Open University for Older Adults (NETI-UNAPI)
UFSC Open University for Older Adults (NETI-UNAPI)
The Open University for Older Adults (NETI-UNAPI) at UFSC offers various activities, such as lectures, courses and workshops, to stimulate the mind, body and social engagement of older adults, promoting well-being and lifelong learning.
Formely known as Center for Third Age Studies, NETI was founded in 1982 by Professors Lúcia Hisako Takase and Neusa Mendes Guedes. It was the first program in Brazil to have the characteristics of an Open University for Older Adults and is now a reference in services for older people.
Based on the university’s three pillars – teaching, research and outreach – it promotes community-based projects, study groups, and participation in research projects. By integrating older adults into the academic community, it also fosters a multidisciplinary and intergenerational university environment.
Over the years, NETI-UNAPI has remained faithful to its principles of valuing older people and has reinforced its commitment to the development of public policies and professional training in the field of gerontology.
The teaching staff is made up of volunteer professionals (independent and/or retired), UFSC faculty and staff engaged in outreach activities, and student interns.
To learn more, visit NETI-UNAPI website: http://neti.ufsc.br/.