FOR THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING
Culture (some definitions)
Wikipedia: It encompasses,besides arts, letters and sciences, lifestyles, laws, value systems, traditions and beliefs,This "common reservoir" evolves over time by and in the forms Of exchange. It is constituted in many different ways of being, thinking, acting and communicating in society. Culture is the body of knowledge, know- how,traditions, customs, specific to a human group, to a civilization. It is transmitted socially, from generation to generation and not by genetic inheritance, and largely conditions individual behavior. Definition of culture by UNESCO. Culture, in its broadest sense, is considered as the set of distinctive, spiritual and material, intellectual and emotional traits that characterize a society or social group.
Studies on cultural practices in Quebec(2014)，
Television - Radio - Reading - Music - Cinema - Cultural places - Scenic arts - Internet
Amateur or committed practices
Purchasing works of art
Note: Educational activities like UTA?
Diversity and Pleasure at UTA at Université de Sherbrooke (Canada)
FOR THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING
Mission of the UTA
The educational mission of UTA at the Université de Sherbrooke is to meet the training needs
of 50-year-olds who wish increase their knowledge and enjoy the pleasure learning close
to home, throughout their lives
Principles
Complementarity with other institutions or organizations in the community: do not duplicate
resources or activities already offered in the community
Respect of our educational mission: it is very easy overflow for different"good" causes…
Academic link: tags and criteria that depend on it
Close connection to culture:Is UTA cultural, educational or both?
Do not lose sight of the older person at the heart Of the UTA!
Objectives of the U3A
Facilitate the acquisition knowledge throughout life.
Promote social interactions promote exchanges.
Support seniors in their desire for achievement.
UTA in brief
Founded in 1976 in Sherbrooke
The pioneer in North America
Learn for pleasure
For people 50 years old and over
No prerequisites, no exam!
More than 12,000 students enrolled annually
About 750 activity groups/year
Present in 12 regions of Quebec
UTA in brief(continued)
The specific”color"of the U3A is the contribution and participation of more than 600
volunteer"seniors in the organization and design of programs across all 29 branches. These
student volunteers are the link between the senior students and the U3A leadership.
Educational formulas
Classes
Workshops(writing, computer science, languages, etc.)
Discussion workshops
Conferences (various subjects)
Seminars(reflection and discussion on various issues)
Quality and academic standards
The UTA is committed to the quality of the activities offered within its programs.
The academic framework to which these programs of activities are associated requires the
determination of clear guidelines and the presence of quality criteria which respect the
academic standards usually in force while presenting a certain flexibility considering that no
credit is attributed for such training
No prerequisite is required and no exam is administered
The areas covered vary according to the types of activities that are grouped into two
categories:
activities of an academic nature
cultural activities
academic:
UTA'S programs of activities cover the usually recognized fields in academia.
These areas are: history, politics, languages, literature, health, philosophy, religions,psychology, pure and natural sciences, social sciences, geography, technology and the arts
cultural:
The activities of this component are related to culture, for example:
traveling - testimonials -services - resources for seniors.
Note: these activities are usually organized by the student association
Evolution of the UTA and reflections
Digital Age: New Formulas (Distance Learning: Synchronous, Asynchronous or Hybrid)
Networking and social connections: face-to-face or distance: breaking isolation(objective)
The place of UTA among the offer of other cultural and educational organizations: developing
partnerships ex Udes Cultural Center(carte blanche)
Lifelong learning: professional purpose versus personal development
University, friend of seniors(Universite de Sherbrooke)
Research and UTAS: to be developed with recognized partners in universities
(eg Research Center on Aging)
Author: Mrs. Monique Harvey Director of U3A Sherbrooke Canada
(selected from her speech on 105th AIUTA International Conference at Byblos Lebanon)