One of the activities of the Open University is the University of the Third Age. The elderly were first offered university-level education in Finland at the universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki in 1985. At present, Finnish-language teaching is provided by nine universities under the name of the University of the Third Age. The Åbo Akademi University coordinates university-level education for Swedish-speaking elderly people in Finland.
University activities for the elderly take place in about 70 Finnish localities and in several countries outside Finland. In 2007 the University of the Third Age had about 17,000 students, of whom 76% were women.
Life experience and scientific information at the University of the Third Age
The University of the Third Age provides the elderly with current research-based information and offers opportunities for self-directed non-degree studies. The University of the Third Age is open to all elderly people regardless of their previous education, professional background or independent studies. Studying has no lower or upper age limit.
University activities for the elderly are based on lifelong learning, academic teaching and opportunities to participate in planning.
- People can learn throughout their lives.
- Studying is important both for gaining new knowledge and for learning in and of itself.
- The elderly can influence the content and methods of teaching.
Versatile activities
The activities of the University of the Third Age include multidisciplinary lecture series, seminars, courses, IT teaching, distance teaching, online teaching, research, publishing, study groups and study-related travel. Teaching is also provided in cooperation with summer universities, adult education centres and other partners.
Activities are coordinated by a national advisory board. The institutions affiliated with the University of the Third Age have also participated in international cooperation projects.
For further information, please see the website of each institution:
» UTA of Eastern Finland
» UTA of Helsinki
» UTA of Jyväskylä
» UTA of Lapland *
» UTA of Oulu *
» UTA of Seinäjoki *
» UTA of Tampere *
» UTA of Turku *
» UTA of Vaasa *
» UTA of Åbo Akademi University **
Pages are * in Finnish / ** in Swedish language.