Slovenian Third Age University (Slovenian U3A)

Since 1984, Slovenian Third Age University has steadily grown to become a national network of 52 universities in 51 localities with about 21.000 students, more than 1000 mentors and 1000 volunteers. Its practice has been extensively researched: as a result, the university follows its own generalisations and is based on its own educational and organisational model.
In our view culture and older adult education are a way of decent and contributing living, meeting individual and community needs as well as anticipating social changes and adapting to them. It is also a way towards achieving greater social fairness on distributive, cultural and symbolic level. It is about supporting social inclusion and participation as well as dialogue among generations. Older adult education fosters active citizenship and respect for environment. It is a way towards maintaining and developing older people’s knowledge and skills, helping them to use them for their own benefit as well as for the benefit of society and in cooperation with other generations.