The Brazilian Association of Distance Education (ABED) is a non-profit scientific association created on June 21st, 1995, by a group of educators interested in distance education and new learning technologies.

ABED's main objectives are:

To stimulate the practice and development of distance education projects of all formats;

To encourage the practice of high quality services for students, teachers, institutions and companies who use distance education;

To support the "knowledge industry" in Brazil via the reduction of inequalities caused by isolation or distance from the large urban centers;

To promote the use of "different media" in the application of distance education;

To foster a spirit of transparency, creativity, innovation, credibility and experimentation in the practice of distance education.

In its main scope ABED includes institutions, companies, universities and individuals interested in discussing and deepening knowledge about distance education.

Toward this end, ABED organizes congresses, seminars, scientific meetings and courses directed toward the systematization and diffusion of knowledge in EAD.

ABED is member of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC) and is also affiliated with international institutions, including the International Council of Open and Distance Education (ICDE). In the year 2000 in São Paulo, ABED organized an international meeting for leaders of organizations that use distance education. This meeting was carried out along with ABED's VII International Congress and ICDE's Latin American Congress.

ABED's Internet site hosts the "Brazilian Review of Open and Distance Learning" in three languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish). Dedicated to EAD researchers, the journal contains relevant articles and papers; a calendar of events; news clippings from key periodicals; links related the EAD, and information on distance education programs. The site is constantly updated, having as its constant focus the interests of associates and individuals who intend to become involved in this particular knowledge area (see www.abed.org.br).