1. Luis Jacob
and
Giselle Janeiro

2. Associação Rede de Universidades da Terceira Idade Association of Third Age Universities Network
RUTIS is a no profit Institution that works in a national level providing support to the family, the community and the elderly.
It was created in 2005 and the headquarters are located in the city of Almeirim, in the centre of Portugal.
RUTIS is a member of the Economic and Social Council is a partner of the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity since the signature of a protocol in October 2007.
We have participated in several European projects funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme, the AAL and I&D.

3. Main Activities Main Activities 9 Editions 500 participants i
201 average of U3A
Music
Festival
National
Meeting
14 Editions
500 participants
8 average of U3A
Quiz show
10 Editions
1200 average of participants
52 average of U3A
9 Editions
350 participants
4 average of U3A
Theatre
Festival
Coordinators
meeting
Dance
Festival
7 Editions
100 average of coordinators
45 average of U3A
3 Editions
400 participants
4 avarege of U3A

4. European Projects
RUTIS participates mainly in projects under the Lifelong Learning Programme and in specific with the Grundtvig Programme.
The main goal is the promotion of cooperation activities at an European level, in order to improve the quality and the European dimension in adult education.
RUTIS participated in the following projects:
SETIP – Senior Education and Internet Training Platform
Cultural Bridges

5. Our Communication
Posters of some events

6. Website Technical Support Services
145 daily visits
3,5 m average time
Technical Support
Teacher’s guide
Quality guide
Protocol guide
Technical guide to create U3A
Services
A management program students
Personal Accident Insurance for
students and teachers
Where each U3A has a page
It allows one to pay and sign up to the activities
It allows to send SMS to the students

7. Communication Newspaper National Card PC Senior Virtual
Printed twice a year
copies
12 colered pages
Free national destribution

8. As Universidades Seniores (UTIs) The Third Age Universities (U3A)
A Third Age University (UTI or U3A) is a social and cultural answer, well developed in terms of equipment whose aims are to create, to develop and to organize cultural activities regularly, providing non-formal education, leisure activities and social gatherings and events for people over 50 years old.
Educative activities are performed in non-formal policy, without certification purposes and in the lifelong learning formation context.
Seniors participating in the U3A can be students, teachers and leaders.

9. Characterization of the U3A
219 U3A, students and volunteer teachers
40% of Universities are managed by elderly people
75% of the students are women
The average age is 67 years old
The average qualifications is above the 9th grade
The average monthly payment is 15 euros
The most taught classes are ICT, Health, Citizenship, History and Arts.

10. A growing social response
219 U3A
U3A
Students
4000 teachers

11. REDE INTERNACIONAL DE UTIS With partners in 12 countries

12. Example of Activities of the U3A: Classes
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9 – 10 h D
Swimming and
Aerobics
10 – h C
Italian
9.30 – h B
Gymnastics
10 – h A
Portuguese Literature
10.45 – 11.45h C
Portuguese I and II
11 – h C
Citizenship
11 – h C
Floral Arts
11 – h A
Memory training
10– 11h / 11– 12 h
12-13h A
ICT
14.30 – h C
History
14 – 17 h C
Sociology
Seminars or Tours
English I and II
14 h C
Ballroom
15.30 – h C
Health
15 – 17 h C
Arts
15 – 17 h C
Arraiolos
20 h C
Choir
Theater
A – Public Library B – Sports hallC – Head Office D – Swimming Pools
* The last Wednesday of the month is dedicated to birthday parties.

13. The U3A also provide other activities
Theater
Tours
Dance
Arts
Sport
Music

14. the influence that U3A have on the elderly’s life quality
Several studies show
the influence that U3A have on
the elderly’s life quality
Question
Students
Non-students
Have you felt happy the last 30 days?
80%
40%
Have you felt depressed the last 30 days? 4%
28%
Daily consumption of drugs
- 20% -

15. Studie about ours U3A teachers:
The questionary sent to the U3A was applied on-line to a sample of teachers and 79 U3A.
The results showed that 60% of the teachers in the U3A are female.
The predominant age is from 60 to 70 years old, 27% ​​have less than 30 years.
The predominant qualification is high school (74%).
The majority (89%) of teachers give lessons in U3A voluntarily and without any remuneration. 48.1% of the teachers still have a paid job. The rest are distributed in the category of pensioners and unemployed (4.7%).
44% of the U3A teachers are or were teachers in their professional life.
At average, teachers give 2 hours of classes per week.
85% of teachers are very pleased with the service they provide

16. Available in:
and at MEO tv
Channel of MEO tv

17. Thank you for your Atention!
Giselle Janeiro – Gerontologist and Project Coordinator for RUTIS
Luís Jacob – President of the Association of Third Age Universities Network – RUTIS