The Hellenic Open University (HOU; Greek: Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο) was founded in 1992 in Patras and is the only online/distance learning university in Greece. Modelled on the British Open University, the Hellenic Open University was established to fill a gap for telematic and distance education in the higher education system of the Hellenic Republic in response to the growing demand for continuing education and lifelong learning.