Universidade Aberta (UAb) is a public distance education university in Portugal. Established in 1988, UAb offers higher education (undergraduate, master and doctorate degrees) and Lifelong Learning study programs. All programs are taught in e-learning mode since 2008, the year that UAb became a European institution of reference in the area of advanced e-learning and online learning through the recognition of its exclusive Virtual Pedagogical Model. It was the first university in Portugal to introduce a women's studies program. The master's degree of Women's Studies – Gender, Citizenship and Development was launched in 1995 under the direction of Teresa Joaquim and expanded into a PhD program as well in 2002.