generation integration.

Developing activities which increase social participation of older people.

Developing different forms of support, increasing the commitment of

volunteer caregivers, creating an environment of self-help and

developing the network of trained volunteers.

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

Models of Management in U3As

•Decisive role of U3As students

•Students’ self-government/ managing board

Bottom-up democracy

•Great impact of other managing institutions

•Programme Board

Indirect democracy

Educational activities to provide independent

and dignified life to older people

Learning new technologies to prevent digital exclusion.

Development of consumer awareness and knowledge

concerning personal safety.

Health education.

Preparing for the aging process.

Learning through volunteer work.

Development of social skills.

Characteristics of U3As students (age/sex)

15%

85%

MEN WOMEN

%

5%

55%

40%

% STUDENTS

up to 50 years of age 51 - 65 years 65+

The areas of educational activity

1

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

LANGUAGE COURSES

2

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

SPORTS CLASSES

3

WORKSHOPS

TOURISM

Volunteers- directions of their work

• ill and disabled people

•neighbours

•small children •elderly people

25%

19%

13%

14%

ZOOM into the Universities

of the Third Age

The statistical data presented come from the research

project „Zoom into Universities of the Third Age“

conducted in 2012. It was subsidized by the Ministry

of Culture and National Heritage.

The project was realized in scientific co-operation with

the Institute of Applied Social Sciences of the University

of Warsaw.

The Lublin University of the

Third Age (LUTW) was founded in 1985

under the patronage of five

universities in Lublin.

U3A in Lublin works under direct

organizational and academic

supervision of the Society of Polish

Free University, Branch in Lublin.

The basic forms of activity of the Lublin

University of the Third Age are education,

seniors volunteer activity and editorial work.

Lublin U3A in numbers:

29 years activity for education and activation of seniors

970 students in Lublin and 1500 in the branches

11 branches in the Lublin province

75 lectures from general knowledge, health and nature every year

572 hours of physical activity classes,

338 hours of foreign languages classes

312 hours of workshopsy

Twentieth

anniversary

of the choir

Flow Dancing Group

New challenges U3A

Increasing the participation of men

Professionalization of organizations and institutions

Developing stronger relationships with the local community

New challenges U3A

Preparing students for the period of old age (so-called fourth age)

increasing the number of activities aimed at self-study

The search for alternative channels to reach seniors who cannot participate in the U3A

www.utw.lublin.pl

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE IN LUBLIN