Learning Has No Age — And No Gender: What Third Age Universities Teach Us on International Women’s Day

Authors: Fatma Ozge Kayhan Koçak¹, Elif Güngör Genç ²

Affiliations:

¹Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Health Science University (Izmir), Turkiye

² Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gerontology Department, Bolu, Turkiye

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On a weekday morning, classrooms at Third Age Universities (U3As) fill with women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. These vibrant spaces offer a powerful lesson on learning, ageing, and gender, especially relevant on International Women’s Day.

Later life is often narrowly viewed through retirement and decline. Yet, older women continue to seek meaning, connection, and growth. U3As make this visible, creating environments where older adults, predominantly women, are active learners and contributors, not passive recipients of care.

Built on lifelong, participatory learning, U3As operate without exams or rigid hierarchies. Participants choose subjects, teach peers, and co-create their learning journey. We frequently witness profound personal transformations: individuals discovering artistic talents or, like Mrs. G., building confidence to represent peers after years of hesitation. As Mrs. G. reflected, “This University gave me the confidence to speak and represent others.” These experiences foster significant personal growth and self-discovery, enabling women to reclaim their voice and identity beyond traditional roles.

U3As provide a crucial space for women to speak freely, be heard, and be seen beyond roles like caregiver or grandmother. Beyond academics, U3As cultivate a vital social ecosystem through gatherings, outings, and events. This combats loneliness, fosters new friendships, and creates an extended family for members. This is particularly important as gender inequalities persist and accumulate in older age, leaving women with fewer resources and higher risks of isolation.

Furthermore, U3As significantly boost physical and cognitive well-being with specialized classes like exercise, balance training, and memory workshops. Collaborations with local health organizations provide seminars on nutrition and chronic disease management. By promoting active lifestyles and accessible health education, U3As empower older adults to age actively and independently, potentially easing pressure on conventional healthcare services.

On International Women’s Day, the message is clear: empowerment has no age limit. Recognizing older women as learners affirms that equality, opportunity, and growth must extend across the entire life course. Learning has no age—and no gender. U3As prove it's never too late for women to claim space and continue becoming who they are. Sustaining these invaluable programs requires continuous dedication, funding, diverse volunteer facilitators, and adaptability. Greater recognition and partnerships from public bodies and civil society are vital for U3As to expand their impact, investing in a healthier, more engaged, and equitable future for all older adults.