The National University of Distance Education, known in Spanish as UNED, is a distance learning and research university founded in 1.972 and is the only university run by the central run by the central government of Spain. It has headquarters in Madrid, Spain, with campuses in all Spanish autonomous communities. In addition, there are 14 study centres, and 3 exam points, in 13 countries in Europe, Americas and Africa.
The University awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as non-degree qualifications such as diplomas and certificates, or continuing education units. UNED combines traditional onsite education with distance learning programs. With over 260.000 students, this university is the largest in Spain and the second largest in Europe.
UNED was founded in 1.972 following the idea of the UK's Open University to provide quality higher and continuing education opportunities to all through a distance education system. It awards the same qualifications as other Spanish universities and has the same entry requirements.
This implies that it is not "Open". Even though the study is at distance, admissions are as strict as for "on-site" education and exams are supervised as in the other Spanish universities. However, some special features of UNED make it different from most other Spanish universities: it is nationwide in scope, applies the most advanced teaching technologies and has a wide social influence with radio and TV programming.
UNED is a university where distance is no object for the fact that, through its educational methodology, UNED is the only university that offers the possibility of obtaining formal qualifications adapted to the European Higher Education Area (AHEA) from anywhere in the world.
Likewise, UNED is the only with centres in the Americas, Africa, Europe and all the Autonomous Communities of Spain; finally, training at UNED is carried out using new technologies, principally the Internet. UNED's mission is to be present as a centre of excellence throughout the world.
