Partnerships and Networks
Over the course of a history now spanning over 50 years, the FernUniversität has forged numerous international university cooperations and partnerships that take a wide variety of forms and cover many different aspects of international cooperation.
The FernUniversität’s five faculties cultivate and expand their international connections based on their individual needs and strengths, be it in the context of scientific relations between researchers and teachers, international teaching initiatives, or involvement in global professional associations.
Information about the map:
Orange markers = strategic partnerships of the FernUniversität in Hagen.
Below, you will also find a list of all partner universities, sorted by continent:
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Namibia
University of Namibia – UNAM, Windhoek, Namibia
Strategic partnership
Research collaboration
University of Namibia
South Africa
University of South Africa – UNISA, Pretoria, Südafrika
Strategic partnership
Research collaboration
University of South Africa
Botswana
Open University of Botswana – BOU, Gaborone, Botswana
Open University of Botswana
Kenya
Open University of Kenya – OUK, Nairobi, Kenia
Open University of Kenya -
China
Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing
Binational doctorate
Research collaboration
Beijing Jiaotong UniversitySouthwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu
Binational doctorate
Research collaboration
Southwest Jiaotong University
Japan
University Tokyo – UTokyo
Research collaboration
UTokyoKyoto University, Kaiserliche Universität, Kyoto
Research collaboration
Kyoto UniversityDoshisha Law School, Doshisha University, Kyoto
MOU law studies
Research collaboration
Doshisha University
Thailand
King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok – KMUTNB
Teaching and research collaboration
King Mongkut's University of Technology -
University of New South Wales – UNSW, Sydney
Research collaboration
University of New South Wales -
Austria
Johannes Kepler Universität – JKU, Linz
Research collaboration
Johannes Kepler UniversitätCatholic Private University Linz – KU, Linz
Research collaboration
KU Linz
Belgium
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven
MCE project partner MCE
KU Leuven
Cyprus
Open University of Cyprus –OUC, Lefkosia/Nicosia
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
MCE project partner MCE
Open University of Cyprus
Finland
University of Jyväskylä / Open University of Jyväskylä – JYU, Jyväskylä
Strategic partnership
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
University of JyväskyläGreece
Hellenic Open University – HOU, Patras
Strategic partnership
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
Hellenic Open University
Hungary
Andrássy Universität, Budapest
Teaching and research collaboration
Andrássy UniversitätUniversity of Pécs, Pécs
Teaching and research collaboration
University of Pécs
Italy
Università Telematica Internazionale – Uninettuno, Roma
Strategic partnership
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
MCE project partner MCE
Telematic University UNINETTUNOUniversità di Bologna – UNIBO, Bologna
Research collaboration
Università di Bologna
Lithuania
Kaunas University of Technology – KTU, Kaunas
MCE project partner MCE
Kaunas University of Technology
Netherlands
Open Universiteit Niederlande – OUNL, Heerlen
Strategic partnership
Research collaboration
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
EDELNet project partner EDELNet
MCE project partner MCE
Open Universiteit (OUNL)
Portugal
Universidade Aberta – UAb, Lisbon
Strategic partnership
MCE project partner MCE
Universidade Aberta (UAb)
Slovakia
Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislave – STU, Bratislava
Research collaboration
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Spain
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya – UOC, Barcelona
Strategic partnership
Research collaboration
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
MCE project partner MCE
Universidad Oberta de Catalunya (UoC)Universidad Nacional de Educacíon A Distancia – UNED, Madrid
Research collaboration
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
EDELNet project partner EDELNet
MCE project partner MCE
Universidad Nacional de Educacíon A DistanciaUniversidad de Salamanca – USAL, Salamanca
Research collaboration
Universidad de Salamanca
Switzerland
FernUni – UniDistance, Brig
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
UniDistance Schweiz
Turkey
Anadolu Universitesi – Eskişehir
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
Anadolu UniversitesiÖzyegin University, Istanbul
Teaching and research collaboration
Özyegin University
United Kingdom
The Open University – OUUK, Milton Keynes
ADMIT project partner ADMIT
The Open UniversityUniversity of Oxford – OX, Oxford
Research collaboration
University of Oxford
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Costa Rica
Universidad Nacional de Educacíon A Distancia – CR, San José
Strategic partnership
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
Mexiko
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla
FILORED project partner FILORED
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de PueblaUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexiko-Stadt
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana -
Argentina
Universidad Católica Argentina – UCA, Buenos Aires
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidad Católica Argentina
Brazil
Universidade Federal Do Ceará – UFC, Fortaleza-Benfica
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidade Federal Do CearáPontificia Universidad Católica do Rio Grande do Sul – PUCRS, Porto Alegre
FILORED project partner FILORED
Pontificia Universidad Católica do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Chile
Universidad Católica de Valparaíso – UCV, Valparaíso
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidad Católica de ValparaísoUniversidad Diego Portales – UDP, Santiago de Chile
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidad Diego Portales
Columbia
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Colombia, Bogotá
Forschungskooperation
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana ColombiaUniversidad Nacional De Colombia, Bogotá D.C.
FILORED project partner FILORED
Universidad Nacional De Colombia
Peru
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima
FILORED project partner FILORED
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Erasmus Partnerships
The FernUniversität is an active participant in the European Union’s Erasmus program and maintains partnerships with numerous universities in the program.

Transnational University Cooperation
- Austria:
- Via the Center for Distance Learning in Austria, the FernUniversität has maintained a close cooperation with the Johannes Kepler University Linz for more than 40 years.
More information - Hungary:
- The Distance-Learning Center Budapest is a central contact point for students and prospective students in Hungary and cooperates with various institutions in the higher education sector.
More information (German; Hungarian also available)
We are happy to advise and support you if you would like to establish contact with our international partners or even initiate a new cooperation. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Contact:
Email: international
University Networks
The FernUniversität makes use of established university networks to further its cooperation policy and the development of sustainable partnerships. It is a member of several higher education networks, including:
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
- GATE-Germany – Consortium for International University Marketing
- European University Association (EUA)
- European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)
- European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN)
- International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
- Scholars at Risk
European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)
The FernUniversität in Hagen was one of the founding members of the EADTU in 1988 and since that time has been involved in its committees, joint projects, and programs, as well as conferences and events.
The EADTU works to promote networking and exchange in the European Higher Education Area – especially in regard to the special role filled by distance, online, and open universities. The EADTU’s activities are thus closely linked to the Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027) and the European Skills Agenda.
The EADTU is deeply involved in a wide range of innovative topics related to online teaching as well as lifelong learning:
- MOOCs: The European MOOC Consortium | more
- Task Forces & Special Interest Groups: Task Force Diversity & Inclusion, Special Interest Group Online Assessment, and Task Force Virtual Mobility | more
- Erasmus Partnership for Cooperation: Modularisation of Continuing Education and Professionalisation by Micro-Credentials (MCE) | more
- Overview of current projects | more
SUNY COIL Global Network
The FernUniversität joined the SUNY COIL Network, an association of state-run universities in New York State (SUNY) in 2022. The network’s aim is to develop innovative teaching concepts and promote the (further) development of virtual exchange.
The network now includes more than 100 universities and colleges from all over the world. As a member of the global network, the FernUniversität and its members have access to best practices, training, and consulting services.
- About SUNY COIL | mehr
- General information about Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) | more
- SUNY COIL PD Workshops 2022–2023 | more (PDF 2 MB)
If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more, please contact the International Office of the FernUniversität.
Contact:
Email: desiree.kampmeier.