State University of Distance Education (UNED Costa Rica)

The Universidad Estatal a Distancia is a public institution of higher education created by Law No. 6044 of March 3, 1977, under the government of President Daniel Oduber Quirós.

The UNED is the first institution of "higher education specialized in teaching through social media." (1977:1) being a pioneer in the distance education model in Latin America. 

Today, with a trajectory of more than four decades, a network of thirty-seven university sites throughout the country, undergraduate and graduate programs, extension and research, and an intensive use of information and communication technologies in its pedagogical model, UNED is positioned as a regional leader in distance education. 

This leadership was reaffirmed on October 10, 2007 when the Legislative Assembly, through Law No. 8623, declared UNED as a Meritorious Institution of Education and Culture of Costa Rica.

Under the administration of the first rector, Mr. Francisco Antonio Pacheco (1977-1981), the University Board is constituted, which is responsible for issuing the first Organic Statute and laying the foundations for the development of the University.