Polskie Uniwersytety Trzeciego Wieku w Europejskim Roku Aktywności Osób Starszych i Solidarności Międzypokoleniowej

Education of the XXI century ought to be perceived as a lifelong process. Lifelong learning has become the foundation of human knowledge, performance, ability to exist in the society as well as creation of one’s ego and one’s existence. Awareness of the aging European population gave rise to discussions concerning the issue of education and activity of elderly people. The European Committee has declared 2012 the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Consequently, it values the potential of mature and elderly people as well as opens up to their needs. The Senate of the Republic of Poland highlighted the importance of senior education for the country and 2012 was proclaimed the Year of University of the Third Age. Plenty of UTA students, rich and varied offer of educational – activating classes as well as launched initiatives prove that late maturity might be a period of active lifestyle serving as a springboard for high quality of life and preventing exclusion from the society.