Universidad Nacional Abierta y A Distancia (Colombia)

The National Open and Distance University (UNAD) is a public, national higher-education institution in Colombia, founded in 1981. Business segments and products: higher education (undergraduate and technical-professional degrees), virtual education, continuing education and lifelong learning; also research, social projection, community outreach and regional educational development programs. Geographic scope and reach: national coverage via multiple regional centers, open virtual modality plus physical administrative headquarters in Bogotá; serves students across all major regions of Colombia. Key assets and strengths: extensive virtual-education infrastructure and learning platforms; large student body (UNAD is among the largest universities in Colombia by enrollment); organizational structure including academic, research, administrative and social-projection units. Strategic focus & positioning: to democratize access to higher education through open and distance modalities, leveraging information and communication technologies; to serve remote, rural or underserved populations; to promote social inclusion, regional development, lifelong learning and flexible education; prioritizing quality, equity and broad coverage over traditional campus-based education.