It is the optimism which reigned this Saturday, May 14, at the regional meeting of the Universities of the free time of the Center-Val de Loire region, which took place at the Town hall of Chartres. After two years of Covid, university management wants to believe that enrollments will return to their usual level.
In Chartres, the decline in the number of members is notable. They were 1,450 in 2019 before the health crisis began and are only in 2022, more than 1,068 according to Claude Bourseguin, president of theChartres University of Free Time (UCTL). In Orléans, there were 1,300 in 2019, compared to 930 this year.
Courses, conferences, meeting… What the Union Chartraine du Temps Libre plans for its return to school
Twelve universities
“The fall in the number of students is general. The Centre-Val de Loire region has twelve free time universities and brings together 5,000 students. The numbers have dropped by 25 to 30%, ”says Chantal Proust, president of the Union of Free Time Universities in the Center – Val de Loire region (UUTLRC).
If the attendance figures are not excellent, Chantal Proust assumes that they will quickly increase:
“I hope that the renewal of memberships will take place at the start of the school year in September if the health rules are maintained at the current level. »
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Computing courses completed
The public, whose average age is 70, “does everything to come back to attend classes and therefore mostly has its fourth dose”, recalls the president.
The desire of students is manifested by registrations for one-day trips organized by UCTL. About forty people will take part in the next cultural hike in Paris.
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The Chartres University of Free Time is adapting to the health situation: “We have made an adapted program”
Despite everything, the Covid has made it possible to convert retirees to IT. Classes for beginners have opened in Orléans and are full.
Aurelie Chupin
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