The Open University for adults: distance education at Dominican Republic

Abstract

The Open University for Adults, UAPA (Universidad Abierta para Adultos), at Santiago, Dominican Republic begins its academic and administrative functions in 1995. During those 12 years of existence, 5094 professionals have obtained degrees in the fields of Psychology, Languages, Business Administration,
Law Sciences and Education. The institution is organized under a departmental structure that includes Schools, Departments, Institutes and Centers. The government of the institution is regulated via collegiate entities (Board of
Trustees, Academic Council and Advisory Board) and unitary forms of government (University Director, Deputy Directors, School Directors and Deans, Department Directors, and Center and Institutes Directors). The academic activities developed at UAPA are based on the principle of shared responsibility
between participants and facilitators. The methodology applied is interactive and participatory and the learning techniques are based on the activity of those engaged in the learning process. Since its inception, UAPA has favored the participant’s learning process using didactic methodologies with applications of ICT’s. Currently the University has a web-based educational platform to support
virtual and distance programming and offerings and to implement continued education on-line courses.