The together with the University of Malta (UM) will jointly be setting up a new University of the Third Age (U3A) centre in the Central Region of Malta, more specifically in Ħamrun, within the local council premises, to offer more learning opportunities for older persons, and encourage them to stay physically and mentally active.
Some of the U3A lectures taking place during the current academic year focus on Malta’s Parliament History, Photography for All, Gender and Feminism, Malta’s Archaeological Heritage, Exploring Science in Art, Sixties Music and Popular Culture, and the Literary and Theological aspects of the Bible.
As remarked by , the University's Pro-Rector for Student & Staff Affairs and Outreach, these learning opportunities are available to anyone over the age of 60, and since the demand for them has increased, this new centre is a step closer to being closer to this segment of society.
Also speaking at the signing, UM Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella talked about how 'the real university' is not just the one that operates from Tal-Qroqq, but the one which goes out there to be closer to the community.
from the Department of Gerontology and Dementia Studies, who is also the Rector’s Delegate for the University of Third Age (Malta), said that research conducted that was led by himself has shown that older persons from certain localities tend to attend such courses to a lesser degree, so the decision to increase physical presence was taken to be closer to as many members of Maltese society as possible.
The Ministry and the University will be responsible for the setting up, running and maintenance of this centre, whilst the University of Malta will identify and engage lecturers who will be delivering four study-units of fourteen hours each throughout the academic year, and be responsible for the academic and logistic administration of this new centre.
Minister Hon. Michael Farrugia said this initiative is an embodiment of lifelong learning, and of how tirelessly the Ministry is working to achieve active ageing within the Maltese community.
The addendum signed on Thursday, 14 December 2020, complements a key agreement signed in 2018, which established the partnership between the Ministry and the University. Other than this one, the most recent centre to have been set up is the one in Birżebbuġa in 2019.
This public service is a vision that is being implemented with a view to leave a significant impact on the life of the older persons, said the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Senior Citizens and Active Ageing, Mr Matthew Vella.
The University of Third Age (U3A), was launched in Valletta on 23 January 1993 under the auspices of the University of Malta, offering a range of learning programmes to older persons. Operating from from Floriana, Sliema, Attard, Cottonera, Birżebbuġa, Mellieħa and Gozo, and now from Ħamrun, U3A enables older persons to acquire new knowledge based on their personal interests in their third age, a time when one can undertake learning for its own sake.
