Janka Chladecka SLOVAKIA, Artur Horbovyy UKRAINE, Izapela Pietras POLAND, Pavel Helan CZECH Republic, Katarina Grunwlad AUSTRIA, Georgi Stankov BULGARIA, Olga Subanova LATVIA/RUSSIA, Elena Novikova and Tatiana Illinskaya SIBERIA Russian Federation, Harry Cocossis GREECE and Nadezda Hrapkova SLOVAKIA spoke at the High Level Dialogue on Senior Tourism in WSTC 2019 Yantai, China. They choose amblematic words to define Senior Study Tours with U3As such as : SENSATIONAL, HARMONIUS, SINCERITY, WELFARE and HEART. Here you see a group of delegates from European, Asian, and Australian U3A's relaxing between sessions.

The August Forum will explore this question on Sunday the 4th August, starting at 12 noon UK time. A free copy of ZOOM may be downloaded here>>>

Background: In 2018, for the first time in human history, there were more people over the age of 65 than under the age of five. At the same time fertility rates are falling worldwide and will continue to fall.

If you would like to learn more, or if you have mic/speakers/webcam and would like to take part click here>>>

A MAJOR U3A PUBLICATION

This wide-ranging comparative resource charts the interface between the international University of the Third Age (U3A) movement and active ageing, and in doing so, offers a comprehensive and thorough understanding of what U3A means in different geographical and sociocultural contexts.

After first providing introductory chapters to introduce the U3A movement and active ageing in global perspective and tracing the origins of U3As in France, the book sets off charting the international development of U3As in both European and Asian-Pacific contexts.

Deliberately, the book moves away from the dominant Anglo-centric US- and UK-rooted analyses of U3As to account for different contexts, and thematises foreseeable issues, concerns, and predicaments that the global U3A movement faces while meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities presented by active ageing. For a comprehensive description click here>>>

Many thanks to Hans Gudmundsson - contributor of the U3A Iceland section.

On July 9-10, 2019, the Government of Finland and the Global Coalition on Aging convened the first-ever Silver Economy Forum for government and business leaders, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations; Moira Allan attended this important conference on behalf of Pass It On Network and WorldU3A. Helsinki was the site of this first-ever conference, as Finland is one of the world's oldest nations, the current seat of the EU Presidency, and the home of innovations in policymaking and business successes targeting the aging population. The Forum also coincided with the EU Ministerial and occurred on the cusp of the World Health Organization's Decade of Healthy Ageing. For further information, including video of the two days of proceedings, please click here>>>

Conference and AGM 2019 - 27-29 August
EAST MIDLANDS CONFERENCE CENTRE, UNIVERSITY PARK, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 2RJ

Together we will be sharing our views, ideas and experience in this year's conference "Sharing Inspiring Learning". With workshops focusing on lifelong learning, managing new educational resources, finance for charities, and supporting the growth and development of U3As, there will opportunity to discuss, debate and enjoy the views of colleagues across the movement. There will also be some free time to share interests such as singing, ukulele playing, walking and many other choices.

Thomas Kuan - Report from U 3rd Age Singapore.
Chiang Rai is an ancient large city in northern Thailand with famous temples and interesting festivals. It is recently (July 2019) selected as one of the learning cities under UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Congratulations from International U3A-Signpost and U 3rd Age, Singapore.

U3A-Nakorn Chiangrai was set up in 2017 and has over 3,000 members as active volunteers in social community works today. It has a strong support of local Chiang Rai Municipal to encourage active ageing activities. Dr. Gumpanat Boridoon (Srinakharinwirot University) led a 33-member delegation which included the Deputy Mayor Mr. Narongsak Tueansakun, President U3A-Chiang Rai Mrs. Ubolwan Saenmahayak, Board members and representatives from several government departments to visit U 3rd Age, Singapore to exchange notes on third agers activities. We are honoured to host them, and had the opportunity to arrange visits to our National Library Board (NLB) and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), a national urban planning authority of Singapore. We look forward to more exchange visits with U3As in Asia.

Dr P Vyasamoorthy reports from Hyderabad.
Indian Society of U3A (ISU3A), headquartered in Udaipur, which was a little dormant for a few years has picked up a lot of activity in recent past, especially through U3As like U3AKerala, Cochin; Silver Circle, Kolkata; Sthreegyan, Secunderabad.

U3A SthreeGyan (pictured), is unique as it is the only U3A in India exclusively for ladies. They recently held a workshop for making gift envelopes when 11 ladies took part. They in turn plan to visit Old Age Homes meant for destitute women to impart these skills to their residents. Arrangements for giving raw materials free and guarantee buy back of products made in old age homes are being made. See a picture of the learners session.