« Le Savoir Partagé » (Shared knowledge)
A tremendous thirst for knowledge
At the beginning of the 20th century a developing thirst for sharing knowledge resulted in the formation of “universités populaires” - informal adult learning organisations. The UP concept developed throughout France where inquisitive people, eager to understand, react and learn used to meet...
Today this increasing demand from French adults to meet, learn and share intelligent interests and leisure activities is met by a lot of adult learning associations.
For those who are willing to share their sparetime in groups with other adults these associations provide a wide range of opportunities in leisure and professional training. Students can take courses either for a specific professional goal or for their own personal self-development.
As anybody can learn at any age and school education is not sufficient for adults to become free and responsible citizens, many people are attracted by our courses and attend our “universités”.
The need to satisfy their demands has led to a real rebirth of our “universités populaires” over the last 10 years.
“Universités populaires” (whether recent or a hundred years old) as well a good number of other associations such as “universités pour tous, du temps libre, rurales , inter-âges” have created the French Association for Adult Education AUPF (“Association des Universités Populaires de France”).
Our aim is to create a network of similar organisations, to promote and strengthen this network, in order to develop in France the most important European movement for lifelong adult learning.
“LE SAVOIR PARTAGÉ” (Shared knowledge)
The Universités Populaires of France’s quarterly magazine
- Debate
- Learn
- Instruct
- Understand and reflect together
Information, regular prints
- Bibliographies,
- Trips to discover our different associations and Universités Populaires in France, Switzerland, and Europe,
- Initiatives
- Leaflets, documents about lifelong learning
- Conferences
A network for you
The members of AUPF share their ideas in order todevelop the concept of “shared knowledge”. All of them invite you to join : welcome !
Promoting the creation and development of new UPs
Experienced UPs are ready to help the new ones giving advice, working on projects... MONTAUBAN in the south-east of France, Mulhouse in the east ... are already providing help..
International conferences
Once a year an international conference is organised with :
- the study of a theme linked to our activities
- a workshop for the leaders : management, ...
- a workshop for the new UPs
- the opportunity to discover the new publications of the different UPs of France and Switzerland
- the workshop of the new Language Teaching Committee
We also care about the friendly atmosphere of our meetings !
And Europe !
The Universités Populaires are the most important body for lifelong adult learning in Europe. Our partnership with equivalent structures all through Europe enables us to welcome each year colleagues from all these countries.
Taking part to the activities of AUPF
The AUPF was created by the Universités Populaires ; quite soon other similar associations joined (“universités rurales”, “universités du temps libre”...). Becoming a member doesn’t mean dropping other memberships.
Contact :
Michel GARDE
S.A.E.L. UP - AUPF
Maison des Services Publics
1 avenue Saint- Martin
26200 MONTELIMAR
WELCOME to AUPF !
Association des Universités Populaires de France
