Evaluation of the Academic Day: 146 participants took part in the evaluation.

66% of the participants found it interesting and inspiring and 34% – liked it, 0% – did not find it all that interesting and inspiring, no any other opinions.

Evaluation of the lecture in different groups A, B, C: 68% of the participants found it interesting and inspiring and 32% – liked it, 0% – did not find it all that interesting and inspiring, no any other opinions.

Evaluation of the discussion in different groups A, B, C: 65% of the participants found it interesting and inspiring and 22% – liked it, 13% – did not find it all that interesting and inspiring, no any other opinions.

Evaluation of the exhibition of foreign and Bulgarian places and events: 48% of the participants found it interesting and inspiring and 48% – liked it, 4% – did not find it all that interesting and inspiring, no any other opinions.

Evaluation of the exhibition of traditional costume and food: 49% of the participants found it interesting and inspiring and 38% – liked it, 10% – did not find it all that interesting and inspiring, 3% other opinions (not remarked) .

The seniors’ expectations ware: 82% fully certified, 15% partially satisfied, 3% not certified at all. The reasons ware not informed.

Evaluations of the themes – 79% excellent, 21% not opinion.

Other interesting themes for the seniors ware: Information and communication technologies, tolerance, law for pensioners, lobbying, foreign languages,

There are not any new ideas about organization of Academic Days but 78% would like to take part in continuing education for seniors in the future.

Abstract. The paper presents a concept for an academic program for continuing education of seniors created by the University of Rousse under the project DASUN.

Introduction

The project DASUN: Danube Seniors‘ Universities was supported by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, the Heidehof Stiftung and the Zentrum für Allgemeine Wissenschaftliche Weiterbil- dung (ZAWiW) der Universität Ulm.

Its main objective was the development of a concept for academic program for continuing education of seniors as a bridge between science and civil society.

Concept background

A research instrument (questionnaire) was developed with the methodological help of ZAWIW team, to study the old people needs and the necessity of getting specific knowledge and abilities.

The survey conducted in Rousse showed that the seniors are interested mainly in: forming and development of skills in computer and Internet usage (93%); healthy lifestyles (13%); Bulgar- ian and foreign cultural-historical heritage (12%); intergenerational activities (12%), etc.

The most important expectations of the seniors from the continuing education are: to be to- gether with people who have similar interests (20%); to be able to follow new social develop- ments (15%); to be able to discuss things with other people, also younger ones (12%).Four training groups were organized with four scientific subjects:

1. Group A: Healthy Lifestyle. Geragogy, Andragogy, Ethnologic, Physical Culture and Sport, Methods of Instruction in Physical Activities and Sport.
2. Group B: Bulgarian and Foreign Cultural-historical Heritage – Travelling from the Past to To- morrow. Architecture, Ethnology, Folklore, Anthropology, History, Art.
3. Group C: Solidarity between Generations – a Message to the Future. Social Pedagogy, Age Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology.
4. Group D: Computer and Internet Usage. Computer Sciences, Geragogy

The training in the first three groups took place on 14 June, 2011, the training in the last one took place every Saturday from April to July.

Academic Day

The Academic Day was open by official representatives of the national and regional govern- ment organizations and NGOs. 146 participants took part in it.

Group A. The subject was Geragogy and especially the impact of the aging processes on old people’s learning abilities and life quality, the psychological processes and scientific meth- ods for their measuring, values system development. Important methods for healthy life style were presented by the lecturers and by the participants.

Main conclusion: do not leave your spirit inactive, do not stay alone, move and communicate!

Group B. The content was a lecture on the legislation of finding, preserving and popularizing the archaeological findings in Bulgaria and on the liaison between the archaeological findings and the current customs and traditions.

The participants presented customs, unique national costumes created 200 years ago.

The “Academic Day” was an application of the concept created by the University of Rousse. The announcements were made on various oc- casions by Prof. DSc. H.Beloev, Rector of RU,

by Prof. N.Mihailov, the Coordinator of the project in Rousse and Vice Rector of RU and by Eng. Y.Kazakov, President of the Union of Pensioners’2004–Rousse (UP).

Also presented by seniors and by students from the club “Keep Bulgarian Identity were tradi- tional foods and other things of interest.

Main conclusion: in order to be preserved, the customs have to be popularized by older people among the younger ones, because losing them would mean losing our Bulgarian identity.

Group C had young and old participants. There was a lecture on the historical roots of the re- lationships between the different generations, scientific research on age and its physical and psychological characteristics. Young members of BRC showed life-saving methods for seniors.

Main conclusion: both young and old people have something to learn and to help each other.

Group D. The trainers were students – future teachers in mathematics and informatics and pensioners from Rousse.

Conclusion

Generally, the participants were satisfied by the activities of the Academic Day. The University of Rousse and the UP supports the ideas of the DASUN project and joins the conclusion that continuing education of seniors is necessary.

- Report on the Academy day – concept and program, institutional framework, implementation

- Results of the evaluation of the academy day

- Dissemination of DASUN undertaken up to now

- Brief SWOT analysis for the establishment of academic-based offers at the institution

- Future plans and strategies for implementation of academic-based offers at each institution

Developers: Elena Georgieva, President of Regional Council of the Pensioners 2004, Rumyana Radkova – volunteer, Yourdan Kazakov, President of Union of Pensioners 2004, Emiliya Velikova, University of Rousse

First part. Preparing the Academy Day (AD)

1. Survey within DASUN project with the maiAll Postsn aim to definite the necessities and the possibilities for organizing common training of adult; 19^th March, 2011 in Rousse, Bulgaria; 41 participants.
2. Analysis of the survey. Preparing a report and publishing on the web site (http://www.dasun.eu/activities/university-of-rousse/215).
3. Flashmeetings, organized by the coordinators of the project.
4. Six meetings of the coordinator and/or the researcher of the project from the University of Rousse and the representatives of the Union of Pensioners’ 2004, branch Rousse for developing Scenario of the Academy Day in Rousse; participants from 2 to 13.
5. Taking part in the Annual Meeting of the Academic staff of the University of Rousse and the Pensioners; 100 participants. The advertisement materials: Presentation of the Vice Rector; Poster of DASUN; Invitation; Flyer with information about the Academy Day and how the pensioners can take part, Survey with the main aim to definite the discussion groups, appropriate rooms and number of plots for exhibition posters, tables, etc. for the exhibitions; Participant lists.
6. Training in Computer usage – every Saturday and Sunday in room 2.102

Second part. Preparation of the Academy Day

1. Interview on TV, 10-14 June, 2011, responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov;
2. Interview on radio, 10-14 June, 2011, responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov;
3. Developing information about Academy Day for the newspapers and electronic medias, responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov;
4. Informing medias, responsible: N.Mihailov, R.Karshakova
5. Analysis of the Survey and publishing of the web site, responsible: E. Velikova
6. Buy plots for exhibitions posters, responsible: K.Kalinov, Y. Peneva
7. Find appropriate rooms for the Academy Day – room for Opening and Closing ceremonies, three rooms for discussing groups, places for exhibitions, room for coffee break, responsible: I.Stoyanov.
8. Arrange technique and team for making pictures, recording the work of the disuccing groups, etc., responsible: M.Mihailov.
9. Meeting with participants of the Group B and arranging exhibition of pictures on June 10, 2011, responsible: E. Velikova
10. Meeting with the participants of the Group C and arranging exhibition of food, clothes, souvenirs, etc. on June 14 at 8.00 a.m., responsible: E. Velikova
11. Preparing a list of official guests from the regional/government institutions, responsible: UP’ 2004, RU.
12. Inviting official guest who are important for the development of training of adults, responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov.
13. Inviting three seniors from the neighbour town Giurgiu, Romania, responsible: Y.Kazakov.
14. Inviting the members of Drujba Club, Bulgarian Red Cross, Bulgarian Red Cross – Youth, Tourists Club, Nadezhda Club, “Aleko Konstantinov” Secondary School, Sport Club – veterans, responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov, E.Velikova.
15. Preparing materials for the participants – badges (17-AD_Badjove_DASUN.jpg), pencils (18_AD_pencils.jpg), Blok notes with the AD program (10_Poster.jpg, 18_AD Flyer.jpg), Common Survey, responsible: D.Antonova, E. Velikova, N. Mihailov.
16. Distributing information about AD in the University, in the UP’2004, in the regional and government institution through posters (10_Poster.jpg), flyers (18_AD Flyer.jpg), invitations (12_Pokana_za AD_ENG 2.pdf), responsible: N.Mihailov, Y.Kazakov, R.Karshakova, Y. Peneva, E.Velikova.
17. Coffee break, responsible: K.Kalinov
18. Decoration of the University for the Academy Day, responsible: E.Velikova, Y. Peneva.

Third part. Academy Day

9.00 – 10.00 The participants receive AD materials:

badges, pencils, Blok notes with the AD program, responsible: E.Velikova, Y.Peneva

10.00 – 10.30 Opening ceremony of the Academy Day

Place: Aula 2.204

Leading: Vice Rector of the University of Rousse, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nicolay Mihailov. Presenting the official persons.

Presenting the project DASUN.

Presenting the discussing groups, their lecturers and tasks:

• Group A. Healthy Lifestyle. Lecturer: Dr Konstantin Kolev, member of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
• Group B. Bulgarian and foreign cultural-historical heritage. Travelling from the past to tomorrow. Lecturers: Mrs. Desislava Dimitrova, Ethnographic Museum and Dr. A. Nenov, Historical Museum, Rousse.
• Group C. Solidarity between generations – a message to the future.

The main questions of the Academy Day are:

• What is the most important thing for the life of adults?
• What are the expectations of seniors from taking part in different kind of activities?
• How the new knowledge of adults will change their life?
• Who/what is the source of new knowledge in nowadays?

The answers these questions will be given by the moderators of the groups.

Giving the floor to the Rector and other official persons to congratulate the adults and their striving to learn more and more.

10.30 – 12.00 Lectures and discussions

10.30 – 10.45 Dividing of people into three groups.

Group B. The exhibition with pictures is prepared on June 10, 2011 in the room of the group. There are special plots for posters for every participant who would like to present some cultural-historical places or events. All participants will visit the exhibition. After the Academy Day this exhibition will be presented in the University lobby for two weeks.

Group C. The exhibition with materials will be prepared in the morning on June 14, 2011 in the room of the group. All participants will visit it. At the end of the Academy day the participants will try all culinary wares. The exhibition will be closed this day.

10.45-12.00 Work into the groups

The lecturers are also group moderators. They present the group items, the main questions and remarks. The main ideas are written on the white tables. The moderators generate the results and make conclusions. The discussions will be recorded by cameras.

12.00-12.30 Coffee break with snacks – coffee, tea, soft drinks, water, sweet things, etc.

12.30 – 13.30 Presenting the groups’ results

The coordinator of the Project DASUN, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nicolay Mihailov give the floor to the group moderators who have to present the conclusions of the group for 8-10 minutes.

The coordinator generate the results of the Academy Day and present the new ideas for long life learning for adults.

13.30 – 14.00 Visiting the exhibitions

14.30-14.40 Closing Ceremony

Congratulations by Assoc. Prof. Dr N. Mihailov. Making a picture of the Academy Day in front of the University.

Fourth part. Results

1. Analyzing the Common Survey, developing figures, publishing on the web site responsible: E.Velikova.
2. Presenting the Academy Day on the web site and on the meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, responsible: E.Velikova
3. Collecting the interviews, publications, pictures, etc., responsible: E.Velikova
4. Developing a video clip (30 minutes) and a DVD with all collected materials and with records of  other activities of adults as sport events, dancing, traditional dancing “Shareno horo”, festivals, Computer training, volunteering, etc.

Pictures

Preparation: 10.30 – 11.00
Place: Aula 1, University of Rousse.
Pensioners and colleagues come in the Aula 1.
Roza Kulaksazova gives them pictures from the meeting in 2010.
E. Velikova and Y. Peneva give them:

• Invitation for the Academy Day which is organized under the project DASUN,
• Flyer with information about the Academy Day and how they can take part;
• Survey
• Participant lists.

Flyer of DASUN is used;

Official part: 11.00 – 12.00
Place: Aula 1, University of Rousse.
Leading: Rector of the University of Rousse, Prof. DSc. Hristo Beloev

11.00 – 11.30 – „Anthem of the University of Rousee” sounds. The academy staff takes place on the podium. The Rector, Prof. DSc. Hristo Beloev opens the meeting and presents the development of the University in 2010.

11.30 – 11.40 – The Vice Rector the University of Rousse and the coordinator of DASUN, Assoc. Prof. Dr N. Mihailov presents the project DASUN and the Academy Day. He explains how pensioners can take place in the Academy Day.
11.40 – 11.45 – Questions to the academy staff. The Rector informs pensioners about the next activities.
11.45 „Anthem of the University of Rousee” sounds.
11.45 – 11.50 – Wreath tributing to the „Memorial for those who served the University”. One minute silence for died colleagues.
11.50 – 12.00 – Taking pictures in front of the University.

Non official part: 12.00
12.00 – 13.30 Cocktail party, hall 2.203;
Free program – Visiting the Expose’2011, meeting with colleagues, etc.

Respondents were seniors who are members of the Union of Pensioners’ 2004, section Ruse. The questionnaire was made by all partners of the DASUN, with necessary changes for a certain area.

The main aim of the survey is to definite the necessities and the possibilities for organizing common distant training of adult.

Survey Results of the University of Rousse

The project partners were received at the Donaubüro in Ulm by its Manager Sabine Meigel and by Gerhard Hölzel, the 2nd Mayor of Neu-Ulm responsible for the area of Schools, Culture, Sport and Social Affairs.