Universidad Abierta Interamericana

The Interamerican Open University (UAI) started its academic activities in 1996. Its vision aims at becoming one of the principal higher education institutions in Argentina, contributing to the social, economic, cultural and political development of the country.

From its beginnings, UAI joined several networks of national and international non-governmental organizations which adhere to the promotion of the freedom of teaching and high-quality education for all. Amongst these networks we can mention the VANEDUC Network, the Argentine Association of Private Educational Institutions (ADEEPRA), the Argentine Confederation of Private Educational Institutions (CAIEP), the Federation of Educational Associations for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAELA) and the World Educational Confederation (COMED). UAI’s active interaction with other member institutions had a significant influence on the direction taken by UAI’s institutional project.

After operating for 6 years, UAI started a process of institutional assessment before the National University Assessment and Accreditation Commission (CONEAU), obtaining the final authorization of the University in 2005, according to Executive Power Decree Nº 1082/05.

Up to 30% of UAI’s faculty get access to the academic career through public competition. All professors receive pedagogical, scientific and professional training, through annual programmes of human resource training.

In order to promote the democratization of knowledge and the accessibility to its academic offer, UAI has developed a technological platform known as the UAIOnline Virtual Campus, which enables students to take up long-distance study programmes and professional updating course.   

Scientific research at UAI is mainly oriented towards application contexts, and is carried out through priority guidelines developed in two different contexts: Academic Units and Higher Studies Centres (CAE). CAE’s host the career of Scientific and Technological researchers and the training of research assistants. There are five CAE’s: the Centre for Higher Studies in Human and Health Science (CAECIHS), the Centre for Higher Studies in Education (CAEE), the Centre for Higher Studies in Information Technology (CAETI), the Centre for Higher Studies in Social Sciences (CAECS), and the Centre for Higher Studies in Architecture and City Planning.

There are internal grants for the development of research, as well as funding from external organizations and companies: the Ministry of Science and Technology (MINCyT), the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Ministry of Economic Development, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, private companies and laboratories. The research studies are published in yearbooks, scientific journals, and books edited by Schools and CAE’s through the University Publishing House. There have been numerous publications related to UAI on scientific journals known nationwide and also internationally, both in print and digital, as well as books, book chapters, conferences and congresses. UAI has registered patents and developments that are transferred to society. 

It is important to highlight the promotion of community service activities at health centres, aboriginal communities, social assistance and cooperation units, and schools in underprivileged areas. The main purpose is to work on the strengthening and protection of communities, improving their living conditions and the opportunities for the people living in them. Approximately 2.77% of total income registered in the self-assessment process has been applied tothis extension. 

UAI has signed cooperation agreements with national associations such as Councils and Associations of Deans and Universities (CONFEDI, AFACIMERA, CRUP, ASUPRIM, UNCI Network, among others), as well as international associations: World Alliance of Global Colleges and Universities (WAGCU), International MedicalEducation Directory (IMED), Organization of American States (OAS), the Iberoamerican Commission Against Drug Abuse (CICAD), Academic International Network (ACINNET), among others. 

There are also academic cooperation agreements with other universities and educational institutions in Argentina, government organizations, foundations, scientific and academic associations, professional agencies, companies, publishing houses, representatives of endangered social sectors, and foreign universities.  

In terms of institutional internationalization policies, UAI has signed agreements with foreign Higher Education Institutions, which has promoted the presence of international students taking courses in undergraduate and graduate programmes at UAI, or participating in university extension courses. Faculty members also participate in several academic activities in foreign universities. 

Since its beginnings, UAI has permanently organized extension activities such as athenaeums, postgraduate diplomas, events, seminars, conferences and workshops, according to the social and academic demands.

The University’s Transfer Office manages the provision of services to external parties, technical assistance, consultancy to entrepreneurs, SME’s, NGO’s and government organizations. It focuses mainly on the search for external funding for the university’s research, development and innovation projects.   

The University has a network of libraries, made up by the Buenos Aires Central Library, the Rosario Central Library, the loan and reading units located on each site and building, as well as a connection to the Electronic Library of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation. This system is based on the centralization of technical services for a unified management of the book catalogue, and the decentralization of the services provided to the users, integral automatization, and the development of digital book catalogues for the management of knowledge. 

UAI has its own Publishing House, which facilitates the publication of papers by internal and external researchers, and is conceived as a highly dynamic medium for the communication of scientific and academic topics.

It is important to point out that the management of information at UAI is carried out through technology linked through an intranet with over 3500 access points managed by SIGUE, a Central System owned by UAI. This system records and validates all aspects of academic activities, from the moment the applicant first contacts the university to the moment he or she graduates, as well as the paperwork related to the academic career of faculty members. Moreover, this centralized system is accessible online, which enables the management of academic activities for both on-campus and online courses. This promotes the ubiquity of its use, which is only limited by access permits.