National Conference
Wednesday 24 March 2010
At Lancaster University Conference Centre, UK
A New Learning Adventure: Exploring Partnership between the U3A and Higher Education
From August 2009 to March 2010 the Department of Continuing Education at Lancaster University has been lead partner in a project funded by the BIS (Department of Business, Industry and Skills) Learning Revolution Transformation Fund. Together with its partners, Lancaster and Morecambe University of the Third Age (U3A) and the Lancaster University Senior Learners Student Society, the University has been developing ways to open its doors to older learners, making its facilities and expertise available and accessible to them and exploring the benefits that can be gained from engaging older people in its teaching and learning.
In this conference we will present the project and hear from the participants, University academics, members of the Senior Learners Student Society who have supported the project as volunteers, U3A partners and others. We will also hear different perspectives on education and ageing from our keynote speakers, and you will have the opportunity to talk to others from your region about how a similar scheme might work in your area.
You will find the conference programme below, together with details of how to register. Conference costs have been kept to a minimum and we hope that this will encourage U3A members from across the UK to attend, as well as policy makers, managers and practitioners working in a range of organisations.
Celebratory learning day preceding conference
To celebrate the enthusiasm for learning and the strong partnerships that this project has established, we are organising a Learning Day on Tuesday 23 March. This is primarily for members of Lancaster and Morecambe U3A and Lancaster University 's Senior Learners' Student Society but there is some space available for other visitors. Attendance at this event is free but booking for the afternoon session is essential. See here for details.
Conference reception and dinner
All participants are invited to attend a wine reception and three-course dinner on the evening of Tuesday 23 March, preceding the conference. The reception and dinner will be at the Lancaster University Conference Centre, starting from 6.30pm. Fee £20. Please book in advance – see below.
Highlights of the conference programme
As well as hearing about the project from project staff and partners, participants, and University academics, there will be a range of presentations and plenty of opportunities for discussion with people from your region and/or with shared interests.
- Older People and Learning - Redefining 'old age' for the 21st century: issues of policy and practice
Prof Chris Phillipson, Centre for Social Gerontology, Keele University
- Working with Older People: Lancaster University and Ageing Research
Professor Christine Milligan, Centre for Ageing Research, School of Health and Medicine
Dr Alex McMinn, Chair of the National Research Committee of the U3A
- Key findings of the project evaluation
Professor Emeritus Keith Percy, Project Evaluator, Lancaster University
Full conference programme.
Travel and accommodation
The Lancaster University campus is easily accessible by public transport or by car, and is around 1 hour away from Manchester's International Airport. Lancaster railway station is around 15 minutes away by bus or taxi, and the campus is a 5 minute drive from the M6, junction 35. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/travel/travel.htm
Delegates will stay in Lancaster University 's en-suite guest accommodation, close to the newly refurbished conference centre on the main campus.
Location
A recent £200 million investment has transformed the Lancaster University campus, creating new centres of academic excellence and improved teaching space, facilities and accommodation. The campus features landmark architecture and landscaping, and offers all the amenities of a modern university. An optional tour of campus is included in the conference programme.
For those wishing to extend their stay, the city of Lancaster is well worth a visit, and the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales are within easy reach.
http://www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk
http://golakes.co.uk
http://www.yorkshire.com/
Support for disabled participants
Disabled participants are welcome. Please contact us well in advance to let us know your needs on tel. 01524 592623.
Fees
There is a discounted rate for people who are paying for their own place (individual rate), rather than representing an organisation (organisational rate). If you cannot afford the fee, please contact Lucy Lloyd (tel. 01524 592618, email lucy.lloyd@lancaster.ac.uk in confidence.
Resident - organisational rate £75
Resident – individual rate £65
Conference only - organisational rate £25
Conference only – individual rate £15
Conference reception and dinner £20
The residential rate includes a single en-suite room for the night of Tuesday 23 March with breakfast, conference attendance on Wednesday 24 March with lunch and all refreshments. It does not include the conference reception and dinner.
The conference only rate includes conference attendance on Wednesday 24 March with lunch and all refreshments.
Booking your place
Please book by 23 February 2010 if possible.
You can book on-line here.
Alternatively, please print the booking form (one form per delegate) and return it to:
Janet Bunting
Department of Continuing Education
Lancaster University
Ash House
Lancaster
LA1 4YT
United Kingdom
Please click below to open a pdf or word version of the booking form.
 
Enquiries
Janet Bunting (address above)
Tel: 01524 592623 (international 011 44 1524 592623)
Email Janet Bunting
Cancellation
If you wish to cancel your place at the Conference and/or your accommodation please do so in writing. A cancellation is only effective when written notification is received by us. For cancellations made before 23 February 2010 a refund will be made less a 20% administration fee. For cancellations made on or after 23 February 2010 we regret that we cannot make a refund, however we will accept alternate delegates at any time.
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