Spring and Autumn Academies

In 1990/91 an extensive structure analysis was performed by the University of Ulm, in which premises, requirements and wishes of seniors being interested in senior-studying were investigated. The results of this investigation carried out by means of quantitative and qualitative methods were subsumed under the headline "'Ich hab' noch viel vor ...!' Weiterbildungsinteressen im dritten Lebensabschnitt" ("'I still have a lot in mind...!' - Educational Interests of Seniors"). As a consequence of this analysis, a concept of university education was developed which offered a week of compact studies, and referred to the wishes and ideas of the seniors as well as the financial, personal and room resources of the university. In march 1992 this concept was realised first by the "Frühjahrsakademie '92" ("Spring Academy '92") with 120 participants. Because of the great public interest this research project was continued under the aspect of university education for seniors in a sense of "research by accompanying practice". From this time "Seasons Academies" are performed twice a year with permanently increasing numbers of participants.
The "Seasons Academies" are addressed to all people interested in general scientific education, esp. those after the phase of professional or familiar life or preparing for this time.
"Spring and Autumn Academies" are covering each one week from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are performed in the facilities of the university. Each academy week is designed in such a way, that everyday in the morning an actual issue is demonstrated from different points of view by several scientific faculties of the University (subsequent discussion). For three afternoons participants work in a fixed working group they choose out of 35 different topics.
If ever possible participants are assigned to the working groups according to the wishes they expressed in the registration form. The working groups are made up in a way, that active co-operation of all participants is provided.
Wednesday afternoon there is the possibility to visit research institutes of the University of Ulm and related institutions, as well as interesting educational establishments in Ulm, in order to get informed about the actual state of research.
Friday afternoon academy weeks are ending in a get together with coffee and cake including short artistic performances.
These academies are open to everyone being interested in any science-centred view. Fees to be paid are actually 85 € (members of the "Förderkreis" 77 €). There are no formal preconditions for participation.