Lisbon, Portugal – 20-21 October 2026
Earlier this month, the IAU was pleased to gather participants for the second in a series of four OpenEU Study Visits. This Study Visit was hosted by Universidade Aberta (UAb) in Lisbon on 20–21 October 2026. The event brought together 20 representatives of IAU Member institutions from some 15 countries and offered a first-hand look at how Portugal's only public distance-education university has built — and keeps transforming — a fully online model of higher education. Participants were warmly welcomed by Rector Carla Padrel de Oliveira and Vice-Rector for Innovation, Quality and Digital Transformation Diogo Casa Nova, whose opening remarks set the tone for two days of open exchange.
Innovating Through Technological Transformation
Founded in 1988, UAb was created as a public institution with a distinctive mission: to serve lifelong learners and to open higher education to those beyond the traditional student age and to regions without local access to university. Created long before learning management systems, the widespread use of the internet, or artificial intelligence, the university has continuously evolved, adapting its model to take advantage of new technological opportunities. Over time, UAb has profoundly transformed its pedagogical approach to respond to changing technological contexts. This evolution, and the reflections it has inspired, lay at the heart of the Study Visit. The transformation has also been accompanied by a significant increase in enrolment, as UAb now serves students not only in Portugal but across the Lusophone world. Presenting the university's pedagogical model, Vice-Rector Diogo Casa Nova described it as the result of a transformation "based on extensive consultat[ion] and collaborat[ion], including [with] students at UAb."
“The pedagogical model is an essential part of the identity of a remote and online learning university.”
A recurring theme throughout the two days was the centrality of quality assurance and recognition to the institution's development. Participants explored how the university has navigated major changes in recent years, including the transition of assessment processes from in-person to fully online formats between 2020 and 2022. These discussions illustrated both the challenges and opportunities involved in sustaining quality in a fully online learning environment.
A Two-Day Programme of Learning and Exchange
The programme combined presentations with visits to UAb's headquarters at Palácio Ceia, its Library and Media Centre. Day one explored the OpenEU alliance, UAb's pedagogical model and staff development, its Virtual Campus and technological ecosystem, research and open science. Day two turned to internationalization and university outreach, microcredentials and lifelong learning, student support and enhancement, and quality assurance, enhancement, and accreditation. The day concluded with a feedback and wrap-up session.
Takeaways from the Study Visit
As with the first visit hosted by UNED in Madrid in February 2026, the Lisbon visit underscored the value of immersive, on-site peer learning: participants gained concrete insights into institutional approaches to successful online higher education, pedagogical innovation in virtual classrooms, lifelong learning for adult learners and professionals, and institutional policies supporting access, inclusion and international collaboration. The IAU invites participants to now bring these critical insights back to their own institutions.
The third OpenEU Study Visit will take place at Bifröst University in Iceland. Through its engagement in the OpenEU alliance, the IAU is pleased to extend the impact of the Alliance beyond Europe and create a network of peers sharing their experiences.
Apply for the Bifröst University Site Visit.
Explore the partnership between the IAU and the OpenEU Alliance.
