The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Horta that in the society of globalisation, "the almost permanent mismatch" between the qualification of human resources and the rapid transformation of knowledge "has created a new function schools for schools," which consists "in the need to prepare citizens for the change of activity."

"The labour demands of upgrading and adaptability have nowadays converted the process of knowing into a time to learn, unlearn and relearn. A time that never ends," said Avelino Meneses, who spoke at the opening session of the academic year 2015/2016 at Senior University of Faial.

For the Regional Secretary for Education and Culture, this "duty" of schools and, particularly, of the university "attracts new audiences that are usually among older age groups."

In his speech, Avelino Meneses stressed that schools, in general, "cannot be alienated to the issue of ageing" and that is why learning throughout life groups emerge in conventional universities and senior universities outside them."

"We know that the mentality of today highlights the values of immediate utility and maximum productivity, which leads to the glorification of the strongest and the emergence of the wildest liberalism, which is a stimulus to economic progress, but also a factor promoting injustice," said the government official.

In this context, the Regional Secretary defended that "it is important to achieve a better balance" since "the consolidation of progress and the improvement of justice require the adoption of differentiated practices, which must be reconciled given the social relevance of their purposes."

For Avelino Meneses, the institutions of a democratic society, including schools and universities, the Rule of Law and the Government should "ensure the reconciliation of progress with justice." In this context, universities provide the training that "contributes to economic development and social promotion. In turn, the Government is expected to play a regulatory role so that "competitiveness becomes a factor of progress without being a tool of disrespect for the human condition; solidarity should be a factor of justice, without halting the spirit of initiative."

"The new university of today, which emerged from the society of today, must invest in new audiences, not only in younger generations and professionals but also in the older generations," which will "always be priority goal in the management of schools and universities," stressed the government official.

This objective, according to Avelino Meneses, "will show the utility of schools and universities of tomorrow, since the integration of older people and the unemployed will result in useful activities for the community and in rewarding activities from an individual perspective."

Currently, Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stressed that "the essence of the university is plurality," so "we need a university of all ages and a university for all ages."