It's Never Too Late to Learn

Seniors College of PEI continues to sees tremendous growth with numbers climbing to over 400 members in the fall 2006 enrolment.

Programs in both Charlottetown and Summerside, welcomed returning members, and new members for a great fall start. Programs are offered in eight week segments, with courses starting in September, January and the spring.

Her Honour, Barbara A. Hagerman, the Lieutenant Governor, is the Patron of Seniors College, which is affiliated with UPEI. Kinsey Smith, MD is the President and Bruce Garrity the overall coordinator. He is assisted by Summerside coordinator Don Anderson. With growing interest throughout Kings Co., efforts are underway to develop programming in Montague in the future.

The College is continuously striving to keep programs offerings exciting so are on the look out for new courses and facilitators to present new offerings. The coordinators welcome any suggestions. With no exams, tests or homework to worry about, learning is purely for fun. Most members find this approach very satisfying, and that learning new skills is easier with others.

Besides offering courses to members in the age 50+ range, Seniors College also has social events from time to time. The fall social which is held on campus, includes readings from students in the Life Writing class, and coral music from the Voices 50+ class.

Locally the name Seniors College is used, and the program is affiliated with UPEI, but in other places programs have grown in unique ways. The Canadian Network for Third Age Learning, acts as a point of contact among the various programs and operates an email newsletter and listserv called CATALIST.

Canadian programs tend to have unique names like: Of Course You Can, Learning in Retirement,
L.I.F.E Institute (Learning is For Ever), ElderCollege Chilliwack, Université du 3ième âge – Sudbury, Later Life Learning Kingston, Creative Retirement Manitoba.

On the international level, many programs use the terminology related to Third Age - which derives from the roots of the program in Toulouse France, in 1972 and the name Université du 3ième âge. The name relates to the idea of distinct stages of life with retirement following both childhood and the adult years when work is often the major focus. The founding of AIUTA (International Association of Universities of the Third Age) in France, maintains a connection among similar programs internationally. U3A is the terminology that is often used in the UK and Australia.

Programs all use peer-learning in which facilitators bring their passion and knowledge of their subject, and students bring their life experience and interest in learning new things. The College has been extremely lucky that PEI is an attractive retirement location, and thus retired professors from several Canadian universities, are currently offering classes at Seniors College of PEI. Other instructors who are working, take time off, in order to teach.

While peer-learning for seniors began before the Internet existed, at a time that baby boomers were beginning careers, the future may be quite different than the past. Rapid growth in the numbers of individuals aged 50+ , could expand the concept far beyond the current success it enjoys. This will require solid planning, and innovation to ensure quality programming continues.

Learning from similar organization elsewhere and their best practices may help existing and new organizations get started and flourish. Currently other universities in Canada have learned of the success on PEI and are interested in learning how to establish a similar program. Past president of Seniors College, Ivan Dowling is much sought after, as a speaker, by retired faculty in other universities keen to learn about the PEI model. A video also provides an overview of the program on PEI.

Addressing the intellectual needs of seniors in residential care, by expanding learning opportunities for individuals who no longer living independently, could be an important, and growing area to examine in the future. Individuals who are care givers at home likewise have special needs, but limited time away from their responsibilities.

In Australia where geography can be daunting, U3A Online was created as the world-first virtual University of the Third Age delivering online learning via the Internet. They state that “All that's needed to study online is access to a computer with an Internet connection - and some basic computing skills. Our courses are open to all older people anywhere in the world. They are especially suited to older members of the community who are isolated either geographically, or through physical or social circumstances (including careers).”

In China the Association of Universities for the Aged, (CAUA) has an important role in developing programs. With 19,300 programs and 1.81 million members now involved, Chinese retirees are very active in enjoying education opportunities.
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The Seniors College web site, www.upei.ca/seniorscollege is a good resource.

For anyone interested in learning more or signing up it is a simple as calling either Bruce Garrity at 894-2867 or Don Anderson at 436-9575 or emailing Seniors College of PEI

And yes - it's never too late to learn.