University of Third Age in Võru (UTA)

Description

For the past 15 years, the “University of the Third Age” lectures have been successfully organised in the largest towns of Estonia and have now expanded to rural regions.

This is an example of how to smoothly and organically facilitate university transitions into rural areas without higher education institutions, and how to bring together, connect, and empower the area’s elderly for the purpose of lifelong learning. Thus, it explores the potential of an ageing society and how to harness it for regional development.

Aim

The UTA case study aims to answer the following research questions:  

• How can old adults be actively involved in lifelong learning?
• What value does elderly learning add to regional development in rural areas?
• What is the potential of non-formal education in an ageing society in peripheral rural areas, and how can it be effectively utilised?