Casanova, DiogoHuet, Isabel2026-01-092026-01-092025Casanova, D., & Huet, I. Universidade Aberta. In Handbook of Open Universities Around the World (pp. 625-638). Routledge.9781040359563http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/20729This chapter provides an overview of the historical, administrative, financial, and pedagogical developments of Universidade Aberta (UAb) in Portugal. The authors examine the institution's pedagogical model and staff development to help readers understand how the university operates and its unique features compared to other universities in the country. UAb was established in 1988 to meet the needs of adult learners and has evolved from a correspondence and tele-learning model to an intelligent flexible learning model in 2008 with the adoption of the Virtual Pedagogical Model® (VPM). The institution has continuously focused on modernising its educational systems, vital to improving the openness environment. Currently, UAb faces three key challenges: using generative AI, learning analytics, and digital assessment to ensure a more personalized and tailored learning experience for students, and to ensure the quality of education.engUniversidade AbertaDistance educationVirtual pedagogical modelOpennessLearning flexibilitybook part