ANTALYA: Turkey’s first “senior citizen university” is now accepting the students over the age of 60.
Akdeniz University in the south province of Antalya opened a center to educate the senior citizens under the motto “Learning for an Active and Meaningful Life.”
The university administration has shortlisted the courses for their elderly students including philosophy, history, technology, communications, chemistry, biology, health, sociology, and psychology.
The classes will be on the weekly or monthly basis. It’s up to the student’s choice.
Professor Ismail Turan of Akdeniz University said they hope Turkey’s first senior citizen university will be exemplary among other universities around Turkey with programs that enrich the lives of the elderly.
Turan said such programs will keep elderly people active in daily life as they can interact and learn from each other.
“Learning has no limit as you can continue education as long as you live. The program will help them to have a higher quality elderly life,” Turan said adding that the center is free and open to the public.
Explaining the learning process, Turan said the students would be offered a three-year ‘exam free’ coursework with the assistance of volunteer lecturers. A certificate will be awarded to the passed-out students.
There are currently sixty students enrolled in the university receiving a modern education to refresh their knowledge in specialized fields. In the near future, the program will reach elderly people around Turkey.
