OpenEU Showcased at EDMedia 2025: Building a Truly Pan-European Digital University

The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is hosting EDMedia 2025, a major international conference organized by the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). The event brings together over 500 higher education professionals, researchers, and edtech specialists from more than 70 countries to explore innovation and the role of technology in learning.

As part of the conference, the UOC highlighted its leadership of the OpenEU Alliance — a European initiative aimed at creating a digital, inclusive, and lifelong learning university that transcends national borders.

OpenEU Alliance: A Highlight of EDMedia 2025

One of the key sessions at the event, titled “OpenEU: The Way Towards a Pan-European Open University,” featured contributions from:

• Theo Bastiaens, Rector of the Open University of the Netherlands.

• Pastora Martínez Samper, UOC Commissioner for International Action and OpenEU Coordinator.

• Javier Cánovas, UOC Academic Director of the Joint Bachelor’s Degree in Software Development and Testing.

A Joint Degree Across Borders

During the session, Javier Cánovas presented the first outcomes of the Joint Bachelor’s Degree in Software Development and Testing — an innovative, 180-ECTS programme designed to equip students for a global, diverse, and digitally connected job market. Fully taught in English, the degree will be delivered collaboratively by:

• UOC (Spain) – Coordinating institution

• Open University of the Netherlands

• UNED (Spain)

Set to launch in February 2026, this programme marks a significant milestone in cross-border academic cooperation in Europe.

“OpenEU is launching a pioneering joint degree among three open and distance universities. It promotes lifelong learning, pedagogical innovation, and international mobility — offering a unique opportunity to train professionals in a key discipline for the knowledge society,” said Javier Cánovas.