Principles and practices of mature-age education at U3As

Author/s: Rob Siedle

Edition: Volume 51, Number 3, November 2011

Summary: A movement known as the Universities of the Third Age (U3As) provides educational, cultural and social services for mature-age people in Australia and internationally. This paper focuses on the educational courses run by U3As and discusses two basic questions: What are the expectations of learners who enrol in these classes? and How can tutors best meet these expectations? In 2011, there were 97 U3As in Victoria, with an aggregate of 24,800 members. All tutors are voluntary, and members of U3As pay a modest annual fee of only $40–$60 which entitles them to attend any of the courses on offer.

Keywords: mature-age, U3A, cultural, social

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 51_3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.