Lifelong learning: Active ageing at polish universities of third age

Abstract

The 21st century education should be seen as a lifelong process. Lifelong learning becomes the foundation of human knowledge, their activity, ability to live in a society, but also to create yourself and your own existence. With the growing awareness of the aging population in Europe, the issues of education and active aging have been discussed for years. The announcement by the European Parliament and the Council that year 2012 would be the European Year for Active Ageing and International Solidarity is the appreciation of potential in the hands of senior citizens and the elderly, as well as the opening up to their needs. Poland's parliamentary upper house, the Senate, had recognized senior education as important for the state and declared 2012 the Year of Universities of the Third Age. A large number of UTA students in Poland, a rich and diverse range of educational and activating activities, as well as taking initiative, reinforce the belief that the period of late maturity through an active lifestyle prevents exclusion from the community and improves the quality of life by giving it a valuable meaning.