A University of the Third Age in Granada, Spain
Jean
Thompson
University of the Third Age, Great Britain
May 2003
As
the UTAmovement spread around the world, new versions appeared. This later
example in Spain has an academic focus.
GRANADA
Twenty years later, in 1995, a much more academic organisation, the Permanent
Hall of Open Education (El Aula Permanente de Formacion Abierta) was set
up in Granada to meet the educational needs of people of more than 50
years of age.There was no other condition of entry other than to have
reached this age.
The double aim was both educational and a move towards social solidarity. Granada University offered them the possibility of matriculating in either an Integrated Programme, where they studied along with younger students in the same conditions, except that they were not obliged to take the examinations, or a Specific programme which took three years. If students produced written work for each of their 27 required courses, they received official recognition from the University as 'Graduates of the Specific Programme for Older Students.'
The programme offered a choice of academic subjects, such as Science and Technology, Philosophy, History and Biology, and a choice of optional activities, such as ICT, gymnastics, swimming, or ballroom dancing.
