Empowering European seniors with lifelong learning opportunities: the role of Universities of the 3rd Age

The COVID-19 crisis had an enormous effect on education and training, including adult learning, where providers saw large numbers of students dropping out from courses. Universities of the third age have a big potential of improving lives of hundreds of seniors.

With an aging population, the demand to provide opportunities for the elderly population increases. Quality education focused on elderly can help them fit better into society, keep up with changing world and technology as well as help prevent neuro degenerative diseases, such as alzhaimers or dementia.

Specialised institutions and courses are needed to fit the needs of the elderly. The content has to be adapted as well as way of teaching to fit their way of life and educational needs. While there are many programmes on the national levels focusing on the education of the elderly, EU cooperation, sharing of best practices and support and providing opportunities for educational mobility of the elderly still lacks behind.