LIFE LONG LEARNING PROGRAM IN KAZAN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
The paper presents the experience of Kazan Federal University in implementing LLL program, its basic stages and achievements. The central point of the program is the idea that people at any stage of their life should have a chance to take part in stimulating learning experiences and in training courses in various fields of knowledge. LLL program is supposed to promote social inclusion and personal fulfillment, as well as to increase people's employability and adaptability. Kazan Federal University has a multifaceted LLL program that has several stages and directions. To begin with, there is the Children’s University meant for children from 5 to 14 years old. Its main aim is to promote scientific knowledge and to get children interested in science. Senior schoolers may choose to enter one of 9 departments of our Minor University. It is a centre of pre-university training. Its aim is to develop creative activity and cognitive abilities of teenagers. Today, Minor University enrolls about 500 students. Having entered the university the students have a lot of opportunities not only to master their future profession, but also to take optional short- and long-term courses in different fields of knowledge. To crown all this, the program includes the University of the Third Age (U3A). It is a unique and exciting phenomenon which provides life-enhancing and life-changing opportunities. Retired and semi-retired people come together and learn together, not for qualifications but for its own reward. Members share their skills and life experiences: the learners teach and the teachers learn, and there is no distinction between them. LLL program is very popular not only in the university but also in the whole Volga region of Russia.