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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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The clients and functions of Spanish university programmes for older people
— a sociological analysis | | Author(s) | Alfredo Alfageme |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 27, part 3, May 2007 |
| Pages | pp 343-361 |
| Source | http://www.journals.cambridge.org/jid_ASO |
| Keywords | Ageing process ; Universities ; Courses ; Sociology, Social Science ; Spain. |
| Annotation | University programmes for older people (UPOP) have recently expanded rapidly in Europe and are now well-established. This study examines the functions and achievements of the programmes and the characteristics of UPOP students in Spain. The evaluation is from a general sociological perspective, and uses data from a survey of a representative sample of the students (1448 questionnaires returned). The main socio-economic findings are that the students are relatively young older people, have a relatively high socio-economic level, are predominantly women, and retired. It is shown that beyond the education imparted, the programmes also fulfil important social roles. A critical analysis of the programmes as social policy highlights their socially selective reach and impacts, and compares their actual and potential functions. Some alternatives are discussed. If UPOP are to maintain their identity as programmes for older people, a different approach is required to reach all older people, including the 'really old'. On the other hand, if the objectives emphasise the promotion of social integration and personal development (in matters other than employment skills), there is no reason why they should be addressed exclusively to people aged 50+ (or any arbitrary age). Rather, they should be open to adults of all ages. If this change were made, UPOP would give less reinforcement to a particular social construction of old age. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-070426002 A |
| Classmark | BG: V5: VE: S: 76S |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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