Aberta University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Universidade Aberta (Open University), is a Portuguese distance teaching public university, created in 1988. It has its headquarters in Lisbon, two regional centres, in Coimbra and in Porto, and study centres all over the country.

Students, who come from all over the world, are required to be 21 years old, or over, and to have completed secondary education. Candidates over 25 with no secondary degree can be admitted after having passed the national university access examination.

Thousands of students, from all over the world, are enrolled in distance education undergraduate programmes. Several hundred Portuguese students follow post-graduation face-to-face courses.

Together with its main activities in teaching and scientific research, Universidade Aberta is engaged in the promotion of the Portuguese language and culture, in Portugal and abroad, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries.

Universidade Aberta is one of the largest national producer of university didactic materials. The printed materials, which constitute the core of the University's courses, are usually complemented by one or more of the following learning facilities: videocassettes, audiocassettes, CD-ROMs, Internet, TV and radio broadcasts.

Face-to-face and mixed modes (including video-conferencing) are used for postgraduate programmes. Counselling services by telephone, fax and e-mail are available in the university and at the study centres.

Students of Universidade Aberta have their own body of representatives.