COOPERATION NEED FOR COMMUNICATION AND RESUMPTION OF

COOPERATION, NEED FOR COMMUNICATION AND RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE IN RELATION TO AGE-GROUPS 2 nd International Conference, Częstochowa, 26 th-28 th June 2013 University of the Third Age – my experience Ph. Dr. Soňa Pokorná

Contents l Introduction l The second life programme l University of the Third Age l U 3 A at Comenius University l U 3 A – my experience l U 3 A Club l Photo Gallery l Literature

Introduction l The present-day changes of the society bring about new tasks to cope with by the aging population upon its retirement. The contemporary society forces also an older man to adapt to the new conditions as well as to shape his personality, to develop intellectually. l One of the most progressive ways to cope with the task is represented by the programmes of the further education. l Within the framework of Europe and Slovakia we distinguish several types of educational programmes and projects for older people based on specific conditions and possibilities of individual areas, regions and countries.

The second life programme l The second life programme for an aging population leaving active working life l Institutions of leisure education - progressive forms of lifelong education designed for seniors: ü ü ü Universities of the third age Free time universities (France) Universities for all (France) Senior academies (the Netherlands, Germany) Academies of the third age (France)

University of the Third Age (U 3 A) The first University of the Third Age - prof. Pierre Vellas, Toulouse 1973. The main aim of the U 3 A is: l to offer programme of activities responding to the conditions, needs and aspirations of older people l to provide for older people the right to education and participation in culture through the school policy oriented in that way l to organize congresses, symposia, workshops, realize researches, issue leaflets and information materials with the purpose to develop education of seniors

University of the Third Age (U 3 A) Decisive factors for study at U 3 A l Motivation; interest in the study; previous experience with the level of past knowledge, self-realization and level of aspiration Motivation incentives: ü ü ü an interest to improve one’s knowledge in a new branch a need to spend one’s free time more usefully a desire to study at a higher education institution a need of social contact a necessity to broaden one’s knowledge needed at work an effort to get equal to the surrounding community

Mission of the U 3 A l to realize special-interest education of seniors in HEIs l to contribute to securing the right of older people to education l to gain the highest possible number of those interested in education from among the older people l to contribute by their programme and concept to a high-quality use of the seniors’ free time l to create a new high-value life programme of the seniors l to help the pensioners at their transit to retirement and integrate them into the society l to contribute to broadening of one’s horizons, knowledge, clarification of facts still unknown to them, and to improve their cognitive functions l to contribute to psychophysical conditions of the seniors l to take part in the care for the older generation who deserve attention for their lifelong results l to slacken conservativism and dogmatism, to avoid desperation of the old men, solitude and fear of death l to contribute to improvement of interhuman relations and to foster positive self-evaluation and self-esteem

Functions of U 3 A l Social - for benefit of the society l Educational - acquiring knowledge l Health - improving health state l Psychological - no depressions l Research - subject of research l Working - U 3 A as a new lifestyle l Philosophical - new view of the world, new opinions on doings around them l Economic - saving finances of the health sector for treatments

CU University of the Third Age (CU U 3 A) The first U 3 A in Slovakia - founded at the Comenius University (CU) in Bratislava, 1990, under the auspices of the Centre for Continuing Education In the pilot year - 235 students, today 1834 students attending 32 study courses in 13 CU faculties. The most popular is Faculty of Arts that offers most attractive study courses – the humanities, social and natural sciences. The study takes as a rule three years – the first year is general to be followed by 2 years of specialised courses. After the three-year study the U 3 A offers the extension course to be open to all those interested in continuing the study. The study programme includes 14 lectures held twice a month for two hours.

CU University of the Third Age Model of study at U 3 A l 1 st year - generally aimed study (including subjects of general background) l 2 nd and 3 rd year of study – specialised courses lextension lectures – offered to all those interested in study after the 3 -year study l U 3 A Club Each year is completed by tests

CU University of the Third Age Admission requirements: l no entrance examinations - secondary education completed with secondary school-leaving examination - the age of 50 and over The admission is conditional on submitting the filled-out application form; an evidence of the previous education – a secondary school-leaving certificate or diploma; an evidence of tuition fee payment. The academic year starts with immatriculation of the newly-enrolled students and is concluded by completing the 3 -year study with a solemn graduation ceremony. The academic year consists of winter and summer term at the end of which the students take tests or write a thesis (depending on the course studied). The mark (passed or failed) is entered in the student‘s record book. The lecturers are teachers and research workers of higher education institution, Slovak Academy of Sciences and highly qualified experts from practice (ca 300 teachers).

CU University of the Third Age Forms of education in the study programmes ü ü ü lectures discussions seminars excursions brainstorming round table self-learning individual consultations exercises research projects others

Study courses for academic year 2013/2014 at CU U 3 A l l l l Archeology II, III (incl. new students) Astronomy I Man and Nature III (incl. new students) History and Monuments of Bratislava I, III History of Christianity II History of Literature I History of Slovakia I General History II History of Performing Arts II, III History of Performing Arts I, III Theatre and Music I, III Empathic Assertiveness I, II Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology II, III Expressive Therapies I Philosophy III History and Culture of Austria II l Gerontology I l l l l Yoga I, II Balneology II Latin and Culture of Antique Rome III Medicaments and Health I, III Museology and Cultural Heritage I, II Computers and Informatization I, III Law II l Psychology I, III l Life and Culture of Italy II l Regeneration of Psychophysical Strengths I, II l Social work I l World of Opera II, III l Topography of Antique World III l UNESCO I l Gardening II (incl. new students) l Journalism II (incl. new students)

U 3 A - my experience Motivation la necessity to make more efficient use of my free time la need to develop my knowledge in different branches la desire to make friends and new relations lthe study programme Gerontology offered a good chance to learn more about my body and advice how to avoid age-related health problems lthe chance to participate in interesting events and excursions organized by the U 3 A and its Club lthe study programme of Psychology offers a good chance to learn also one‘s psychical disorders, besides physical problems learnt in Gerontology, and how to avoid them

U 3 A - my experience GERONTOLOGY I l Biological consequences of interaction of physical factors and biological systems l Starting points of clinical gerontology l Gerontology in the light of the world-wide community concern l Physical movement and rehabilitation of people in older age l Laws of relations: Medicine-patient l Psychical hygiene l Psychical changes and diseases in older age l The most remarkable dermatological illnesses l Diseases of motor apparatus in older age l Changes in eye conditioned by age l Functions and diseases of gastrointestinal tract l Illnesses of respiratory system l Cardiovascular diseases in older age l Climacterium and senium of woman and views of gynecology

U 3 A - my experience PSYCHOLOGY II l Counselling in Humanistic Psychology (+ seminar) l Personality from the view of S. Freud’s Classic Psychoanalysis (+seminar) l Lifestyle, Family Constellations according to Individual Psychology of A. Adler (+ seminar) l Role of Mother and Father in the Present-day Family (+ seminar) l Sexuality with seniors l Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, l Care for Disabled Person in Family l Ethology of Animals and Psychology of Man Behaviour and Communication Disorders in line with Evolution l How to Hold Effective a Counselling Conversation with Client l Treatise

U 3 A - my experience CU U 3 A also offers further possibilities of spending free time - special-interest activities The educational process at CU U 3 A is supplemented by various other educational and social events. Besides the lectures and seminars the students are engaged in: l project activities, excursions, visits l language courses (English, German) l physical training, tours, walks (yoga, tourism) l summer courses (Modra) l social events (theatre, concerts, etc. )

U 3 A - my experience l After finishing the first year of the study in 2009 I made use of a recreational summer course in the beautiful surroundings of the Small Carpathians where a group of 70 seniors of various courses spent a nice week in the study centre of the CU Center of Continuing Education in Modra, 40 km from Bratislava. The morning lectures on healthy lifestyle, such as yoga exercises, eye yoga or foodstuff effects on a man‘s health included both – theory and practice. The afternoon swimming course was held by a coach. l The instructional part of the day was enriched by trips to a nearby castle Smolenice and a tour to DRINY, the well-known cave. Still more amusing and memorable was the last day of our stay in the Centre – the camp fire evening when we baked sausages, sang popular songs, talked stories, made new friends and wished the nice evening never ended.

U 3 A Club The U 3 A Club was founded at the Comenius University in 1999 on the ocassion of International Year of Older Persons. It organizes educational, cognitive and social events throughout the year and I became its member in 2010. The U 3 A Club‘s activities are organized as follows: l. January - Annual meetings l. February - Shrovetide evening l. March – Visit of a celebrity, lecture/chatting l. April – Meeting a celebrity l. May – Meeting at the end of academic year l. June – Trip to nature l. October – New Academic Year – a walk l. November – Meeting a celebrity l. December – X-mas meeting Educational, cognitive, cultural and social events, meetings of celebrities, Mayor of the City, President of the Slovak League against Cancer, visit of Vienna (City), Kittsee (Hauswirth Chocolate Factory), Hainburg (Kulturfabrik-exhibition), walks, sightseeing of the City, tours, excursions, trips, etc.

Photo Gallery

Literature l l l Baláž, V. : Ako sa dožiť vysokého veku. Osveta. Martin 1983. Cirbes, M. : Didaktika dospelých. Obzor, Bratislava 1989. Hegyi, L. : Príprava na starnutie. In: Obohacovane života ľudí. 1993. Hegyi, L. , Krajčík, Š. : Sociálna gerontológia, Herba, 2010. Hrapková, N. : Štúdium na univerzitách tretieho veku (Study at Universities of the Third Age) – podpora kvality života. www. cdvuk. sk

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