International Bulletin - August 1999
Eternal students
At the age of 60 or thereabouts many people come to the end of their working lives, but this does not mean that they no longer have any urge to learn. According to figures from the Paris-based International Association of Universities of the Third Age (MUTA), there are more than 1,700 senior citizens' universities worldwide catering for these eternal students.
Although their structures and management methods differ widely from one country to another, universities for the elderly usually share a desire to help older people play a full part in cultural and social life. They do not award degrees, and they do not require their students to have any particular qualification when they enroll.
One successful example of this type of institution was set up at Shimizu, in Japan, in 1985. During the last academic year, it had 2,500 students. At this "university for voluntary students", which has been awarded a prize by the Japanese government for "the valuable contribution it has made as an adult education establishment", there is no age-limit for either students or teachers. The teachers are volunteers, as well as the students, enrolment fees are reasonable and there is ample opportunity to make new friends.
Shimizu has one male student for every four females and the most common age bracket ranges between 60 and 70, although there is an increasing number of older students attending classes in dancing, drama, the humanities or manual work.
The aim is to give old people the opportunity to study by providing them with knowledge enabling them to lead better, healthier, richer and happier lives. In the opinion of Dr. Tak Kwan-Kong, a specialist in geriatrics and editor-in-chief of The Journal of the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society, "This type of institution is something to be encouraged, especially nowadays when elderly people have often been given a negative image. Exercising the mind can maintain mental fitness, just as physical exercise can maintain physical fitness. An appropriate life-style, rather than drugs, should have more impact on healthy aging".
Last Modified: June 05, 2010