U3A is an international movement created to provide low cost educational activities, in a relaxed environment, for people who are retired or semi-retired.
U3A was founded in Toulouse, France, in 1972 based on academic programs run by the University. The concept was modified in Cambridge UK in the 1980s by Dr. Peter Laslett, to harness the experience and skills of older people who ran the programs independently of academic involvement. Dr. Laslett was also responsible for defining the four “ages of man” in his book “A Fresh Map of Life.” He suggested that the Third Age, “Retirement”, offered an opportunity to catch up with a lot of activities for which there had not been time in the first two stages of life; childhood & employment.
Each U3A group has its own Constitution based on U3A Guidelines and as agreed with members. It is an autonomous, incorporated association which operates under the rules of the Incorporated Associations Act of 1984. There are no paid employees in any U3A organisation world wide.
Additional information about the history of the U3A movement is available on numerous web sites.