Higher education and retirement: The israeli experience

Following a review of the existing literature on educational opportunities in institutions of higher education for retired persons. This article provides an overview of the experience in this area of three major Israeli universities over the past 5 years. Each program’s development, organization, and current status is described. Data is then presented on the social and intellectual backgrounds of the retired participants, their motivations, course interests, satisfaction with the programs, and social relations to other retired participants. In conclusion, some of the unanticipated “payoffs” and potential relevance of the Israeli experience in higher education for the retired of other countries is discussed.