The Association for Universities of the Third Age (AUITA) is the parent organization for Universities of the Third Age (U3A) all over the world. AUITA was created in 1976 by retired Toulouse University professor Pierre Vellas, who felt that retirees would benefit by having opportunities to go back to school to learn something new. His logic for naming the association was that the First Age is for education, the Second Age is for a career, and the Third Age is for active retirement.

His concept of active retirement, similar to that of life-long learning, was a popular one and several U3A chapters opened quickly throughout France. In the ensuring three decades the AUITA chapters have spread well beyond France, to every continent except Antarctica. The original blueprint for U3As was that they be housed in Universities and that classes be taught by retired professors. Some French, Spanish and Italian U3As have now become Universities of All Ages, with an emphasis on intergenerational learning taught by experts in the field, whether they be retired or not. In other countries, particularly England and Australia, the structure is more intimate, with members serving as both students and teachers. Sites for classes tend to be more local, and are often given in church basements or private homes. The U3A chapter at Saint Louis University in St Louis MO is a combination of these styles, with day-long classes held at the university’s lecture center and smaller working groups on travel, exercise, book reviews and chess held in smaller venues.

Because the membership is so diverse, AUITA has two official languages, English and French. However, many languages are heard at the biannual Board meetings, including Spanish, Italian, Swedish, German, and Chinese. The international congress, held every two years, offers exciting chances to travel and visit with local U3A programs. The 2008 congress will be in Turin, Italy. In addition, individual chapters commonly arrange exchange programs. For example, Saint Louis University has had an exchange program with the U3A from Lyon, France and is planning another with Barcelona.

Nina Tumosa is the faculty advisor for the Saint Louis University chapter. She also has been recently appointed as the North American liaison for AUITA. Should anyone have any questions about how programs can participate in AUITA programs, she can be reached at tumosan@slu.edu. She looks forward to hearing from you.