The contribution presents a longitudinal analysis of the user base of the University of Free Age (Università dell’Età Libera, UEL) of the Municipality of Florence over the period 2007-2024. The aim is to investigate how the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants align with international scientific evidence on Universities of the Third Age (U3A) and contribute to the promotion of active and healthy ageing. The study, based on aggregated data concerning age, gender, educational attainment, marital status, geographical origin, and occupational status, reveals a predominantly female, stable, loyal, and culturally competent user base. The discussion highlights the inclusive value of the service while also identifying challenges related to accessibility and the representation of vulnerable groups. The Florentine experience emerges as a public good practice, capable of combining strong territorial roots, high-quality educational provision and active citizenship, thus contributing to the pedagogical debate on adult education and the development of sustainable models of lifelong learning.
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-6502-2484
University of Florence, Italy - ORCID: 0009-0007-7295-7820
Chapter Title
Educazione non formale e invecchiamento attivo: analisi descrittiva del caso dell’Università dell’Età Libera del Comune di Firenze
Authors
Vanna Boffo, Davide Bonaiuti
Language
Italian
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0744-7.56
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
Accompagnare la longevità
Book Subtitle
Buone pratiche educative e formative per l’invecchiamento attivo
Editors
Vanna Boffo, Michele Bertani, Donatella Bramanti, Rabih Chattat, Laura Formenti
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
628
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0744-7
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0743-0
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0744-7
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0745-4
Series Title
Studies on Adult Learning and Education
Series ISSN
2704-596X
Series E-ISSN
2704-5781