Austria

Abstract

Education is one of the central issues of the twenty-first century throughout all phases of life. During the time of gainful employment, particularly, the formal aspects of educational certificates are of interest. After retirement, informal aspects and aspects of personal development become more relevant. Education in later life is thus not only a resource for economic productivity, but also relevant for one’s social status, social inclusion, individual lifestyle and self-fulfillment. However, older people in Austria are strongly underrepresented in (institutional) learning processes although there is much evidence about the ability for and the positive effects of learning in higher age groups. In this article we discuss the development of education for old people in Austria with regard to its institutional forms, the degree of professionalization and the participation quotas.

Appendix: Case Study of a ‘Successful’ Initiative in Older Adults’ Learning in Austria

The ‘Monday Academy’ takes place in the spring and winter terms every year. It is supported by the Federal Ministry for Labor, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. It is a series of lectures given on 13 evenings across the entire academic year. Since June 2003, the “Monday Academy” has been organized and developed further by the Zentrum für Weiterbildung (Center for Continuing Education) at Graz University. It was created to offer education to older persons with an interest in tertiary education free of charge. The series of events that ensued has not only attracted older persons but now targets persons from all age groups and social strata under the motto “Education for all by making science generally understandable”.

The Monday Academy has a scientific management team in charge of contents. It is composed of five professors from various faculties. The team is appointed for a 3-year term of office and chooses a spokesperson. All members of the scientific management team are also facilitators and moderators at events. Each academic year has one underlying theme which is dealt with from the perspectives of different scientific disciplines in lectures. The speakers are volunteers who give their lectures free of charge.

The ‘eMonday’ (eMontag) concept is an extension of the Monday Academy. Since November 2004 the regular lectures of the “Monday Academy” have been broadcast live via Internet (stream or video conference) for audiences at regional institutions of the Land of Styria, in Lower Austria and Salzburg. Interested parties who live outside Graz are thus able to follow the “Monday Academy” from their area. The lectures are given in the auditorium of Graz University, filmed by three cameras and broadcast directly in the three ‘satellite locations’. After each series of lectures, the Center for Continuing Education publishes the lecture in a collection of texts, provided that the required funds have been generated. In this way, interested parties can read up on the past lectures or find inspiration for further treatment of the topic.

The aim of the Monday Academy is to make scientific information available to persons who do not have an academic background. Lectures that are generally understood and backed up by audiovisual presentations are to give attendees an idea of what scientists and scholars deal with in their disciplines. It is an intergenerational program since it not only addresses older persons but also attracts people from other age groups who attend the Monday Academy. Educationally disadvantaged strata of society are included inasmuch as scientists and scholars are directed to word their lectures in generally understandable language. The “Monday Academy” reaches a large audience, 7500 persons per year. The “Monday Academy” project is sustained by the publication of texts, online videos, radio recordings and continuous support by the Center for Continuing Education. The programme is based on strong networking. The Center for Continuing Education has linked up with towns and smaller communities, centers of education and technology, schools, companies etc.