[Senior studies--a model of retirement scientific continuing education for elderly adults]

Against the background of a changing situation of "older adults" within a changing society, and proceeding from the historical development of "Opening the Universities to Elderly People" in the Federal Republic of Germany, the university-specific objective of studies for elderly people at university was worked out. It is the universities' task to develop education models and prototypes for cooperation with elderly people within the field of applied education and socialization research for tertiary socialization (sociogeragogy). This kind of study, as further education for elderly persons, is closely connected with teaching and research. Aspects of education and socialization reflecting the progress of the elderly persons, as well as methods of such educational work, explain this connection, including the development of a transpersonal identity. The task of the European cooperation of those universities which are working on such programs in order to open the universities to elderly people, is also discussed.