After presenting a Panorama of the Open University Program in Brazil in the country, we highlight the actions developed at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), a pioneer in the provision of this type of education in the state. UFRN created, in June 2003, the Secretariat for Distance Education (SEDIS). The purpose of this Secretariat is to promote distance education, based on the use of information and communication technologies in the teaching and learning process.

Through the Open University of Brazil (UAB) program, 9 undergraduate courses (Biological Sciences, Physical Education, Physics, Geography, History, Literature, Mathematics, Pedagogy and Chemistry) are offered by UFRN and 1 Bachelor’s degree (Public Administration) in poles of the Metropolitan Region of Natal and in the interior of the state. Currently, UFRN offers distance courses in Polos de Apoio Presencial in the cities of Extremoz, São Gonçalo do Amarante, Parnamirim, New Cross, Guamaré, Macau, Lajes, Grossos, Caraúbas, Martins, Marcelino Vieira, Luís Gomes, Caicó and Currais Novos .

According to UFRN Secretary of Distance Education, Carmem Rêgo, EAD courses play an important role in training for the labor market, as well as contributing effectively to the social insertion and democratization of higher education by providing courses in places distant, distributing the training process with the daily activities of those who seek, through the study, their personal and professional fulfillment. Still according to Professor Carmem Rêgo, there is, for now, no provision for the launch of a new call for vacancies for higher distance courses at UFRN. However, those interested in competing for vacancies in this modality of teaching must take the tests of the National High School Examination (ENEM), whose enrollment period will be held from May 6 to 17, 2019.

To find out more about the distance courses at the university, you must access the SEDIS website and the profiles of the Secretariat on social networks. If you want to search for details about the history of SEDIS, just download the e-book “Distance Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Fifteen years of practice“.

Source: SEDIS / UFRN Media Sector