The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is the first fully virtual university in the world. It was founded in 1995 by the Catalan government to provide flexible education opportunities using information and communication technologies. The UOC has an innovative educational model that is student-centered and asynchronous. It now has over 45,000 students and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is working to internationalize and position itself as a leader in online education, eLearning technologies, and knowledge creation.

2. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Open University of Catalunya The UOC in a nutshell

3. Just some Key Points founded in October 1995 web-centric virtual organization relies on the intensive use of ICT delivering of courses; conception and development of the learning materials; management and internal functioning First totally virtual university in the world Terrorist's car bomb blows up block-long Oklahoma City federal building (Apr 19) Death toll 2,000 in Rwanda massacre (Apr 22) France explodes nuclear device in Pacific; wide protests ensue (Sep 5) UNICEF publishes Children’s Right to Basic Education (Oct) Irish voters approve end to constitutional ban on divorce (Nov 24) General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dec 14) In 1990 the WWW was born Birth of Netscape, 1994 August 1995: 18 Kwebsites, 16 Musers Google was born in 1998 November 2006: 100 Mwebsites, 1,093 Musers

4. Just some Key Points First totally virtual university in the world Initiative of the Catalan Government but with a new legal public-private framework flexibility to respond to the demanding needs of society a company-like internal structure and organization capacity to set up joint ventures with leading partners

5. Just some Key Points First totally virtual university in the world Initiative of the Catalan Government but with a new legal public-private framework Diversity of program studies, except for those where experimental activities are needed Economics and Business Computing and Multimedia Education and Psychology Law and Political Sciences Humanities Documentation and Communication Languages and Culture Start up of UOC undergraduate programs 1995/96 Business Studies, Educational Psychology 1996/97 Law, Humanities 1997/98 Info. Systems Engineering, Management Info. Systems 1998/99 Business Administration and Management, Catalan Philology 1999/00 Documentation 2000/01 Psychology 2001/02 Industrial Sciences, Computer Engineering, Political Sciences 2002/03 Audiovisual Communication, Market Research Techniques, Tourism 2003/04 Oriental Asia Studies 2005/06 Advertising and Public Relations, Telecommunications Engineering

6. Just some Key Points First totally virtual university in the world Initiative of the Catalan Government but with a new legal public-private framework Diversity of program studies, except for those where experimental activities are needed Postgraduate studies starting in 1997 Growing and changing to adapt to new labour markets and LLL needs * Also Campus for Peace and Solidarity, Urbanism and City Management Number of postgraduate programs

7. Just some Key Points First totally virtual university in the world Initiative of the Catalan Government but with a new legal public-private framework Diversity of program studies, except for those where experimental activities are needed Asynchronous learning environment based on already tested technologies no space-time barriers avoiding technological “worries”* * This scenario is changing fast, as more and more people are used to internet and virtual environments

8. Innovative educational model: student centred and asynchronous Just some Key Points

9. Just some Key Points First totally virtual university in the world Initiative of the Catalan Government but with a new legal public-private framework Diversity of program studies, except for those where experimental activities are needed Asynchronous learning environment based on already tested technologies UOC has now a sustainable organization, with established and recognized educational model and programs. We are now developing to a research and innovation based university Research based on the effects of ICT on society, and its influence in the transition from an industrial society to the information and knowledge society. Innovation to change UOC social role: from introducing ICT to lead eLearning technologies and methodologies

10. Who is working at UOC Faculty UOC FT: 56 men; 83 women Collaborating PT: 1,146 men; 823 women Management and Administration 191 men; 253 women

11. Who is studying at UOC Adults 33,2 years old, on average; approx 50% men/women Around 75% have previous university studies; among them more than 30% are graduates Workers More than half devote 40-50 hours/week to work and declare to have no or little urgency to finish their studies More than 50% say that there is a strong link between their work and their studies; and more than 62% study to progress in their career More than 60% are able to spend 5-13 hours/week to study About 80% regularly use Internet &/or e-mail and around 38% already had some experience on virtual learning only around 21 % has a good English knowledge

12. Who is studying at UOC 45,000 Students Catalan and/or Spanish Speaking working and with previous studies demanding and with large expectations They have created the UOC brand, with “a market value” They are our best marketing campaign

13. Now we are ready…. We are working for the internationalization of UOC At the personnel level At the studies and research level At the institutional level To share our knowledge and experience Positioning in Europe Increasing our brand in LA and USA-Canada Looking for emerging markets and new research/innovation areas To develop solid networks of knowledge/activity for individual, unit and institutional development