University for the elderly in Tirana, here's how it will work

2025-06-10 07:25:00, Sociale CNA

The democratic crisis and the gradual aging of the population are imposing unprecedented solutions to keep the elderly engaged.

As part of efforts to build a more accepting environment for the elderly, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sports, will engage in the coming years 2025–2030 to put into operation a university for the elderly and another initiative such as adopting a school, which aim to empower the elderly through education and intergenerational interaction.

The University for the Third Age (U3A) is a unique and global educational organization dedicated to people over 50. It creates opportunities to foster personal development and intellectual engagement through part-time courses and social activities, positively impacting mental health, quality of life and reducing social isolation and loneliness. Tirana will be the first city to experiment with this project.

The programs will be developed “by members for members” and will include a variety of topics such as arts, foreign languages, philosophy, history, natural sciences, current affairs, culture, volunteering and creative activities. The models that inspire this initiative are the French and British ones, already widespread in many countries around the world, although communication between U3A networks remains limited.

Expected outcomes include stimulating mental activity, fostering social connections, and involving older individuals in activities they may not have had the opportunity to explore before, thus promoting an active life.

Performance indicators include the adoption of legal acts for the functioning of the university and the development of concrete educational, cultural and social programs.

Impact indicators foresee the creation of a functional U3A model in Tirana and the engagement of at least 80 older individuals in attending courses.

In another step towards integrating the elderly into community life, the pilot project "Adopt a School" aims to create a bridge between generations.

The initiative will be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, NGOs and local government, and aims to voluntarily include the elderly in school life through mentoring, sharing life experiences or lectures in areas such as mathematics, language, arts, natural sciences, physical education, etc.

In addition to lectures and educational activities, the project also includes the joint involvement of seniors and young people in forums, cultural activities, tree planting, discussions on climate issues or seminars on combating discrimination against aging. In this way, social interaction and awareness of the value that seniors bring to the community are strengthened./ Monitor.al