UNIVERSITIES UNITE IN LONDON TO FACE THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Rosemary Mayes (left) Regional Director of the Open University in London with Jean Goodeve - Chairman of The Third Age Trust shake hands on the alliance.

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The Rt Hon Frank Dobson, MP for Holborn and St. Pancras and the Rt Hon Lord Graham of Edmonton were among the attendees at a ceremony in Camden to celebrate the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between The Open University and The Third Age Trust, which represents the Universities of The Third Age in the UK.

The event, jointly hosted by Rosemary Mayes, Regional Director of The Open University in London and Jean Goodeve, Chairman of the Third Age Trust, took place at The Open University’s London centre in Camden.

The MOU recognises the complementary missions of both organisations, their joint interests in engaging areas of lifelong learning and through agreed collaboration; the two institutions wish to open up wider modes of learning and to promote educational opportunity in the UK and the World.

Rosemary Mayes said: “The growing relationship between the U3A and the OU is a very positive development for both organisations and for lifelong learning. I look forward to continue working closely with the U3A on an increasing range of mutually beneficial activities and projects in the future”.

Jean Goodeve said: “This occasion recognises the value of self help learning in later life. Also It is a linking together of two organisations which share visionary founding fathers to whom we are forever indebted, and the principle that all ongoing learning is based upon the validity of the experience that participants bring to the process”.

After the signing there was a question and answer session on the subject of Learning in the Modern Age and a demonstration of openlearn, the award-winning open content initiative from The Open University where educational material is made available on-line, free of charge.

Left to Right: Len Street, Keith Richards, Jean Thompson, Jean Goodeve and Kate Wedd all past chairmen of The Third Age Trust, with the exception of Jean, the current chairman.