What makes U3A so different

What makes U3A so different?

Education in most schools and colleges is hierarchical and rather passive - students turn up to a class, paid teachers teach them.

The U3A turns this on its head. Its philosophy is based on the idea that people who have a lifetime of work behind them can probably teach a thing or two themselves. So it has a unique guiding principle: 'Those who learn shall also teach'. In the U3A, teacher and student are one and the same.

Rather than hiring expensive paid teachers, the U3A capitalises on the accumulated knowledge, skills and interests of its own members. One person might be an amateur astronomer, another might grow prize- winning vegetables, another might be a Dickens fan, and another might paint in their spare time. Put all these skills together into a network and the astronomer can teach astronomy to the gardener, the gardener can explain vegetable-growing to the astronomer and all of them, given enough enthusiasm, could set up and enjoy a book club or a painting group.

No qualifications are needed to join and no qualifications are awarded. The U3A is about learning for fun and the sheer pleasure of stretching your mind.

What is on offer? The members decide

Each of the U3A groups is an autonomous unit. Each coordinates a number of interest groups, as determined by the interests and requests of their members. The members act as both teachers and learners. They decide the number, timing, and format of meetings, which aspects of the subject will be covered, and who will lead each meeting.

Within this broad framework there are many variations. Some groups meet to play scrabble or bridge, learn ballroom dancing, listen to music or go walking. Other groups are more 'overtly academic', tackling subjects as diverse as ecology, social history, philosophy, and mathematics. Others meet to practise a craft or to learn a new language.

Some subject groups are led by one person throughout . Others are multi-contributory, with each member of the group researching a slice of the chosen subject and leading part of the discussion.

Many a U3A member who starts as a timid observer soon blossoms in the friendly and supportive atmosphere of their group and find themselves reading up and leading a discussion on something that they knew little about before.

Thus, as one U3A organiser puts it, 'each U3A is a footprint of the town or area it serves'. If you want to learn flower arranging, you can; if you want to study Locke's political treatises, you can. The only limitation is the extent to which people are prepared to step forward and help lead a group.

The membership of a U3A can range from just a handful to 1,000 or more. Some larger towns such as Brighton and Eastbourne have two or three U3As. And the subject range is vast. Even a U3A with just fifty members could easily find itself organising several hundred meetings a year. It is not unusual for a member to attend three different group meetings a week, in addition to one-off events such as lectures, visits and walks.

Benefits of joining

For anyone who simply loves learning, the advantages of the U3A will be obvious. But the real benefits go far beyond that. Firstly, the accessibility of the courses means that they are available to many people who otherwise would be extremely isolated. The networking and friendships that courses generate is invaluable, especially to those who move home or lose a partner or whose family move away. The local nature of the organisation and the way that the members themselves are in control also builds very strong links within the local community.

But perhaps the biggest benefit is simply that of exercising the mind while having a lot of fun.