The U3A movement
The University of the Third Age (U3A) is an international organisation embodying the principles of lifelong education and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, in an atmosphere of mutual learning and teaching. Each U3A is a learning community, organised by and for people who can best be described as being active in retirement - the so-called "third age" of their lives.
The term "university" is used in the original and medieval sense of an association or community of teachers and scholars, united in the pursuit of knowledge. "Third age" refers to the life period of active retirement, which follows the first age of childhood and formal education and the second age of working life, and which precedes the fourth age of dependence.
Origin of the U3As
The concept of the U3A was developed in Toulouse in 1972, to bring older people into contact with academic programs at the university. It spread rapidly through France and throughout Europe. Many universities either arranged for older people to participate in existing academic programs or established new programs specifically designed for "third age" students.
The first British U3A was established in 1982 at Cambridge. In contrast with the French experience, in which U3As have close associations with traditional universities, the British U3As have embraced principles of self-help and self-determination and have developed only outreach links with universities. They structure their programs and courses to meet the wishes of their members, and draw on resources available within the membership as far as possible. These same principles have been adopted by U3As in Australia.
Development in Australia
In July 1984, a public meeting was arranged in Melbourne to gauge public interest in the U3A concept. As a result, the first U3A was established in Melbourne City, followed by another in Hawthorn, and the first courses were offered at the beginning of 1985. During that year, two other U3As, one at Monash and one at Ringwood, were inaugurated. There are now more than 100 U3As in Victoria, with some 38,000 members, and about 200 more in the rest of Australia, with a total national membership of around 100,000.
While there are common objectives shared by all U3As, there are also broad differences of interest patterns, structures and organisation, determined by the particular needs of each U3A and the resources available locally to meet those needs.
U3A networks
While local U3As are generally run independently, they have formed networks at state, national and international levels. U3A Melbourne City is part of the U3A Network Victoria, which is in turn part of the U3A Alliance Australia, which is linked to WorldU3A and the International Association of Universities of the Third Age (AIUTA).
