Get to know the UOC

2009-2010

• [Institutional] The President of the UOC assumes the presidency of the Catalan Public Universities Association.
• [Inaugural Lecture] The UOC inaugurates the academic year 2009-2010 for the Catalan university system with the inaugural lecture entitled The Challenges of Knowledge: A Bridge or Drifting? by Mustapha Cherif.
• [Awards] Manuel Castells receives the Spanish National Prize for Sociology and Political Science.
• [Awards] The UOC-Technosite Master's Degree in Accessible Technologies is a finalist for the international ACCESS-IT award.
• [Institutional] The UOC launches its Global Campus in order to progressively implement a multilingual offer.
• [Library] The UOC Library launches a new e-reader lending service.
• [Teaching] Pompeu Fabra University and the UOC launch the new Master's Degree in Teacher Training.
• [International] The UOC hosted the annual International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Standing Conference of Presidents (SCOP) under the title Quality in the Context of the Financial Crisis.
• [Technology] The UOC, UC Berkeley and ETH Zürich join forces to revolutionise audiovisual academic content.
• [Teaching] Inauguration of Moisès Broggi Hospital, a university centre affiliated to the UOC.
• [Library] The UOC's institutional repository O2, The Oberta in Open Access, is launched.
• [Institutional] The UOC launches the e-treball (e-work) project to promote work-life balance and flexibility with regard to physical presence at the workplace.
• [Cooperation] New UNESCO-FCB-UOC Chair in Sport as a Tool for Social Co-existence and Conflict Resolution.
• [Teaching] The UOC's educational materials are adapted for the iPad.
• [Teaching] The Catalan Broadcasting Corporation and the UOC launch the TV3-UOC Master's Degree in Entertainment.
• [Teaching] The UOC creates the first MBA in Property Sciences.
• [Institutional] The UOC co-organised the Rectors Conference called by the EuroMed Permanent University Forum (EPUF) which brought together over 140 university rectors from 23 countries.
• [Institutional] The UOC co-organised the Rectors Conference called by the EuroMed Permanent University Forum (EPUF) which brought together over 140 university rectors from 23 countries.
• [Research] Completion of the SUMA educational platform project, developed by the UOC and Tecsidel, which combines the best aspects of the most acclaimed e-learning systems on the market with a set of tools and applications.
• [Dissemination of knowledge] Ecouniversitat, the Campus for Peace's journal on sustainability, ecology and the environment in the university sector, is launched.
• [Research] The eLearn Center and IN3 present their new e-journals, eLC Research Paper Series i IN3 Working Paper Series.
• [Dissemination of knowledge] Journal of Conflictology, a new e-journal devoted to the analysis of conflict resolution and peace processes, is launched.
   

2008-2009

• [Inaugural Lecture] Alfonso Vegara, President of the Metrópoli Foundation, delivered the inaugural lecture of the academic year entitled “Urban Planning in a Globalised World”.
• [Teaching] The Social Action Department of the Catalan government and the UOC created two new training programmes: Prevention and Detection of Family Violence, and Management and Administration of Elderly Care Homes.
• [Honoris causa] Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, creator of the worldwide web, Honorary Doctor.
• [Mobility] The UOC and Orange formed an alliance to develop content for electronic ink reading devices as educational tools.
• [Dissemination of knowledge] Walk In was created, the UOC's new institutional journal.
• [Dissemination of knowledge] TALAIA was created, the knowledge society terminology observatory set up by the UOC and Termcat.
• [International] Alliance with Casablanca's Hassan II Mohammedia University for capital and knowledge mobility.
• [Research] The Integration of the Internet in Spanish School Education project, produced by UOC lecturers and researchers at the request of the Telefónica Foundation, revealed that the use of ICTs in the classroom continued to be scant.
• [Research] The eLearn Center was created, the first e-learning research and innovation centre in Spain with researchers from all over the world.
• [Awards] The UOC's new Virtual Campus was selected as the best education portal by the IMS Global Consortium.
• [Cooperation] Agreement between the African Virtual University and the UOC for the creation of a campus for peace for Africa.
• [Awards] Manuel Castells was awarded the Catalonia Sociology Prize.
   

2007-2008

• [Institutional] The UOC becomes a full-fledged member of the European University Association (EUA).
• [Bologna Process] The Universities Board validates the Law, Psychology and Humanities degrees.
• [Cooperation] The UOC organises the 1st International Congress on Conflicts, Conflict Resolution and Peace.
• [Awards] The MyWay project, which transforms contents into a range of formats, receives a Gold Medal at the IMS Global Learning Consortium’s Learning Impact Awards.
• [Honoris causa] Sir Timothy Berners-Lee is conferred with an honorary doctorate.
• [Mobility] The UOC offers services via the iPhone, iPod Touch and e-books.

2006-2007

• [Teaching] The International Graduate Institute launches with a multilingual offering.
• [ Research] The results of Project Internet Catalonia (PIC), an interdisciplinary research programme on the information society in Catalonia, are presented.
• [Chairs] The UOC and the Linguamón-House of Languages create the Linguamón-UOC Chair in Multilingualism to promote a concept of linguistic diversity that is sustainable, equitable and functional.
• [International networks] The UOC spearheads the Red Iberoamericana de Universidades (Ibero-American University Network, RIU), a network formed by more than 30 Ibero-American universities.
• [Knowledge dissemination] The UOC creates its own video channel on YouTube. / The UOC offers open teaching materials through OpenCourseWare.
• [Honoris causa] Professor Alain Touraine is conferred with an honorary doctorate.

2005-2006

• [Institutional] Imma Tubella is appointed President of the UOC. / The new building located in the Barcelona technology district 22@ is inaugurated.
• [Teaching] The UOC deploys its first degree programmes adapted to the new criteria in the Bologna Declaration on the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
• [Knowledge dissemination] UOC Papers, a multidisciplinary journal, is launched with the aim of publishing informative texts that focus on the confluence of the University’s areas of interest with the knowledge society. / Coordinated by the Law and Political Science Department, the electronic journal Internet, Dret i Política (Internet, Law and Politics, IDP) is created.
• [Technology] The UOC leads the Campus project, the aim of which is to develop a virtual campus based on free software for all the Catalan universities.
• [Awards] The UOC receives the Award for Innovation and Quality in Technology from the Catalan government and the National Award for Telecommunications.
• [Digital Library] The library creates the digital video library, a new section in the digital collection providing access to digital video online.
• [Services] A new Student Service centre space launches in the Virtual Campus.
• [Honoris causa] Jordi Pujol and William Mitchell are conferred with honorary doctorates.

2004-2005

• [Institutional] The UOC celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• [Teaching] The University @thenaeum is opened to facilitate access to university education for all students regardless of their level of previous university studies.
• [Knowledge dissemination] Revista de Universidad y Sociedad del Conocimiento (University and Knowledge Society Journal, RUSC), a digital publication from the UNESCO Chair in E-Learning, is launched.
• [Research] The Law and Political Science Department organises the 1st Internet, Law and Politics conference.
• [Awards] The Gold Seal of European Excellence from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) awarded to the UOC.
  [Services] The UOC Associate Companies initiative is launched.
• [Honoris causa] Tony Bates is conferred with an honorary doctorate.

2003-2004

• [Teaching] East Asian Studies initiated.
• [Research] The First International Seminar of the UOC UNESCO Chair is held.
• [Services] The UOC establishes a base in Mexico City.
• [Awards] The UOC receives the OAS Award for Educational Quality 2004, awarded annually by the Organization of American States' (OAS) Institute of Advanced Studies.

2002-2003

• [Institutional] The first honorary doctorate is awarded to Josep Laporte i Salas, a former Catalan minister of Health, Education, and Universities.
• [Teaching] The UOC offers two new programmes: Tourism, and Market Research and Techniques.
• [Research] The UNESCO Chair in E-Learning is launched as a forum for reflection and interdisciplinary analysis of the changes in educational institutions emerging from the introduction and use of e-learning.
• [Knowledge dissemination] ArtNodes is established as a digital space to explore the connections among science, art and technology.
• [Awards] The Spanish Association of Internet Users recognises the UOC as the entity that has best integrated the internet in its strategic development.
• [International networks] The UOC is recognised as a Center of Excellence as part of the Sun Microsystems Global Education and Research programme.

2001-2002

• [Teaching] The UOC offers four new degrees: Labour Sciences, Political and Administration Sciences, Audiovisual Communication and Computer Engineering.
• [Research] The first stone is laid for the new Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) building at the Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia in Castelldefels, Catalonia. / Project Internet Catalonia (PIC) launches, codirected by Manuel Castells and Imma Tubella. / The first doctoral thesis is defended on technological innovation, economic growth and the knowledge economy.
• [Knowledge dissemination] Editorial UOC is created to disseminate materials created by the UOC. / Lletra is established as an area on the internet devoted to Catalan literature.
• [Awards] The UOC receives the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Prize of Excellence 2001 in recognition of the University's being the world's leading online and distance university.

2000-2001

• [Institutional] The UOC presents a new corporate image and “edu” domain name.
• [Teaching] The UOC offers a new degree in Psychology.
• [Research] Manuel Castells becomes the first Chair of the UOC Scientific Committee.
• [Knowledge dissemination] Digithum, an annual publication from the Humanities Department, is launched.

1999-2000

• [Teaching] The first degree programmes are offered in Spanish. / The first doctorate programme is started (PhD on the Information and Knowledge Society) and offered in Catalan, Spanish and English. / Two new programmes are offered: Multimedia Studies, and Information and Communication Sciences.
• [Cooperation] The Campus for Peace is launched to use information technologies in the development of cooperation, solidarity, human rights and peace.
• [UOC Group] Planeta UOC, an FUOC initiative, is formed to offer officially recognised qualifications in Spanish for Spain and Latin America.
• [Awards] The UOC receives the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) Award for the world’s best digital opportunity.

1998-1999

• [Institutional] A new annex to the Tibidabo headquarters in Barcelona is inaugurated.
• [Teaching] Two new degrees are offered: Catalan Language and Literature, and Business Administration and Management. / The first two UOC-specific master’s degrees are offered: Safety, Hygiene and Working Conditions, and Financial Markets and Instruments.
• [Research] The Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) is created, specialising in interdisciplinary analysis of the interaction between information and communication technologies and different areas of society.
• [Community] The first graduation ceremony is held in Manresa, Catalonia. / Club UOC is presented, offering virtual services to the university community and allowing graduates to remain linked to the UOC.
• [UOC Group] Ensenyament Obert (EduaciOnline) is created by EDIUOC and Enciclopèdia Catalana to promote and develop courses that offer access to university education for those over 25 who have no previous university experience or qualifications. / Eureca Media is formed as a company specialising in creating educational materials.

1997-1998

• [Teaching] The Universitat Oberta d’Estiu (Virtual Summer School) is launched. / Two new foundation degrees are offered: Management IT and Systems IT. / The first four postgraduate studies programmes are launched. / Aula Oberta, an initiative that makes the UOC’s educational model available to the whole of society, is presented.
• [Awards] The UOC receives the European Union’s Bangemann Challenge Award 1997 for the best European distance education initiative.

1996-1997

• [Institutional] The Catalan government ratifies the UOC’s Operational Regulations.
• [Teaching] Two new degrees are offered: Law and Humanities.
• [Services] The first information points open in Catalonia in Igualada and Tàrrega. / The first international support centre opens in Brussels. / La Virtual, the UOC’s consumer cooperative, starts up.
• [UOC Group] EDIUOC (Edicions de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) is created to provide teaching materials and contribute to the dissemination of ICTs in university publications. / GEC (Gestión del Conocimiento) is founded, along with the participation of “la Caixa”, to offer training to businesses.

1995-1996

• [Teaching] The first semester begins with two pilot degree programmes (Business Sciences and Educational Psychology) and 206 students enrolled.
• [Research] The UOC launches 11 research projects.
• [Services] The first support centres open in Catalonia in Manresa, Salt, and Reus.
• [Community] The first student meet-up is held in Mataró, Catalonia.

1994-1995

• [Institutional] The Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Foundation for the Open University of Catalonia, FUOC) is created on 6 October 1994 as an initiative of the Catalan government to provide access to lifelong learning through the use of information technologies and a personalised educational model. / On 6 April 1995, the Law recognising the UOC is officially approved by the Catalan parliament and Gabriel Ferraté is named as the University’s first President.