Distance education is a modern and flexible system which enables students to learn by making use of the communication technologies. Distance education is applied in lots of improving or improved countries, and by this way a lot of people from different age, income and job groups can continue education without losing their productivity. They can also arrange this education according to their speed and capacity. Distance education is a philosophy which benefit from today's technology and it includes all education models that brings students, teachers and education materials from different places together.

Anadolu University Distance education System is the first instution that gives higher education by modern distance education model.

5. and 12. articles of 2547 numbered law, which came into effect in 6 November 2005 and re-arranged Turkish Higher Education, gave the Turkish Universities right to 'Do Continuous Open education'. Then this duty was given to Anadolu University in 20 July 2005, because it completed its scientific and technological deficiencies in a short time. Consequently Open education Faculty, which was a department of the Faculty of Communication Sciences, entrusted with country-wide distance education service.

Open education System started with two distance education programs Economics and Business Administration in 1982-1983, then it has widened its service field continuously. Open education System was restructured in 1993 according to the requirements of today?s education. Then Economics and Business Administration Programs transformed to 4-year faculties. After that Open Education Faculty was entrusted with doing all organizations about distance education, other associate or bachelor degree programs.

Open education Faculty not only aims to benefit from printed course materials but also tries to use developed technologies like computer, internet and videoconferences for students? adaptation to them and create a technological interaction. Tutorials and implementation services (face-to-face education) are also given at appropriate cities.

The basic aim of the Open education Faculty is to train the needed intermediary personnel with its different 2-year associate degree programs as well as training English and Pre-school teachers with 4-year English Language Teaching and Pre-school Teaching Bachelor Degree programs. While doing these it is considered to be at proper cost, wanted number and quality. It is also contributed to increase people?s education level from different sectors by special projects such as Navy, Army, Gendarmerie, Air and Police Occupational Training Associate Degree Programs.

Open education Faculty consists of the following programs; Department of Distant Education, Department of Continuous Education, Department of Economics and Business Administration Programs (consists of Public Relations, Office Management and Secretaryship, Foreign Trade, Accounting, Tourism and Hotel Services, Social Services, Home Management Banking and Insurance, Management of Health Institutions, Local Governments, Theology, Business Administrations (on internet), Police- Gendarmerie -Army Forces-Air Forces-Navy Forces Occupational Training, Retailing and Store Management), Health Programs (consists of Laboratory Assistant and Veterinary Health), Technical Programs (consists of Agriculture program), Undergraduat Degree Completion Program in Classroom Teaching, English Language Teaching and Pre-school education Bachelor Degree Programs.