Community project · since 2019
Third Age Academy
A social responsibility project launched in Denizli in 2019 by Pamukkale University and YASAD, directed by Prof. Velittin Kalınkara. The first meeting was held on 21 December 2019; regular teaching began on 16 October 2023.
60–74
Age range
Open to third-age adults only
65
Places
Each year, in order of application
3 years
Duration
Twelve weeks and 24–36 classes per term
53
First graduates
11 May 2026
The Third Age Academy runs continuing education programmes so that older adults may improve their quality of life, live more autonomously, keep abreast of change, acquire new skills and remain socially connected. Between 2019 and 2023 the work took the form of monthly lectures and courses; after the pandemic, regular teaching began in 2023 under the auspices of Pamukkale University at the association's initiative.
Aims
- Active ageing: keeping people at the centre of social life and preserving mental and physical vitality,
- Lifelong learning: enabling the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and cultural experience at any age,
- Contribution to society: returning the experience of senior citizens to the community through placements and volunteering with civil society organisations.
The programme
Classes are taught within the Faculty of Education at Pamukkale University by a wide body of academics and practitioners, free of charge and without credit. The programme is arranged termly; second-year students take elective workshops, and the sixth term includes a volunteer project with a civil society organisation. Students who complete three years with at least 70% attendance receive a certificate.
Fields of activity
- Health and physical activity: the physiology of ageing, exercise models and fitness testing,
- Social and cultural activities: excursions, choir and folk dance, poetry recitals, theatre and national commemorations,
- Ecology and sustainability: panels and workshops on environmental awareness,
- Civil society placements: taking responsibility at the PASVAK soup kitchen and other organisations as part of community solidarity.
In this model students learn from one another by sharing knowledge, skills and experience. Teaching concentrates on strengthening social networks, using time well, protecting decision-making capacity and independence, maintaining health, and challenging stereotypes about later life.