FernUniversität is an integral part of the higher education system in Germany, being a public university of the state of North-Rhine Westphalia. As the first and only distance teaching university in the German-speaking region FernUniversität in Hagen offers degree programmes (Bachelor, Master) at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as research-oriented academic further education, and allows for achieving a Ph.D. (Dr.). Since its foundation in 1974 the FernUniversität in Hagen / University of Hagen has developed into one of the biggest universities in Germany with currently around 43,000 students - mainly from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, but also from more than 100 countries around the world. Currently, about 1,700 courses (lectures, seminars) are offered in the fields of Computer Science, Business Administration and Economics, Cultural and Social Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Law, and Mathematics. The distance teaching offers of FernUniversität are based on the use of both traditional and new media continuously extending the use of the modern information and communication technologies and methods. FernUniversität has created its own "Education and Knowledge Space: Virtual University (LVU)" and is participating in several initiatives and projects for enhancing the use of new media and eLearning on regional, national and international level. Fundamental and Applied Research and Teaching activities at FernUniversität are executed under the responsibility of about 100 full, associate and junior professors, together with some nearly 400 lecturers and academic staff, supported by mentors/ tutors, and administrational and technical staff. Funding of FernUniversität is coming from the state, from tuition and material fees, and from third parties.