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The clients and functions of Spanish university programmes for older people: a sociological analysis

‘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 and other sources. The main socio-demographic findings are that the students are relatively young older people, have a relatively high socio-economic level, and 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 elderly 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 more years (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.