To reinforce the solid foundation of their successful collaboration, the two institutions signed an agreement on November 26, 2025, aimed at providing active access to educational and research opportunities for anyone interested in continuing education, particularly seniors.
Goethe University Frankfurt has been working closely with the local chapter of University of the Third Age (U3A) for over four decades. As one of the largest institutions for academic continuing education, primarily for retirees, U3A plays a key role in positioning Goethe University as a hub for lifelong learning, creating an educational space for all generations, and strengthening its identity as a civic university – a place for dialogue between academia, the public, and society.
In signing the new cooperation agreement, Goethe University President Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff and U3A Frankfurt Chair Prof. Markus Wriedt formalized the partnership between Goethe University and U3A within a clearly defined scope. Also present at the signing ceremony were Goethe University’s Vice President Opportunities, Career Development, Career Advancement, Diversity, and Equality, Prof. Dr. Sabine Andresen, U3A Frankfurt Board Member Prof. Frank Oswald, and U3A Frankfurt Managing Director Dr. Mayte Zimmermann.
The cooperation seeks to provide and secure access to academic education for everyone interested in continuing education, particularly seniors, and to ensure their active participation in research and teaching activities. At the heart of this partnership is a shared commitment to lifelong learning – as part of a wide range of interdisciplinary educational offerings and programs – as well as the targeted integration of various disciplines. Together, the partners are creating a learning environment that fosters continuous education and lifelong learning while embracing diversity. The agreement also outlines the financial framework for the use of facilities and digital resources.
Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff: “We at Goethe University are proud of the University of the Third Age’s achievements over the past four decades, during which it has provided people of all generations with more than just glimpses into the wonderful world of knowledge. I am pleased that Goethe University has now formalized our long-standing, positive, and trusting collaboration with U3A through this agreement. Together, we are creating an educational space for everyone interested in lifelong learning and making an important contribution to a society where access to knowledge is seen as a given and experienced as such.”
Prof. Dr. Sabine Andresen: “The cooperation agreement signed today renews and reinforces our shared response to the question of the value of academia for the continuing education of older adults – and vice versa. At Goethe University, we see ourselves as a space for interaction with society and innovation through society, a space for education for all generations, and a place of lifelong learning. U3A opens these spaces at our university with an understanding of education that doesn’t focus on age, degrees, or credit points but instead emphasizes education as a form of social participation. We deeply value your commitment to this cause as well as our long-standing cooperation and are thrilled to express this through the renewed agreement.”
Prof. Dr. Markus Wriedt: “We are very grateful to now have a reliable agreement with Goethe University that points toward a shared future. The University of the Third Age is one of the largest, institutions in Europe – if not its largest – dedicated to academic education during the post-career phase as part of lifelong learning. Each year, more than 5,500 students participate in approximately 250 courses at U3A Frankfurt, gaining expert knowledge from around 90 instructors across various faculties.”
Dr. Mayte Zimmermann: “For us, this agreement serves both as recognition of the work we are doing today and have done over the past 40 years as well as a strong signal of partnership between Goethe University and U3A for the future. We envision a visible and long-term collaboration with Goethe University that benefits both sides. This includes the academic orientation of our teaching, joint events for regular students and U3A students, and the development of forward-thinking teaching formats, even in times of limited resources and space.”
