The Hellenic Open University (HOU) is an autonomous and self-governing public University that provides distance undergraduate and postgraduate education through the development and use of appropriate educational material and teaching methods. Its operation is determined by Article Law 2552/97 and is the 19th Greek University. It is directed by a governing committee constituted mostly of academic staff.
Except for long-distance education, HOU promotes scientific research, as well as the development of technology and methodology in the field of the transmission of knowledge in distance. More specifically, HOU is divided into four (4) Schools (School of Humanities, School of Science and Technology, School of Social Sciences, and School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design) providing each one with several Programs of studies (undergraduate and postgraduate programs) as well as doctoral studies.
HOU offers annual and semi-annual Programs of Studies through long-distance education and teaching methods. All students are provided with the appropriate specialized educational material and indicated study schedule having also the help, tutelage, and guidance of specified academic staff.
Students, whether undergraduate or post-graduate, enroll in a semester-long or term-long T.U. (thematic unit) belonging to H.O.U. Study Programs (S.P.) and are required both to fully attend them until the maximum number of academic credits (ECTS) specified in the current institutional and legislative framework is achieved, and/or required to participate in examinations for the T.U. they are entitled to participate in. Each T.U. may encompass the following graded educational activities: written assignments, tests, laboratory participation, presentations, etc.
Educational activities are submitted exclusively through the electronic platform of the H.O.U., with the exceptions of laboratory participation, presentations, and other specialized activities. Any other optional (non-graded) educational activity (e.g., quiz, etc.) may be posted on the educational platform, if the teaching staff of the T.U. so decides. Students may not participate in the final examination of a T.U. if they have not first (α) earned at least 50% of full marks from the total of graded activities and (b) submit more than half of the number of training activities.
In addition, HOU has signed protocols of collaboration with other Greek Universities such as the Agricultural University of Athens, Ionian University, University of Western Macedonia, University of Thessaly, Academy of Athens (through the Center for Research in Atmospheric Physics and Climatology), as well as foreign Universities (Open University of Cyprus, University of Nicosia and Frederick University).
Finally, HOU’s administrative staff is always willing to help and provide additional administrative guidance and information to all students and teaching staff.
