Universidade Aberta was founded in 1988. It is the only public, distance education university in Portugal. As a digital university it ensures that there are no geographic or temporal barriers for its students.
Due to its nature as a distance education university, Universidade Aberta offers undergraduate, master and doctorate degree programmes to students anywhere in the world. The university adopted the e-learning mode of teaching for all programmes in 2008 and has since developed advanced technology and digital methods to enrich the student experience.
The university has developed a virtual pedagogical model, which incorporates three key principles: distance learning, open education, and online education. Teachers and students interact in a virtual campus that consists of different systems of formal learning, informal activities and academic management. The virtual pedagogical model is constantly developing as technological innovations and new trends in e-learning emerge.
In 2010 the university＊s virtual pedagogical model was recognised internationally by the European Foundation for Quality in eLearning prize.
Teaching takes place in a virtual classroom where students are joined by teams of teachers. There are over 104 courses on offer in nine areas of study: environment, management, information and technology, mathematics, education, humanities, social sciences, arts, and history. There is also a range of lifelong learning study programmes available, as well as a free online orientation module for all students at the beginning of every academic year.
The university is committed to expanding the Portuguese language and culture around the world, particularly in Portuguese speaking countries and migrant communities.
