The Open University of the Netherlands ( nl, Open Universiteit Nederland) is a Dutch institution for
distance learning
Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...
at
university level. It is an independent government-funded university and uses a variety of methods, including written materials, the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, pub ...
, and occasional evening
seminars or day sessions.
Overview
The Open University of the Netherlands was founded in 1984
and opened to students that September. The
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
is based in
Heerlen
Heerlen (; li, Heële ) is a city and a municipality in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of Limburg. Measured as municipality, it is the fourth municipality in the province of Limburg ...
, in the province of
Limburg
Limburg or Limbourg may refer to:
Regions
* Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium
* Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands
* Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...
, in the very south of the Netherlands. The university has study and support centres dispersed throughout the continental Netherlands, as well as study centres in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
-speaking
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
(
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...
) and partnerships with institutions in
Aruba,
Bonaire,
Curaçao,
Sint Maarten and
Suriname.
Since the Open University was founded, more than 250,000 students have enrolled in courses. , approximately 15,000 students were enrolled at study or support centres in the Netherlands,
[ including some residents of other countries.
]
Aims
The Dutch government's purpose in founding the Open University of the Netherlands was to make higher education accessible to anyone with the necessary aptitudes and interests, regardless of formal qualifications. The university aims to provide cost-effective education and to encourage innovation in Dutch higher education, in terms of both curriculum and teaching.
Organisation
Governance
The Chairman of the Open University of the Netherlands since June 2016 is Arent van der Feltz, former Vice President for Corporate Development, Legal, Regulatory and Public Affairs at Ziggo
Ziggo Holding B.V. () is the largest cable operator in the Netherlands, providing digital cable television, Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers.
History
The company is the result of the merger between ...
. His predecessor was Sander van den Eijnden.
Faculties
* Science: Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Information Science
* Humanities
* Management
* Educational Sciences
* Psychology
* Law
In addition to this, the university has four expertise centres:
* CAROU: guidance in the deployment of technological and social innovations through research projects and education in areas such as Smart City, Cyber Security, Smart Industry, Climate Change and Continuous Learning
* Cyber Science Center: in cooperation with and
* NEIMED (Nederlands expertise en innovatiecentrum maatschappelijke effecten demografische krimp): an alliance with Maastricht University and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
The Open University also has two support staff departments: the Department of Administration and the Department of Support Services. These provide services ranging from academic affairs to student administration.
Courses of study
The Open University offers courses of study at the bachelor's and master's degree levels in the following disciplines: cultural studies, education science, law, management, psychology, science and technology. The university collaborates with Flemish universities to enable Belgian students to attend classes. Five of its master's degree programmes were top-ranked in 2017.
Faculty
The following are present and former faculty members of the Open Universiteit:
* Harold Krikke
References
External links
*
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Distance education institutions based in the Netherlands
Universities in the Netherlands
Educational institutions established in 1984
1984 establishments in the Netherlands
Education in Limburg (Netherlands)
South Limburg (Netherlands)
Buildings and structures in Heerlen