A brief description of the country of Venezuela (geography, population, economy, internal communications, and politics) and its educational system introduce a description of the Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA). The UNA was opened in July 1978 to expand the national system of higher education by the use of distance learning techniques. These elements of the institution's history and operations are outlined and briefly described: origins in history and legislation; intended clientele; curriculum plan; course distribution; student admission, registration, and records; regional resource centers and facilities; student examinations; administration and organization (including governance, policy formation, academic units, financial control, and educational research); staff; and budget. Appended are maps of population distribution in the country and the proposed regional network of the university, and charts illustrating the course and credit structure and the management structure. (MSE)