“Vita Activa” and “ADD LIFE!”

1. “Vita Activa” and “ADD LIFE!” Non-traditional students in Austria & two projects on Learning in Later Life at the KFU Graz Marcus Ludescher University of Graz, Austria Thursday, 07 December 2006 Graz, Austria www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

2. Overview • Non-traditional students in Austria (NTS) and alternative routes to Higher Education (HE); Senior Students in Austria; Learning in Later Life (LLL): Research Project • Project Vita Activa: Basics and Progress • Project ADD LIFE: Basics and Products • Contact www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

3. Why do we deal with NTS & LLL? • Ageing population: e.g. Styria: 23% = over 60 (2005) 33% = over 60 (2030) • Not only the economy and the labour market but also our civil society cannot afford to lose the skills, competences and experiences of older people • Mission of our universities as state funded institutions is to transfer their knowledge to the society (University Law 2002) • Development plan of our university 2005-2010:“Uni for Life – university education for everyone between 18 and 88”: university shall become a “partner in learning” for students of any and all ages. www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

4. Non-traditional students in Austria: Definitions No overall definition that applies to all systems of HE 3 dimensions which distinguish traditional from non-traditional students (“normal student’s biography”): • Access to higher education (secondary school leaving certificate = “Matura”) • Time of enrolment and age (18-19 years ) • Patterns and intensity of study (full-time) Results of a survey (H. Pechar et al. 2001): Only 28% of Austrian students belong to this group; although every second student enrolled immediately after secondary school, a growing number of students has a full-time (16%), or a part-time job (23%), or works occasionally during the semester (27,6%). Motives: gain practice, financial www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

5. Austrian Education System www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

6. Alternative routes to Higher Education: Overview • Externistenreifeprüfung • Studienberechtigungsprüfung • Berufsreifeprüfung 4,2 % of students (2005) have chosen one of these routes to HE. ad 1. Some secondary schools offer (evening) classes to prepare “external” candidates for A-Level (very “traditional”; high drop out rates!) ad 2. Specialized university entrance qualification, which gives access to a chosen subject as Medicine, Business Management, etc. (1985) ad 3. equivalent to the “Matura” and gives general access to Higher Education (1997) www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

7. Studienberechtigungsprüfung (SBP) Prerequisites: previous professional experience or training in the area of the target field of study; Austrian citizenship; min. age = 22 years Exams: 5 = 1 essay, 1-3 core subjects, 1-3 optional subjects; Medicine (1 essay, Biology, Chemistry 2, Physics 1, 1 optional subject) Preparatory courses: Universities (application for admission, examining board), Certified Adult Education Centres (up to 4 of 5 exams) Duration: approx. 1 year Berufsreifeprüfung (BRP) Prerequisites: completion of an apprenticeship (e.g. electrician, hair dresser), intermediate technical or vocational school (min. 3 years); nurses, medical laboratory assistants, etc. ; min. age = 17 years (last exam not to be taken before 19) Exams: 4=German, Mathematics, Foreign Language, subject-related exam Preparatory courses: Secondary schools (application for admission, examining board), Certified Adult Education Centres (up to 3 of 4 exams) Duration: approx. 2 years Alternative routes to Higher Education: SBP & BRP www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

8. Senior students in Austria: facts & figures • Definition according to Austrian Rectors’ Conference (1978): female students 40+ and male students 45+ “without vocational interests and aims” • 2 routes in terms of enrolment status: “regular” students (credit-bearing courses leading to an academic degree) versus “irregular” students; the latter was a popular way for senior students to pursue their own interests without any pressure of taking exams • Number of older students fell after introduction of tuition fees 2001/02: The number of irregular students at the KFU Graz (55+) fell from 1,246 (13.7% of all “irregulars”) in winter term 2000/01 to 168 (< 3% of all irregulars) in winter term 2002/03.* • In 2005/06 3.8% of the regular students at Austrian universities are 40+, 0.59% are 60+. www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

9. Learning in Later Life – Results of a research project Study carried out by the Department of Sociology, University of Vienna (F. Kolland, 2005) 2003-04*: • 27 non-standardised interviews with experts from educational, seniors’ and social organisations and standardised telephone surveys of 610 trainers Some results: • Apart from informal learning activities, learning activities in later life take place mainly outside traditional institutions of adult education / HE: 2/3 of these activities are provided by “non-formal” institutions such as charity organisations, churches, lobby groups etc. • “Elderly” (70+) are under-represented • women are over-represented: almost 1/3 of the activities are attended exclusively by women *F. Kolland (2005): Bildungschancen für ältere Menschen. Ansprüche an ein gelungenes Leben. LIT Verlag: Wien. www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

10. Vita Activa: Basics (1) Title: Development of a Concept for a “University of the Third Age” as well as Testing and Evaluating of Pilot Modules Started on 1 September 2005; Duration: 23 months Supported by two Austrian Federal Ministries: Federal Ministry of Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Considerable contribution by the University of Graz Target groups: senior citizens and non-traditional students (women returners, drop-outs, persons without university entrance qualifications, etc.) www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

11. Vita Activa: Basics (2) Background: Development plan KFU Graz “Uni for Life” 2005-2010 Main objectives of the project: • develop a profile, an organisational model, a new (university-accredited) programme and • institutionalise what has been developed Quality: • research-based level • accompanying programme including: personal growth, study skills, IT-skills www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

12. Vita Activa: Progress Project environment analysis: a. Desk-based research: Statistical data gathering and analysis b. Survey of providers of Learning in Later Life done from Jan – March 2006 in Styria; results: 18 institutions, 107 courses; topics: IT-skills, personal skills, languages, health and well-being; mostly short courses, max. 2-weeks Organisational models (organisation and management, basic structure programme, resources needed, finance model) - comparative analysis of best practice (examples in progress): a. Access to regular university studies accompanied by additional seminars b. U3A as a separate programme, e.g. Studium Generale Pilot Modules: Summer University Vita Activa 2006: What does Nano Research contribute to improving the quality of our everyday life? (September 2006, 1-week programme) www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

13. ADD LIFE: Basics 1 Title:ADD-LIFE! ADDing Quality to LIFE through inter-generational learning via universities Duration: 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2008 Supported by EC (SOKRATES, Grundtvig 1) Aims (amongst others): • Explore different models of inter-generational learning, collaborative learning between older and younger learners, and inter-generational collaboration on designing new modules • Develop learning opportunities that will promote participation of individuals in European civil society as promoters and facilitators of others • Design 12 modules using different models, pilot 6 of these www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

14. ADD LIFE: Basics 2 Basic Framework Project Contractor: University of Graz, Austria Project Co-ordinator: Dr. Andrea Waxenegger Project Administrator / Local Co-ordinator: Dr. Marcus Ludescher Consultant: Prof. Dr. Franz Kolland, University of Vienna, Austria Evaluator: Prof. Dr. Raymond Thomson, University of Strathclyde, Scotland www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

15. ADD LIFE: Basics 3 Full partners • University of Graz, AT, Co-ordinator; Andrea Waxenegger • Brno University of Technology, CZ; Petr Vavřín • Goldsmiths University of London, UK; Mary Claire Halvorson • Summer University of Jyväskylä, FI; Anneli Hietaluoma • University of Pécs, HU; Valéria Pavluska • University of A Coruña; José Millán-Calenti • European University Continuing Education Network – EUCEN; Pat Davies www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

16. ADD LIFE: Basics 4 Associate Partners • Technology Centre Deutschlandsberg Ltd in cooperation with the Municipality of Deutschlandsberg, Austria • Association of Third Age Universities, Czech Republic • The Learning from Experience Trust, United Kingdom • Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany • Educators’ Center Association – House of Civic Communities, Hungary • Provincial Association of Pensioners and Retired Persons from A Coruña, Spain) • European Association for the Education of Adults - EAEA Links with other European and National LLL Networks and Networks for Learning in Later Life. www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

17. ADD LIFE: Products 1 Taught Modules developed year 1, piloted year 2 • Sustainability and Development • Information Society - Digital Literacy • Employability and Mentoring/Coaching/Guidance/Advice • Civil Society • Culture • Health Sciences Basic features: Adopt one model of inter-generational teaching/learning setting; explore the use of ECTS for Lifelong Learning (target 2-3 ECTS as well as university-accreditation), academic content and functional part, use of ICT as integral part of the learning arrangements, integrate European dimension www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

18. ADD LIFE: Products 2 Facilitated Open Modules developed year 2 • Negotiated with the potential target groups • In a collaborative process • Comprising different generations Could be: specialised module following the taught module; new theme; soft skills; IT-skills Basic features: explore the use of ECTS for Lifelong Learning; target 2-3 ECTS as well as university-accreditation www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

19. ADD LIFE: Product 3 Developmental Material to be produced • Report “ADD LIFE! - Lessons learned 1: Inter-generational teaching and learning in university teaching – Experiences and Recommendations” • Report “ADD LIFE! - Lessons learned 2: The universities’ potential role in training promoters for different fields of voluntary and paid work – Experiences and Recommendations” • Re port “ADD LIFE! - Lessons learned 3: Facilitated collaborative design of inter-generational university courses – Experiences and Recommendations”. The reports will be in English and translated into the languages of the partner countries involved, i.e. DE, CZ, HU, FI, ES. www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung

20. Contact Dr. Marcus Ludescher E-mail: marcus.ludescher@uni-graz.at Vita Activa: http://www.uni-graz.at/vita-activa ADD LIFE: http://add-life.uni-graz.at supported by ADD LIFE: 229596 - CP -1-2006-1- AT - GRUNDTVIG – G1PP www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung