CHARACTERISTICS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OLDER LEARNERS IN AN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE PROGRAM: PART 1, SURVEY RESULTS

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Abstract
Over the past 15 years, the provision of new educational opportunities for older adults has become the major growth area in adult education. Of all the new programs specifically developed for older adults the University of the Third Age (USA) is certainly the most successful, and probably the most important. Since its inception in France in 1972 the movement has spread rapidly to most developed and many developing countries. This study is the first of its kind in Australia to begin the process of describing the participation characteristics of members of a specific U3A program. A postal survey of a random sample of members was used to obtain responses that would allow comparisons to be made with results from overseas participation studies, as well as highlighting characteristics that may be unique to the specific program. The study revealed a 6:1 female to male membership ratio; more than 10% of participants are 75 and older; social goals, personal satisfaction, and new knowledge are among important expectations held by members; participants have higher than average formal education for their age group; and USA is attractive to those who have not studied in more than ten years, and to those who have no intention of studying elsewhere.

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