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Milestones
University of the People has demonstrated its success throughout the years, not only as the first accredited, tuition-free online university, but also in opening the gates to higher education to qualified students worldwide.
Each year, we are proud to have brought greater opportunities to our current and future students through our revolutionary educational model.
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2009
Shai Reshef wins “Nobel Prize of Education”
UoPeople President and Founder wins the Yidan Prize for Education Development recognizing UoPeople’s mission to open the gates of higher education to all qualified students.
Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) Degree Now Available
UoPeople introduces a Master of Science in Information Technology program designed to advance students’ careers in computer science and technology
First American University to Offer Online BA Degree Taught in Arabic
UoPeople Offering 1,000 Scholarships to Expand Higher Ed Access in Arab World
UoPeople Launches Business and Health Science Certificates
UoPeople introduces 9 new certificate programs to help students advance their careers.
UoPeople partners with Effat University
Effat University, the first private institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia, and University of the People partnered to offer female students from both institutions the chance to pursue a variety of fields at the undergraduate level, as well as at the graduate level.
UoPeople joins Harvard Business School Online
UoPeople joined Harvard Business School Online’s (HBS Online’s) Collaborating Colleges program, offering UoPeople students special access to HBS Online courses.
UoPeople in Arabic
UoPeople launched University of the People in Arabic, a comprehensive solution for refugees and others in need of a tuition-free higher education in Arabic.
Government Partnerships
University of the People partnered with the German and U.S. governments to provide scholarships to refugee students from Syria and students in Burkina Faso.
UoPeople Introduces Master of Education in Advanced Teaching Degree
UoPeople introduces a Master of Education program designed to prepare highly skilled teachers with specializations at every grade level.
Simone Biles – University of the People Global Ambassador
The most decorated American gymnast and Olympic champion, joined the University of the People as Global Ambassador, launching The Education Revolution.
The first UoPeople student transfers to UC Berkeley
Our first Uopeople associate degree graduate was accepted to transfer to complete her Bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley.
University of the People receives reaccreditation
UoPeople continues to show the high quality of its degree programs through its reaccreditation with the DEAC.
UoPeople Accepted Over 4,000 Students
Over 4,000 students from over 180 countries were accepted to University of the People
University of California Berkeley Partners with UoPeople
World’s First Tuition-Free, Accreditied Online MBA – March 2016
UoPeople launches world’s first tuition-free, accredited online MBA.
UoPeople Launches First Health Science Program – March 2016
UoPeople launches first Health Science program – with a major in Community and Public Health at the Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree levels.
President Shai Reshef Awarded Prince’s Prize – January 2016
President Shai Reshef awarded Prince’s Prize for Innovative Philanthropy by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
UoPeople Announced its Emergency Refugee Initiative
In response to the crisis in Syria, UoPeople commits to accepting at least 500 refugees (mainly from Syria) with scholarships to pursue associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
UoPeople President Shai Reshef Presents at TED
President Shai Reshef presented a TED Talk on the need for tuition-free higher education to open the gates for all qualified individuals.
UoPeople Receives Accreditation From the DEAC
UoPeople receives accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, a U.S. Department of Education authorized accrediting agency.
President Shai Reshef Awarded FastCompany’s Most Creative People Award
President Shai Reshef was featured in FastCompany’s Most Creative People.
President Shai Reshef Awarded an RSA Fellowship
President Shai Reshef was awarded to the British Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) fellowship.
Microsoft 4Africa Partners with UoPeople
Microsoft 4Africa announced a scholarship program to give 1,000 students from Africa scholarships to study at UoPeople.
UoPeople at the White House!
President Shai Reshef was invited to the White House on behalf of the University and innovative education model.
UoPeople Introduces Womens Scholarship Fund – Hewlett-Packard Pledges $200,000
HP was the first corporation to the fund, sponsoring Associate degrees for 100 women.
1,000,000 Support UoPeople on Facebook!
More than a million people have voiced their support of opening the gates to higher education by joining UoPeople on Facebook
Presidents of Oxford, NYU, GYU and More Unite Behind UoPeople as Members of a New Council
UoPeople Presidents Council has leadership from top universities around the world.
President Shai Reshef Nominated in Wired Magazine’s “50 People Changing the World”
President Shai Reshef has “revolutionized higher education” – Wired Magazine
NYU Collaborates With UoPeople to Accept Students to NYU Abu Dhabi
UoPeople students identified for admission to one of the most selective institutions worldwide.
HP Opens Research Internships to UoPeople Students
HP announced the launching a research internship program with University of the People to help prepare UoPeople students for the world economy.
Partnering for a Technology Center in Ramallah
The technology center will be building upon and enhancing the technology infrastructure of the University of the People.
Haiti Project Commences
In November, Shai Reshef traveled to Haiti to officially launch UoPeople’s CGI Commitment to provide 250 Haitians with the opportunity to access higher
HuffPost Game Changer
Shai Reshef attended the Washington Ideas Forum 2010, an annual event hosted by The Atlantic, the Aspen Institute and Newseum.
Clinton Global Initiative Grants Membership
Shai Reshef, on behalf of University of the People, became a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in August 2010.
University of the People Rings NASDAQ Closing Bell
In August 2010, the non-profit organization was invited by the for-profit world to ring the closing bell.
President Shai Reshef Inducted into International Ashoka Fellowship
In recognition of his revolutionary venture, Shai Reshef was elected an Ashoka Fellow in December 2009.
Classes Commence
At the UNDESA-GAID Global Forum Mexico, President Shai Reshef announced the inaugural UoPeople class of 177 students from 49 countries.
Fast Company Names Shai Reshef to Its List of the 100 Most Creative People in Business
Fast Company named President Shai Reshef as one of its 100 Most Creative People in Business.
United Nations Welcomes Shai Reshef and University of the People
The United Nations GAID named President Shai Reshef to its High-level Panel of Advisers.
University of the People Launches
Reshef announces pioneering initiative at the DLD Conference in Munich, Germany, in January 2009 in front of 300 innovators in education, Internet and design.