U3A is global!

U3A is a worldwide organisation. It began in France in 1968, when legislation was passed requiring universities to provide more community education. In 1973 a highly rated gerontology course was provided by Toulouse University for local retired people, a course that was extremely successful and which led to the formation of what was to be the first U3A. This organisation was open to anyone over retirement age; no qualifications or examinations were required, and fees were kept to a minimum.

The idea spread rapidly throughout France and then to Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Spain and across to North America.

When U3A surfaced in Great Britain at Cambridge the ‘model’ was to undergo a significant change. The French model had strong ties to universities, who created and presented most of the courses. With the introduction of the British model these university ties were to disappear.

In the new system there was no distinction between the teacher and the taught – members would, as far as possible, be teachers as well as learners. This new self-help approach is based on the knowledge that ‘experts’ of every kind in every field retire, so there should be no need to depend on paid tutors.