Over 55s: positive about further education

Gibraltar’s over 55s have shown a great interest in forming part of the University of Gibraltar and a desire to keep on learning through further education.

Yesterday, the recently established Silver Education Advisory Group at the university held an awareness day at the Piazza to gauge the interest in the community for the type of courses and events this age group would like to see introduced.

The reaction yesterday, said Nadine Collado, Director of Professional Development and Commercial Services at the university, had been extremely positive.

The group was promoting courses that will possibly be available for the over 55s at the University of Gibraltar and were asking people in this age group to fill in a questionnaire asking: why type of courses, the most convenient times, the areas of interest, how they would want the information on the courses circulated, etc.

The project is part of the commitment on behalf of the university to reach the wider public and to sound out their interests and aspirations.

Ms Collado said there had been no negative feedback to the day “only positive” with the most popular suggestions being for the introduction of conversational Italian courses and cooking classes.

“Many people took the information available and the questionnaire which can also be completed on line. The questionnaire can also be taken to the university and the Senior Citizens Club,” she said.

Throughout the morning, she added, there had been a constant stream of interest.

“There have been people over 70 and even in their 80s coming up to the table and enquiring about the university and what was on offer, and telling us what they would like to be involved with.”

Once the questionnaires have been completed and returned the University of Gibraltar will be organising an Open Day at the university itself.

The aim is to run two courses in the first six months starting later this year.