The most popular organizations which organized the activities for the seniors in Poland are Third Age Universities. Usually the organizations are in the towns and cities.
Universities of the third age are educational institutions which primarily target the elderly. The U3As’ main objective is to activate senior citizens through education – lectures, workshops, courses, group outings and trips, and many other forms. A U3A has the bye-laws, curriculum, declaration of participation, etc. The U3A’s objectives may be diverse, but they always cover broadly understood education, activation and integration. Likewise, the classes may take different forms, but should be focused on the participants’ education, activation or integration.
The first U3A (Third Age University) in Poland was created by Halina Szwarc 12th November 1975. She was inspired by Pierre Vellas – the founder of the first university of the third age in France – Toulouse. She set the following goals for UTW: including older people in the continuing education system, intellectual, mental and physical activation of students, conducting observations and scientific research, developing methods for further education of older people and implementing gerontological prevention.
The Central Statistical Office conducts research on the activities of U3As). 552 universities of the third age (U3As) participated in the statistical survey conducted in the 2021/22 academic year. Universities of the third age varied according to organisational and legal form, but associations were the prevalent form – 288 establishments.
A total of 86,609 students attended U3As. Most were women (83.8%), people aged 60-79 (82.9%), people with secondary education (48.9%) and retirees (88.6%). A prospective U3A student had to meet certain requirements.
The main criteria were the submission of a declaration of participation (82.1%), relevant age (75.0%) and a fee payment (71.4%).
In a survey conducted in 2023 on U3A activities, questions were asked about sources of financing.
Among various sources of funding the U3A activity, student fees (63.8%) and local government grants (59.4%) were prevalent. Universities of the third age charged students with various types of fees, mostly membership fees (55.8%) and registration and tuition fees (53.4%).
Over 76% of the U3As in Poland indicated factors impeding their operations. Insufficient funds (65.8%) and the students’ income too low to meet the payment of fees (48.9%) were mentioned most frequently. The another problems are: Not enough volunteers, people ready to work for the U3A without pay, Equipment deficiencies (computers, furnishings etc.), Difficult access to rooms, conference halls.
The largest group of U3A students in 2021/2022 were people with secondary education (48,9%), next group was people with tertiary education (35,3%). The students with basic vocational is 11,7% in the whole group. The smallest group were students with primary education – 4%.
Resource:
- Józef Półturzycki – “Professor Halina Szwarc – the creator of Universities of the Third Age in Poland”
2. Statistical Office in Gdańsk – “Universities of the third age in the 2021/2022 academic year”