FIRST NATIONAL MEETING OF UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES FOR OLDER ADULTS - Granada

City: Granada

Date: 21/11/1996

Organizers

•  University of Alcalá de Henares
•  University of Granada
•  Pontifical University of Salamanca

Attendants

1 - University of Alcalá de Henares

2 - University of Almería

3 - Autonomous University of Barcelona

4 - University of Cádiz

5 - University of Girona.

6 - University of Granada

7 - University of the Balearic Islands

8 - University of Lérida

9 - University of Málaga

10 - University of Murcia

11 - Pontifical University of Salamanca

12 - University of Santiago de Compostela

13 - University of Seville

14 - University of Tarragona

15 - University of Experience of Valencia

16 - A.F.O.P.A. of Cataluña

17 - Inter-University Council of A.F.O.P.A

18 - Galician Cultural Association of Lifelong Learning for Adults

19 - University of Reciprocal Experience of Madrid.- U.M.E.R

Contents

1.- The Second Meeting of University Programmes for Older Adults will be held a year later in Alcalá de Henares.

2.- Classify the different activities aimed at older adults in the educational and cultural field, each of them with the same importance in the context in which they are developed, into:

2.1. Groups and Associations of Cultural Dissemination, Lifelong Learning or similar.

2.2.a. Courses, Groups and Associations of University Extension, that have agreements with universities.

2.2.b. University Programmes for Older Adults in the actual universities, regardless of the denomination they present (courses, classes, senior universities, open universities, permanent universities, universities of Experience, universities of knowledge, fourth cycle, etc.) or may present.

3.- Clearly state that the different actions must not oppose, overlap or distort one another, but jointly try to expand a solidarity offer so that seniors can choose the option that best meets their aspirations, needs and possibilites more freely.

4.- Pay homage to promoters and acknowledge the excellent work of the aforesaid Courses in the sections 2.1. and 2.2.a, with great experience and a long professional record. Many thousands of students have found shelter there, a meaning to their life in the most critical point of their existence. In the future, as we have been doing before, these courses must be structured and cared in the convenient way in each context, keeping the university extension courses the stipulated criteria by universities.

5.- The University Programmes for Older Adults must remain only in the university field and coordinate to present the same criteria, form, duration and contents. Isolation and dispersing efforts and the resulting confusion must be avoided as much as possible. 

6.- A University Programme for Older Adults must be structured in subjects of at least 1 credit (10 hours) and carried out in full academic courses, encouraging students to contribute personally. 

7.- Promote University Associations for this kind of students, that serve as a bridge between the university and the students, when they have finished their studies. They will also allow to develop skills and abilities they have learnt, so that they become a lifelong learning core and serve as projection to their surroundings. The inclusion of these Associations in a Federation of supraregional level will be encouraged.

8.- These findings respond to the sociological analysis of the current student body in the courses where their diversity offers some very special features that, can change, however, in a not-so-distant future and have an impact in the creation of future programmes or curricula.

9.- To address Universities, competent Regional Ministers, with collective writing to sensitize them and attract more attention to this cultural and educational movement that takes place under their wing and that mobilizes thousands of older people, highlighting the caring, institutional and intergenerational ethos of these courses. 

10.- Raise these findings to the Minister of Education and Culture, so that this issue is dealt with by the Rectors' Council of Spanish Universities.

11.- Make society know about these findings through the media.