1 OpeŶ UŶiǀersitLJ tutors’ aŶd adult learŶers’ edžperieŶces aŶd perceptioŶs of educational practices used at the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) and the Hellenic Open University (HOU): A case study approach Dr. Maria N. Gravani, Open University of Cyprus, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, maria.gravani@ouc.ac.cy Dr Yiasemina Karagiorgi, Cyprus Pedagogical Institute Ministry of Education and Culture Nicosia, yiasemin@logosnet.cy.net Abstract The paper aims to explore the educational practices employed in the context of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) and the Hellenic Open University (HOU), through the experiences and perceptions of university tutors and adult learners. The paper reviews the literature on open and distance education and learning with regards to the interrelated terms distance, open, e-learning and blended learning and discusses the educational practices used in the context of open and flexible education in the global era. A case study approach - employing qualitative data collection through semi- structured interviews - is adopted to explore educational practices in the two universities: the OUC and the HOU. In more specific, the study illustrates the experiences of 16 adult learners and 8 tutors, participating in four thematic units in each of the two programmes offered by both universities: Greek Civilization (undergraduate) and Education Studies (graduate). The paper proceeds to a discussion of the face-to-face meetings used in the two open universities contexts. The findings indicate that the educational practices exercised in the two programmes reflect a blended approach. IŶ this regard, issues of fledžiďilitLJ aŶd adult learŶers iŶǀolǀement in the design of educational practices are further discussed. Keywords Open University, Educational Practices, Blended Learning, Adult Learners, University Tutors Introduction This paper presents part of a research study undertaken to investigate adult tutors aŶd learŶers experiences with distance learning courses in the context of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) and the Hellenic Open University (HOU).