University of the Third Age (U3A) and Virtual U3A

The University of the Third Age is an activity with more than twenty-year history. At present time this form of education takes place in various forms at almost all Czech universities. It is presented that in total more than four hundred of various educational programmes are offered and about 20 000 seniors study in this form around the Czech Republic.

It has become a phenomenon of the universities to offer University of the Third Age (U3A) programme as a part of a lifelong learning education. The University of the Third Age provides adults and elderly persons general, special-interest and non-profession education at the university level. A range of educational U3A activities is wide, diverse and inward differentiated. It includes comprehensive education programmes (1 – 3 year), courses of innovation character with education in the area of new technologies, foreign language conversation courses, activities for a support of physical and psychical condition, programmes developing individually managed learning at the senior age.

Main aims of the University of the Third Age:

  • “bio-psycho-social“ human development,
  • an adaptation to changing life and social conditions (technologies),
  • an intergeneration dialogue.

In spite of justification of the specific interest in seniors as age groups and in spite of an existence of tasks and needs of senior age, particular seniors are up to a high age first of all “themselves”. Therefore there is a necessity of plurality and variability of programmes for seniors and elderly and the existence of unified approach is unacceptable the same as the reduction of an “old age needs“ to minimum.

However, with some exceptions, the education of the University of the Third Age is accessible in the university towns, so above all regional capitals. Therefore for most seniors living in the smaller towns and in the countryside this possibility of active old age is inaccessible.

However, at present time there is a golden opportunity for us to use a possibility of fast-developing information and communication technologies, and the same as in other countries, to make senior education accessible for as wider circuit of interested people as possible. Thereby our main aim is to provide the equal chance for all seniors without exception of place of residence.

Virtual University of the Third Age

Virtual University of the Third Age is a new modern alternative to the traditional U3A lectures. It is based on the use of new communication technologies and the Internet, it contains elements of distance learning and e-learning and it is didactically adapted to the specificities characteristic of the target group –  seniors interested in education at the university level.

Virtual U3A (VU3A) is designed especially for seniors from different regions who for various reasons cannot be physically presented at U3A lectures at colleges and universities. The reasons might be distance, time, health, the financial demands on transportation, etc.

Accessibility anywhere and anytime is the greatest advantage of virtual courses. The way the lectures are led, naturally develops computer and information literacy of seniors. However, the initial knowledge of computer skills is not an essential condition of participation. The study group is organized by trained lecturer. Teaching can be implemented anywhere where Internet access is available - libraries, schools, information centres, clubs and homes for elderly and the others.

In the case of classical lectures where the students are in attendance in the class they can in fact obtain only what they were able to remember and write down. There is not possibility to come back to the lecture,, and printed study materials can never completely replace the lecturer´s speech. The main didactical advantage of virtual courses, in comparison to the classical attendance lectures, is in the possibility of revision which is important mainly for seniors – repetitio mater studiorum.

 How to join?

  • The authority which guaranties the programme of VU3A in the region could be: municipal authorities, local action groups, schools, libraries, information centres and  others
  • The new consulting centre can join the programme of VU3A before the beginning of the new semester (the latest date is 15th October in winter semester and 15th January in summer semester)


Demands on technical equipment of the consulting centre:

  • The room suitable for group lectures available once a fortnight for two hours 
  • Computer with the Internet access, projector and screen, sound system


How to start to run the VU3A in the region?

If there is an interest in the participation in VU3A education in the region let the coordinator (lecturer, leader of the group) contact us.


How can senior join the programme of VU3A?

Senior (or person retired) chooses the most suitable Consulting centre and contacts the coordinator (lecturer, leader of the group) 


Who can be the participant of VU3A programme?

  • Senior with the status of retired person
  • Disabled persons
  • People at the age of 50 + who are unemployed or waiting for the status of retirement