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To organise and maintain a co-operative learning community for retired
and semi-retired people, on a non-profit basis;
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To encourage the pursuit of learning without reference to entry criteria,
qualifications, assessments or rewards;
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To arrange for voluntary tutors and teachers;
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To exchange ideas with Universities of the Third Age both in Australia
and overseas.
The University of the Third Age - Hobart Inc. ("U3A" to us) is a wholly
self-funded, voluntary organisation formed in 1990 to provide lecture courses
to its members, who are all aged 50 or over, in a wide range of stimulating
subjects. Approximately 45 courses are offered each term: the topics covered
include the humanities (history literature, philosophy, law etc.), social
sciences, sciences, architecture, art and music. See This
Term's programme.
We have about 630 members, all with active minds and eager to absorb
the entertaining and enlightening lectures given by our dedicated, voluntary
tutors (mostly members themselves) and who are often retired lecturers,
teachers, professional and other retired persons who have much to pass
on.
We have three terms each year, like the school year, and the programme
of courses varies each term, depending on the tutors available. Some courses
run for one term, others for the full year and a few may run for only five weeks or half of a term.
Everybody aged 50 or over is eligible to join: there are no exams, no
entry requirements and no limit on the number of courses members may attend.
All course enrolment costs are covered by the one annual subscription.
Most classes are held at Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward St.
Glebe; a few are held in tutors' own homes or elsewhere. Classes are
all in the daytime on weekdays: the earliest start at 10.00am and the last
finish at about 3.00pm.
Because all administrators and tutors are volunteers, costs (and therefore
subscriptions) are kept low. The current annual subscription is $44.00
for one member and $82.00 for a couple or for two persons at the same address.
Apart from some small levies to cover photocopy handouts etc., there are
no further charges and members may attend all the courses they can fit
into their week.
U3A-Hobart is not connected to any government or to any other organisations
nor does it receive any outside subsidy or payments.
The Newsletters sent to members contain the term programme, course-enrolment
forms and some news items.
A social lunch-and-concert function is held at each year's end and,
in addition, a series of single lectures is given once or twice weekly
over the long summer vacation at the University of Tasmania.
For how to become a member or to find out more, see Joining
.
Other sites of interest:
