An organizational and information meeting for students of the University of the Third Age, operating at the Wrocław University of Economics, was held on Monday, September 23, in the auditorium of Municipal School Complex No. 2. Participants included, among others, the UE rector’s plenipotentiary for UTW in Bolesławiec, Dr. Zygmunt Bobowski, Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman, Deputy Mayor Kornel Filipowicz, head of the Bolesławiec City Council Józef Pokładek, MZS No. 2 director Waldemar Bugaj, and chairwoman of the University of the Third Age Students’ Council Maria Adamowicz.
The meeting provided an opportunity to summarize the previous academic year and the Students’ Council’s two-year term of office (on that day, the Council—a dynamic UTW body organizing lectures, trips to the theater, opera and philharmonic, sightseeing and tourism excursions around the beautiful Lower Silesian region, as well as trips abroad—was granted a vote of approval), and also to offer thanks (among those recognized were Waldemar Bugaj and two university handymen: Zygmunt Teterycz and Krzysztof Gajewski). One of the ceremony’s highlights was also a lecture by Piotr Roman, who spoke about Bolesławiec’s development directions.
As Wiesława Olczyk, the founder and manager of UTW, emphasizes, the Bolesławiec University of the Third Age fulfills educational and activation goals. Activation here is multidirectional: intellectual, physical, creative and social. Activity in later adulthood rejuvenates people and gives them wings.
A person entitled to a pension or disability benefit may become a UTW student. The Bolesławiec institution maintains contact with other universities of this kind in Lower Silesia and beyond (students participate, among other things, in UTW forums). It is also worth adding that the University contributed to the Municipality of Bolesławiec receiving its first distinction in the “Local Government Friendly to the Education of Older People and Intergenerational Integration” competition.
The University’s program offer is adapted to students’ expectations and needs (thanks to it, Bolesławiec UTW received the Self-Accreditation Certificate from the Foundation for Jagiellonian University in July 2011):
- English language classes
- German language classes
- basic computer skills classes
- physical activities: rehabilitation gymnastics, dance gymnastics, Chinese gymnastics, yoga, gym, oriental dance
- swimming pool: water rehabilitation, swimming lessons
- swimming pool: aerobics
- workshops: psychological, music, painting, theater and cabaret
- cultural and educational club
- hiking section
- editorial and journalism section
- Nordic walking section.
“There is no better medicine than the University of the Third Age!” adds Wiesława Olczyk.
(information: ii)