This was the opinion expressed about the Bolesławiec University of the Third Age (UTW) by Jakub Wróblewski, coordinator of a nationwide research program devoted to Universities of the Third Age.
Jakub Wróblewski conducted a study with UTW students as part of the 2016 Culture Observatory program, co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The aim of the study will be to select a group of Universities and create a list of good practices that can be promoted to improve UTW operations and inspire people seeking ideas for developing Universities or considering starting such an activity.
Our University was founded in 2007 by retired female teachers. It has been headed since the beginning by Wiesława Olczyk. The institution has a great deal to offer its students. The activities listed include music classes (choir), art, computer and information technology, language classes, dance workshops, the Cultural and Educational Club, which organizes, among other things, lectures and meetings with interesting people, as well as rehabilitation and recreational activities.
The University’s female students emphasized the importance that participation in the classes has in their lives: activity, cooperation within a group, new acquaintances, and continuous development through language learning, computer classes, and various other activities offered by the institution.
The report from this study will be made available free of charge in December 2016 to all interested Universities, as well as representatives of local governments and academic communities. This document may be a valuable contribution to the discussion about the broadly understood activation of seniors and the support system for senior organizations.
