Open University of Cyprus

Open University of Cyprus

Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
File:Open University of Cyprus (OUC).svg
Type	Public
Established	2002
President	Prof. Costas Christou
Vice-president	Prof. Yiannis Ioannou
Students	4200 (2013-2014 academic year)
Location	Nicosia , Cyprus
Website	http://www.ouc.ac.cy

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC) (Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου in Greek), in Lefkosia (Nicosia), is the only distance learning university in Cyprus. The University was established to fill an important gap for open and distance education in the higher education system of the Republic of Cyprus, in response to the growing demand for continuing education and lifelong learning. It is the first and only Higher Education Institution in Cyprus that provides open and distance education at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Placing great emphasis on research, the OUC promotes research programmes aiming towards the development of methodologies and corresponding high technologies for open and distance learning.

Methodology

The Open University of Cyprus style of teaching is called "open and distance learning". More specifically, students have the opportunity to learn in their own time without having to be present at the premises of the University to be able to attend lectures, seminars or labs, as it is the case with conventional universities.

The Open University's degree structure and credit system is based on the concept of Thematic Units (or Modules) adaptable to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The teaching load of an OUC's Thematic Unit corresponds to approximately three (3) semesters at any conventional university. The duration of each Thematic Unit is ten (10) months. OUC students have access to an e-learning platform, an electronic portal where practical information concerning studies at the Open University and related regulations and procedures are posted, as well as information regarding Study Courses, course materials and student workload.

Programmes of study

The full course catalogue for the 2014-2015 academic year include the following programmes:

At the postgraduate level, programmes offered in English:

• Applied Health Informatics
• Educational Leadership (joint degree with the Saint Louis University, USA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Social Information Systems
• Wireless Communication Systems

At the undergraduate level, programmes offered in Greek:

• Business Administration
• Police Studies
• Studies in the Hellenic Culture

At the postgraduate level, programmes offered in Greek:

• Applied Health Informatics
• Banking and Finance
• Communications and Journalism
• Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning
• Cultural Policy and Development
• Educational Studies
• Environment Conservation and Management
• European Union Law
• Greek Language and Literature
• Healthcare Management
• Health Policy and Planning
• Information and Communication Systems
• Management, Technology and Quality
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Social Information Systems
• Theater Studies
• Wireless Communication systems

External links

• Official Website
• Cyprus Ministry of Higher Education