Institutions

Tihomir Žiljak, Head of the Department for Lifelong Learning, Development and EU projects

Public Open University Zagreb (POUZ) is the largest non-profit adult education institution in the Republic of Croatia with tradition that goes far back to the year of 1907, when Albert Bazala initiated the idea of establishing a public university, while the first lectures started in 1912. The POUZ has witnessed dramatic times in Croatian history, thus being influenced by changing political and economic circumstances.

The institution is situated in Zagreb within one of the most functional buildings of modern architecture, designed for adult education and culture, built in 1962. (50 classrooms, 10 cabinets, 10 ICT cabinets, conference hall, library, 3 galleries).

The founder of the POUZ is the City of Zagreb, i.e. municipal authorities and nowadays the POUZ has 147 educational and cultural programmes, 3.324 participants per year and 250 teachers and trainers.

 We offer a various formal educational programmes- starting from elementary and secondary school programmes for adults, as well as training and retraining courses. We are mostly oriented to vocational adult education for labour market (aimed both at already employed person seeking for new job opportunities as well as at unemployed persons).

Apart from formal education, we offer a wide range of non-formal education courses such as foreign languages, art, crafts, ICT.  Together with these programmes for adults, in the POUZ there are also programmes for children (dance courses, musical instruments courses and different creative workshops).

We are especially proud of the Third Age University, which has specialized in non-formal education for senior citizens offering a wide range of courses of foreign languages, IT-skills, lectures and workshops on history, art, health and other interesting topics.

The POUZ has a rich publishing tradition and we issue manuals, textbooks, books, magazines and journals.

Our institution has more than 10 years long experience in developing and conducting various EU funded projects related to adult education and culture. Department for lifelong learning, development and EU project at the moment  implements 10 EU projects (10 ESF projects and 6 Erasmus+projects) with partners from 14 countries. We are a member of EAEA (European Association for Education of Adults), a member of DANET (international umbrella association of education institutions, fostering education and science in the domains of lifelong learning, social participation and dialogue in the Danube countries), a member of AIUTA (International Association of Universities of the Third Age) and a member of Croatian Adult Education Society.

Altheo Valentini

CSF is a private non-profit association that has been founded in 1999 on the basis of a joint proposal of the Municipality of Foligno, the University of Perugia, the Umbria Region and the Province of Perugia. Later on the Association has extended its role of Training Agency towards different areas, being today CSF is a training agency able to pick up and satisfy the educational needs of the territory in a competent and customized way.

We have worked with and for different target groups, always starting from the assumption that high-quality education and training are fundamental to the whole realization of the individual. “Education for all”, in our case, has meant in particular the realization of training courses and other formative interventions for disadvantaged groups. Unemployment, handicap, gender and racial discrimination, from one side, have been dismantled with adaptability, guidance and social inclusion, from the other side.

Thanks to its long term experience in the field of the adult education, the Association has a wide network of private and public bodies, including NGOs and voluntary associations, and promotes the dialogue and the collaboration for the realization of common educational projects and initiatives.

Jennifer Granville

Leeds Beckett University is a higher education corporation that provides access to education for a wide range of learners, promoting cultural awareness and diversity through our curriculum. Our University offers a range of undergraduate and post-graduate courses across four faculties, having almost 30,000 students, 3,000 staff and 300,000 associate students through our network of 24 Partner colleges.

The Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University provides an opportunity to study film and television in the North of England. The Northern Film School values collaboration with other filmmakers and also recognises the need for active relationships within the wider community and in lifelong learning, and engages in actively recruiting from this wider community particularly through our Foundation Degree in Film and Television. Foundation Degree students and staff are involved in many, varied projects and Partnerships – through community engagement, festivals, museums, artists and production companies. Our University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing undertakes research into the health status of individuals and communities, investigating issues including healthy communities, health promotion and men’s health, gender and wellbeing. Within the institute there is extensive expertise and a strong track record of research in themes around Active Ageing, civic and community participation and health.

Specifically, on ‘CINAGE’ this will include conducting a literature review of evidence on competencies for Active Ageing, civic and community involvement and health and wellbeing, integrating and validating those competencies through engaging with older citizens in Reflection and analyse groups, and ensuring that films selected and course strategies and modules illuminate and represent the competencies.

Encell, the National Centre for Lifelong Learning, is the principal national organisation responsible for conducting research in and disseminating knowledge about lifelong education and learning. Encell is run under the auspices of Jönköping University Foundation,  and its organisational host is the School of Education and Communication (HLK).

The Beth Johnson Foundation is a national charity dedicated to making the UK age-friendly. Working with a network of volunteers, researchers, intergenerational practitioners, and age-specialist partner organisations, we speak up for the rights of older people, and push for change, at a strategic and practical level, to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy a great later life.

Association GENERATIONS is an organisation based in Sofia, Bulgaria, providing adult education.  Association Generation works with people of all age groups, building social bridges, tackling a wide range of topics relating to the ageing of the workforce and inter-generational learning.  It also designs and carries out soft skill, diversity management, and work-private life reconciliation training courses.  Association Generation tries to facilitate diversity management in the light of demographic changes.  It carries out research, development, and implementation of experiences, principles, and policies linked to the coexistence of and communication between different communities; to the concepts of civil society and gender mainstreaming; European policies and values that contribute building social bridges, in the framework of the LLL Projects the Organisation has been involved in.

GENERATIONS is involved in different national and international project since 2010 – LdV, Grundtvig, ERASMUS+ etc. It is certified after a LQW system – a German quality management standard system, developed especially for VET and adult education institutions. It’s member of the international network EMIL – European Map for International Learning.

Maria Helena Antunes

AidLearn is a Training, Action-Research and Consulting company, which operates at national level and the European Union, dedicated to the design, implementation and evaluation of studies, projects and training activities that promote individual and / or organisational development. Stands for building up a learning organisation concerned with equality of opportunities and providing innovative services targeted to actual needs mostly of SMEs and deprived and vulnerable target groups in risk of social exclusion.

AidLearn has experience to work in Adult Educational Projects, either as coordinator or as a Partner, particularly in EU projects explicitly addressed to social inclusion.

Kai Frithjof Brand-Jacobsen; Founder, DPO Director and Trainer

Mehmet Sadik Selçuk, Principal of Luleburgaz High School

Martin Iliev, Principal of the school

Mesut Ridvan Sarioğlu, Chairman

Mrs. Maria Atanasova, Chairperson

Fonte Maria Fralonardo, President

The Italian Federation among the Third Age Universities (FEDERUNI) was founded in 1982 in Turin and counts among its primary tasks that of supporting the Federated Universities. The aim of the Federation is to offer cultural and scientific support to its Universities, through meetings, organizing conferences and other initiatives but above all through publications on the problems of third age people and on the methodologies of the various disciplines. In this way the Federation solicits the partner members for reflection in order to improve the quality of life of mature people and to develop useful tools for the preparation of its teachers.

The Third Age Universities have developed in Italy since the Eighties and have multiplied through the initiative of cultural centers, trade unions, voluntary groups, associations, unlike many European countries where they were promoted by the Universities of Studies.

The Federuni now gathers about 200 Universities in Italy, with over 60 thousand students and with the contribution of about 5 thousand teachers. The federated offices are present in every Italian region and meet annually  for an organizational conference,  for regional/ inter-regional meetings and every three years for  a national congress. Through the constant contacts with the federated offices it has been understood that the third age has become the fundamental period in which people finally feel fully accomplished and together can offer the society a significant contribution.  The users of Third Age Universities are people who are fully effective, seeking to redefine their existence in the freedom and service of society. They are qualified people not so much from a school set but from their life experience. Through attendance they become more critical, more active, and ask for proposals aimed at their life choices, without disdaining the cultural study.

Assoc. Prof. Raya Staykova, Director

The Window Association of Romania (Asociatia Window Romania) established in 2008 has delivered over eighty percent of activities that have been beneficial to  young deaf adults. Four of the members are certified as Sign Language Interpreters, with over eight years experience in deaf education. Window Romania Association works, primarily in order to support the initiatives of young people and is especially focused on those with disabilities.  Over the last four years 80% of activities were aimed at deaf youth initiatives which shows that the organization has turned naturally to this target audience.

The Organization has been working with people who have disabilities since its founding in 2008, but with particular focus on deaf people. Window Romania Association have 16 people who have a hearing impairment as it’s members.  Four of them are certified as Sign Language Interpreters and qualified to work in the education of disabled people.  They always work together to organize and develop initiatives that provide social and professional inclusion and autonomy of young people who are hearing impaired.

The members have participated in five European events that have focused on Sign Language and social and professional inclusion of the deaf. The four qualified members of Window Association Romania are competent in designing specific activities for hearing-impaired people and have a good level of efficiency in this area.  Deaf people have perception of abstract concepts and higher in the specific character.  Starting from this psychological reality, our organization offers practical concrete activities that favor learning for deaf people.

Prof. Dr. Eng. Horia Ciocarlie, President

The main objectives of the Association are: the discovery, selection, promotion, training, solidarity, development, support and exploitation of humanistic, cultural, scientific and creative values.

The Association works within a literary and artistic circle with monthly meetings and has been active in the field of seniors education for more than 17 years, has over 200 members from various states: Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Canada, USA and Australia. The Association is also a powerful incubator for many poets, singers, actors, scientists within Romanian and neighboring states thus serving as a main educational influence for seniors and young adults.

Mrs. Lana Mayer, President

The European House Vukovar (EHVU, Europski dom Vukovar)) was founded 10 Years ago. Its main aim is the re-development of the community of Vukovar that is ethnically deeply divided after the terrible war. To overcome this division, that is deepened even more through various social problems such as high unemployment, persisting concepts of the enemy, exclusion of various groups, special information campaigns and citizens’ creative engagement, as well as special training in self-help groups is necessary. For this reason the activities of EHVU focus especially on continuing education and training in self-help groups.

The content of the continuing education are traumata work, violence-free communication, conflict management, fostering of emotional intelligence, human rights, nature protection, self-help in the area of health and youth work. The acquired knowledge is trained in the self-help groups and depending on possibilities, transferred further in the form of artistic expression (poems, essays, paintings, photographs, etc.). These activities offer possibility for cooperation in this planned Learning partnership.

Mr. Lajos Szalkai

Cultural Nonprofit Ltd. of the 13th District of Budapest offers through its five institutes a lot of opportunities for the different cultural possibility and useful of leisure. The district has 130 000 inhabitants.

The Cultural Centre Angyalföldi Jozsef Attila is the oldest and biggest cultural centre of the district regarding to its size and to its possibilities with the following activity fields: potter courses for all ages, drawing and painting, sewing,  flower-bounding and textil courses, theatrical courses, dancing and gymnastic. This institute co-ordinates and helps the civic organizations (NGO-s) of the district.

Mrs. Lidija Jevremovic, Cooperator

The Foundation has been established in 2002. by the Serbian Society of Gerontology. Named after Laza K. Lazarević, famous humanist, writer, psychiatrist and the first Serbian gerontologist, since 2008 the Foundation has been registered within the Ministry of Culture.

Goals of the Foundation: supporting active and creative aging, developing cultural, educational, health and recreation programs, as well as educational programs for basic use of modern technology.

IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS:

Three years in a row (2008,2009,2010), in town of Soko Banja, we have organized Olympic games dedicated to health, culture and sports in third age.

2010 we organized seminar: „Making a humanitarian and social responsible local comunity“ with Elvira Barbara Savade from Senior Experten Service and with representatives from Municipality of Stari grad.

We have established cooperation whit European associations, especially in the Danube Region (Danube – Networkers), the Centre for General Scientific Continuous Education of Ulm University, Senior Expert Service and The Central Council of Serbian people in Germany. We are also cofounders of DANET. With tham we realized all projects.

We organized meeting in Serbian Academy of Science and Art in October on subject “Danube – the river of solidarity and cooperation” with Carmen Stadelhofer, president of DANET, vice president of SANU Mr Ljubisa Rakic and representatives in field of education, tourism, health, culture and sport of third age – Now we started with project on Municipality of Stari grad – Local comunnity of good naighburs where we are connecting citizens with institutions who can help tham in house living conditions and to make better quality of their lives.

Prof. Dr. Miomir Despotović; Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy

The University of Belgrade is an institution which is rightly considered one of the greatest contributions of the peoples of Europe to the world’s cultural heritage.

The University is a state university. Its main activities in the fields of higher education and scientific research are activities of public interest, and they are carried out in accordance with the legal regulations.

The University of Belgrade celebrates September 13 as its day. This is the date when lessons started at the first Higher School, founded by Dositej Obradovic.

During the two centuries of its existence the University of Belgrade has served its people, and its former students and teachers have greatly contributed to the development of cultural, scientific, educational, political and economic life of our country.

The University of Belgrade is prepared to maintain and enhance its position as the leading institution of higher education in the region by adapting to the challenges of modern times on one hand, and preserving what’s worth in its tradition on the other. This is precisely what makes it recognized as a true national brand. The Faculty of Philosophy is the oldest Faculty at the University of Belgrade in Belgrade. The beginnings of the Faculty of Philosophy date back to year 1838 when, by the Prince Miloš Decree, the Lyceum School was established in the city of Kragujevac. Today, the Faculty of Philosophy is a modern institution of higher education that follows all current trends in educational systems across the globe.

At present, the Faculty of Philosophy teaching stuff employs about 255 professors and enrolls around 5000 students at all academic levels offering bachelor, master and doctoral programs for nine different renowned departments, some of which with a history over hundred years long: Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, Department of Psychology, Department of Pedagogy and Andragogy, Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, Department of History, Department of History of Art, Department of Archaeology, and Department of Classics.

Prof. Ivanka Yankova, DSc; President

The leading library practices indicate that to meet the requirements of the information society and the United European educational space is necessary to follow subsequent strategy for development of the university libraries, directed to building of telecommunication connections between the libraries, of integrated library systems and to creating of databases for interlibrary exchange. It is necessary to be introduced new models of organization of the access to the scientific publications with effective mechanisms of management of the financial and information resources of single libraries as well as of groups of libraries.

In 2000 initiated by University library “St. Kliment Ohridski” was established Association of the University Libraries in Bulgaria (AUL) with president Prof. Ivanka Yankova, DSc.

The Association of the University Libraries is a natural continuation of the common work in the formed in 1978 under the management of University library, Board of Directors of the libraries by the High Schools and of its activity of building united information system in Bulgaria.

Mariela Modeva, PhD; Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute for Research and Development of Leadership in the Information Environment

The University of Library Studies and Information Technologies is the State University of 29.IH.2010 transformed by a decision of the National Assembly and is the successor of the State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, voted by the National Assembly in 2004, of state Librarian Institute, established in 1950, a college librarian Institute (PIBD) College librarian (BDC) and the College of library and information technology (Kbps).

UNIBIT trained in undergraduate,  graduate  and  doctoral programs  on education and degrees, which is accredited.

The public mission of UNIBIT is to prepare highly qualified, socially and personally motivated and adaptable to the working environment and challenges of the information society professionals with real and relevant theoretical knowledge and practical skills in various areas of social and economic life, able to communicate, work team and take on the responsibility of citizens invited to contribute to raising the cultural level of the nation and for our integration into European and world values.

The University has set a basic strategic objective sustainable development and the demonstration of its new identity as a leader in the field of training in information security, preservation and presentation of cultural heritage, library and information technology, information broking and print communications and full participation in the formation and implementation of state educational policies.

Eng. Yordan Kazakov; Board member

The Union of Pensioners – Ruse District was till 2019 a branch of the Union of Pensioners’2004 – the biggest organization of older people in Bulgaria at present numbering over 80 000 members, with local structures in 25 districts altogether.

The Union of Pensioners – Ruse District has been set up with the aim of protecting the rights and interests as well as the prestige and dignity of senior citizens in Bulgaria who are to be treated equally in the society. They are entitled to adequate medical care and transportation and have their cultural and intellectual needs to be met. The Union is also aiming at certain legislative changes regarding fair social and pension insurance so that the members should be better socially and economically integrated into the European society. Some 3900 seniors belong to our Rousse district organization. Local structures have been set up in all district communities such as 78 societies and clubs and 67 groups for amateur art activities with more than 1000 participants. UPRD is making every effort to improve the way of life of its members. Traditional festivities and amateur art festivals are being regularly organized. Many seniors enjoy the opportunities for summer recreation. Meetings are common among clubs within the country, as well as with clubs from neighbouring Romania.

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Harald Kutzenberger; Member, Former General Secretary

The International Association for Danube Research (IAD) was founded in 1956 and is the longest existing international scientific network in the Danube Region. IAD is an Association according to Austrian law with the goal of promoting and coordinating activities in the fields of limnology, water management, water protection and sustainable development in the Danube River basin (current structure and contact).

In 1998 IAD obtained observership in the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Our delegates participate in various Expert Groups and develop tools and measures to protect the Danube River and to reach a sustainable river basin management as ultimate goal of the Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD).

As representative of the scientific community IAD also actively supports the implementation of the macro-regional EU-Danube Strategy as a step towards sustainable development in the Danube region.

Alexandru Strungă

The Teacher Staff Training Department (TSTD) is an academic unit of the University of Craiova [36], directly subordinated to the University Senate; it functions according to its own regulations and it cooperates with all the faculties which require a special training of the students for the teaching process; it develops and has a wide range of educational partnerships with the School Inspectorates, Teaching Staff Centers etc. More than 7,500 students follow the courses of TSTD. The academic staff consists of 12 professors (being specialized in Pedagogical Sciences, Psychology, and Educational management) and 41 Associate Professors (specialized in Didactics, Computer Assisted Training, and Pedagogical Training).TSTD is coordinating a project of creating a virtual university of the third age with national coverage. Departamentul Pentru Pregatirea Personalului Didactic, transl. The Teacher Staff Training Department (TSTD) of the University of Craiova has partnerships with many NGOs from all over the state in the field of seniors education, e.g. Constantin Brancusi Association from Timisoara and is directly involved in various educational activities with seniors in the South-West Oltenia region.

Assoc. Prof. Emiliya Velikova, PhD; Assoc. Prof., CEEPUS coordinator, Dept. Erasmus coordinator

The UNIVERSITY OF RUSE ANGEL KANCHEV (UR) is an autonomous state-funded higher educational institution which is accredited with the highest grade by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. It comprises 8 faculties of: Natural Sciences and Education (NSE); Business and Management; Law; Public Health and Health Care (PHHC); Agrarian and Industrial; Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation; Transport and 3 Branches in Silistra, Razgrad, and Vidin. UR offers 48 Bachelor, 80 Master and 43 PhD courses in 23 professional accredited fields such as Educational Studies, Teacher Training; Computer Studies; Communications; Public Health; Social Activities; Natural Sciences; Engineering Studies to around 10,000 students and doctoral students.

The teaching staff consists of 499 highly qualified full-time lecturers, of whom 49 professors, 177 associate professors and 296 PhD lecturers.

A Centre of Education of Third Age at UR and the faculties NSE and PHHC are organizing many training and social activities with more than 6000 elderly from Bulgaria under European projects with 13 countries.

UR is a member of DANET – Danube Networkers for Europe; International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, Danube Rectors’ Conference, European University Association, Visegrad University Association, Balkan University Association, Danube Civil Society Forum.
UR is intensively involved in EC international cooperation programmes: Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, Interreg Romania-Bulgaria and Balkan-Mediterranean. Over the last years more than 150 international projects have been executed and are currently being carried out at UR under other different programs: 7th FP, Europe for Citizens, DAAD, ICT, EEA, Cost, CEEPUS, Tempus, etc. Teams from UR participate in the implementation of over 250 multi/ bi-lateral international agreements in the field of science and education, of which over 200 are under the Erasmus+ Programme. Furthermore, there are agreements for cooperation with partners from 43 countries from Europe, Asia, America. The annual number of participants is 450 – 520. Every year 70-100 students travel under the Erasmus+ only.
UR organizes and hosts annual scientific conferences and exhibitions such as: The Danube – Axis of European Identity; E-learning; Computer Systems and Technologies; Conference of UR with sessions in Computer Sciences, Education Research and Innovations; History; Students’ Scientific Session.
UR successfully implements a strategy for internationalization of higher education and research for the period 2014–2020 with the priorities: enlargement of the network of international partnerships; increase of the number and geographic locations of the bi-lateral Erasmus+ agreements, including the agreements for joint and double degrees; increase of the number and scope of the implemented international projects.

The University offers social activities in Kaneff Centre for the members of vulnerable groups.

Most of the University facilities provide easy access for disabled people.

Carmen Stadelhofer, president

The Association Danube-Networkers for Europe (DANET) e.V. was founded in March 2014.

It is a European not-for-profit umbrella association of educational organisations and individual experts dealing with and promoting education and scientific research.

DANET is based on the educational Network Danube-Networkers which has realised several intercultural European projects along the Danube and across Europe since 2008.

The Association Danube-Networkers for Europe (DANET) e.V. was founded in March 2014.

DANET promotes exchange and common work in the following areas:

• learning and education in later life
• social participation
• dialogue and co-operation of generations
• cross-cultural dialogue in Europe and particularly in the Danube Region

DANET initiates local, regional, and transnational educational and learning activities and projects supporting the development of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR).

It is meant to promote new impetus to the development and implementation of common European policies on social development, social participation, learning, education and intergenerational dialogue.

Iulian Gabriel Birsan

“Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati is the most important institution of higher education in the South-East of Romania. “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati functions according to the university charter, whose provisions are in agreement with the national legislation and with the principles of the European Space and Higher Education, being recognised by all members of the university community. 

In the structure, there were a series of study programmes that were unique in the country: Naval Constructions, Harbours and Ship Exploitation, Food Industry, Fish Farming Technology, Cooling Devices – which meant that an important creation process on elaborating educational curricula and syllabi, lectures, laboratory equipment etc., presently being used in other university centers around the country, was fully the work of the academics in Galati higher education.   

A forward-thinking, modern and student-oriented institution, „Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati has a firm commitment to generate and transfer knowledge to society through:

• Initial and continuous education – through undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for self-development and  career orientation,  in an attempt at meeting the demands of the social and economic environment; 
• Research, development, innovation and technology transfer –  through individual and collective creativity in science, engineering, economics,  arts, letters, sciences, humanities, medicine, legal sciences, providing sports performance and physical development, and the dissemination of results .

The university offers all members of the community the necessary conditions for putting into practice their personal aptitudes by means of education, scientific research and social-cultural activities. 
 The University assumes the role of cultural and civic centre meant to contribute to the formation and dissemination of cultural values, to promote pluralism of options and the development of political and civic culture. 

The University also assumes the role of scientific and technological creation pole, to support all economic, educational and social entities in the region.

The academic community of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati is composed of the following: 

• 12.500 students
• 1000 teaching staff
• 14 faculties
• 67 Bachelor Study Programmes
• 52 Master study Programmes
• 3 Doctoral Schools
• 13 Doctoral Study Programmes
• 230 doctoral students
• More than 2500 international students
• “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati has concluded more than 100 partnership agreements with universities from 34 countries.

In order that the teaching and research activities be carried out in optimal conditions, the university has:

• 38 research centres
• 3 student campuses
• Accommodation for 2800 students
• 3 cafeterias
• 12 reading rooms
• 1 student chapel
• 2 gyms
• 1 medical office.

With more than 60 years of experience in higher education, DJUG has trained 60,000 graduates in the fields of engineering, human and economic sciences.

Ana Zlibut; first vice president

The Association “The Writers` League” Timisoara Banat Branch-Asociatia “Liga Scriitorilor” Filiala Timisoara Banat (LSFTB) was founded in May 2010 in Timisoara, Romania with the aim of supporting the artistic creation, expression and moral solidarity of its members. It is a professional, nongovernmental, apolitical organization, consisting of creators in the field of literature.

The target of the association is: encouragement, stimulation and promotion of literary creation by developing corresponding cultural, literary and artistic activities. LSFTB also encourages lifelong education projects by organizing cultural events focused on developing art skills, with a strong intergenerational focus.  Between the events organized by LSFTB are also European cultural tourism activities, creative literary workshops, cultural salons and art exhibitions.

Dušana Findeisen, Head of the Department of Research and Development of Education

Poljanska cesta 6
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

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.

Emilia Lissichkova, Chairperson

Association “Platform AGORA – Active Communities for Development Alternatives” is a not-for-profit organization of persons and legal entities in public benefit working for building active communities for sustainable development in Bulgaria, registered in 2008. The association’s activities are directed towards: development of the Bulgarian national culture identity as part of the multi-culture European community; elaboration and application of approaches for incorporation and support of socially expelled community groups; support the real involvement of children and young people into the public processes through development of their personal, artistic and civic potential; encouragement of the elderly people to lead an active life and participate in the public processes by working “together with” and “for them”; support the establishment of favorable environment for exchange of knowledge and experience between generations.
The Platform provides for exchange of experience and sharing of good practices between the network members, provides for building enabling environment for civic education training programs and mobilization of local resources.

Carmen Stadelhofer, Akad. Dir*in a.D.

Institute for Virtual and Face-to-face Learning in the Area of Adult Education at Ulm University (ILEU) e.V. (Institut für virtuelles und reales Lernen in der Erwachsenenbildung an der Universität Ulm e.V.) is a registered association. The tasks of the association are the development and testing of innovative methods of adult education emphasizing virtual learning in the context of general continuing academic education.

Key aspect in the last 10 Years are various activities along the danube. ILEU has initiated the Danube Networkes for Europe e.V. and coordinated the Danube Networkers with a lot of projects and activities like The Wanted Danube, The Danube moves us, Tastes of Danube, Open Doors for Danube Countries for All, Bread Connects and last but not least Building Brideges for Europe.

The association can execute model projects and places its service at disposal for general project consultation and guidance in the above mentioned context. In order to enable adults to cope with new tasks and activities in society, economics and science, the association supports continuing training and qualification and offers consultation in all phases of life. The association offers also services in the area of virtual and real learning.
The association is a non-profit organization.

Dr. Markus Marquard

The Center for General Scientific Continuing Education (Zentrum für Allgemeine Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung, short: ZAWiW) stands for the development and implementation of innovative educational programs for (older) adults. The academic weeks, research-based learning, the Ulmer 3-generation university (u3gu) and the “studium generale” are continuous events. In addition, there are practice-oriented research projects, which are focused on subjects like new media, Europe, young and old.

The ZAWiW is responsible for research and teaching in the area of Geragogics and research-based learning. It is a division of the School for Humanities of Ulm University.