Transcript Visit to University of the Third Age (U3A) from 29th

The Visit to University of the Third Age (U3A)
in Brisbane & Melbourne (29 Nov to 5 Dec 03)
Delegates from the EC:
Mr WONG Hong Yuen, Peter (Leader)
Prof CHAN Cheung Ming, Alfred
Ms WONG Yiu Ming, Anita
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An Outline
 Participants list
 Australian U3As in practice
 Definitions/philosophy/origin of
Australian U3As
 Operations and the volunteer
elements
 Some examples
 What to do next
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Other delegates:
N0. Names
Organization
Position
1.
Ms. Alice LEE P.L.
Caritas – Hong Kong
Service Coordinator
2.
Ms. Janice YUEN S.Y.
Christian Family Service Centre
Social Work Supervisor
3.
Ms. Caroline YUEN Y.K.
Au Shue Hung Health Centre, Baptist Hospital
Executive Secretary
4.
Mr. PONG Wai-ip
Hong Kong Christian Service
General Manager
5.
Ms. Connie TSANG F.Y.
The Hong Kong Society for the Aged
Deputy Executive Director
6.
Ms. Lada TAN H.M.
Md. Wong Chan Sook Ying Memorial Care &
Attention Home for the Aged
Social Worker
7.
Mr. SHUM Wai-chuen
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
District Director
8.
Ms. CHAN Ying-yee
Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest & Heart Diseases
Association
Assistant Executive Secretary
9.
Ms. MA Hok-ka
Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan
University
Ph.D Candidate /Project Officer
10.
Ms. Angela LEUNG Y.M.
Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional & Continuing
Education, The Open University of Hong
Kong
Lecturer
11.
Ms. YUEN Chui-ha
Radio Television Hong Kong
Programme Officer, (Radio 5)
12.
Ms. SO Ka-man
Social Welfare Department
SWO(P/C)(TP/N)
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The Australian U3As in practice
 Different levels, same principles
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from interest classes housed in community
halls or commercial buildings to formal
curricula delivered in university campus
all run by older volunteers, managed by a
U3A management committee, governed by
the same constitution
low costs, Aus$20 for annual membership
plus course fees for cost-recovery
total autonomy, fully independent,
participants’ ownership
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Definition and Origin of
Australian U3A
U3A strives for positive health benefits
and productive ageing that can finally
lead to successful aging (i.e. the Active
Ageing concept)
 University
 No entry requirements
 Free discussions between scholars and
people who are interested in learning at
any place and time  not a ‘university’
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Definition and Origin of Australian
U3A (Con’t)
 Third age
 An age of active retirement (over 65) after
the age of youth, work and home-making
 University of Third Age (U3A)
 An intellectual-democratic learning
environment involving teaching & learning
activities/programs for the third age
 Based on the French (institutional) or/and
British (community) models
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Operation of Australian U3A
 Formation & administration of U3A
 Management committee initiated and formed by a
group of older persons (1-year term)
 A steering subgroup to see to logistics and course
preparation
 Course manager(s) in charge of the co-ordination &
quality assurance of courses
 Instructor does all: all preparations, administration
and follow-up (e.g.calling those absent)
 Course promotion through grapevine and newsletter
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Operation of Australian U3A
(Con’t)
 Course design & quality assurance:
 Management Committee. Course
manager performs overall supervision over
the quality assurance, and instructors are
supposed to be professionals in specific
courses.
 Teaching in small group tutorials (1015). Close interactions, build up friendship
networks
 Learners’ evaluation. Students will drop
out if courses are not good. Lower
admission rates may show poorer course
quality or real demand
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Operation of Australian U3A
(Con’t)
 Curriculum Design
 Learner-driven, teacher-students
negotiated
 Interest-based, non-vocational and carefree, mainly for leisure, no examinations
 In groups of 10-15
 From skills intensive to contemporary
issues to academic
 On weekly basis, total 6-8 weeks
 All places can be venues for classes,
including instructor’s own home
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Operation of Australian U3A
(Con’t)
 Financial Arrangement:
 Rental fee is low or supported by local
government
 Expenditure is kept to a minimum since
U3A is operated all on volunteer efforts, no
instructor’s fees
 Incomes from annual fees & course fees,
occasionally from donations (e.g.computers)
 U3A Network in Melbourne: partly funded
by the Victoria government
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Volunteer Element in
Australian U3A
 Learning: voluntary & for leisure
 Teaching: voluntary & for pleasure
 Finance: pooled resources among members,
occasional support from other
people & government
 Management: voluntary, independent, &
run by the retired persons
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Some Examples
 Maningham U3A, Brisbane, using village halls. Local
government promised to build a purpose-built U3A
complex
 Nunawarding U3A, Melbourne, using shopping
arcade space. Sponsored to run computer courses
 U. of Sunshine Coast, using university campus for
more sophisticated courses
 Odyssey Travel LtD, strictly commercial venture,
using retired academics as field trip leaders. Profits
to subsidize some tours & to fund related research
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What to do next
 Further refinements to the draft report
 Open discussions and consultations with
stake-holders, including relevant
government departments
 Long-term - establishment of an
independent umbrella group to promote
lifelong learning by older persons
themselves
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