南(nan)通(tong)開放大學(xue)是(shi)一所面向(xiang)全(quan)體社(she)(she)會成員，舉辦中(zhong)高(gao)等(deng)(deng)職(zhi)(zhi)業教育、遠程(cheng)(cheng)開放教育，社(she)(she)區(qu)教育和(he)社(she)(she)會培訓，服務全(quan)民終身學(xue)習(xi)的新(xin)型高(gao)等(deng)(deng)學(xue)校(xiao)，隸屬南(nan)通(tong)市(shi)人民政府。學(xue)校(xiao)現(xian)有教職(zhi)(zhi)工300余名，其中(zhong)中(zhong)高(gao)級職(zhi)(zhi)稱近200人，碩士以上學(xue)位占65%。學(xue)校(xiao)設有建筑(zhu)工程(cheng)(cheng)學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)、機電工程(cheng)(cheng)學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)、經濟(ji)管理學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)、藝(yi)術(shu)傳媒學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)、馬克思主(zhu)義學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)、中(zhong)等(deng)(deng)教育部等(deng)(deng)六個二級學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan)以及社(she)(she)會教育處(chu)和(he)培訓中(zhong)心。設有本科、大專、中(zhong)專三個層次，涵蓋職(zhi)(zhi)業教育、開放教育、社(she)(she)區(qu)教育三個類別，各(ge)類在校(xiao)生一萬多人。

學(xue)(xue)(xue)校從(cong)1986年(nian)開始舉辦(ban)普(pu)通專科班；1999年(nian)參(can)與教(jiao)育(yu)部“中央(yang)電(dian)大(da)人才培養(yang)模式改(gai)革和開放(fang)教(jiao)育(yu)試點(dian)項目(mu)”工作；2002年(nian)起，與東南大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)、中國人民大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)等10余所普(pu)通高校開展遠(yuan)程(cheng)教(jiao)育(yu)合(he)作；2006年(nian)6月，增掛(gua)江蘇城市職(zhi)業學(xue)(xue)(xue)院南通辦(ban)學(xue)(xue)(xue)點(dian)；2011年(nian)6月，掛(gua)牌南通社區大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)；2014年(nian)12月，更名南通開放(fang)大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)；2015年(nian)12月，與南通建筑(zhu)職(zhi)業技術學(xue)(xue)(xue)校合(he)并辦(ban)學(xue)(xue)(xue)。形成了以學(xue)(xue)(xue)歷教(jiao)育(yu)為主體，以社區教(jiao)育(yu)、社會培訓為兩翼的辦(ban)學(xue)(xue)(xue)格(ge)局，為地方經濟(ji)社會發(fa)展培養(yang)了十多(duo)萬(wan)技術技能型人才。

學校先(xian)(xian)(xian)后榮獲“全國(guo)示(shi)范(fan)性(xing)基層電(dian)大”、“全國(guo)五(wu)四紅旗團委”、“江蘇(su)(su)(su)省文(wen)明單(dan)位(wei)”、江蘇(su)(su)(su)省教(jiao)(jiao)育工(gong)(gong)委“思(si)想政治(zhi)工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)先(xian)(xian)(xian)進集體(ti)”、“江蘇(su)(su)(su)省公(gong)共機構節(jie)能示(shi)范(fan)單(dan)位(wei)”、江蘇(su)(su)(su)省成(cheng)人教(jiao)(jiao)育“改革發展40周年40佳社(she)教(jiao)(jiao)單(dan)位(wei)”、“江蘇(su)(su)(su)省社(she)會教(jiao)(jiao)育百強單(dan)位(wei)”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市文(wen)明單(dan)位(wei)”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市黨(dang)建(jian)工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)示(shi)范(fan)點”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市首批學習型黨(dang)組織(zhi)建(jian)設工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)示(shi)范(fan)點”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市宣(xuan)傳思(si)想工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)先(xian)(xian)(xian)進集體(ti)”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市先(xian)(xian)(xian)進基層黨(dang)組織(zhi)”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市全國(guo)文(wen)明城市建(jian)設工(gong)(gong)作(zuo)先(xian)(xian)(xian)進單(dan)位(wei)”、“社(she)會管理綜合治(zhi)理和長安建(jian)設先(xian)(xian)(xian)進集體(ti)”、“南(nan)(nan)(nan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)市職(zhi)業(ye)教(jiao)(jiao)育服務地方(fang)經濟(ji)貢獻獎”等多項(xiang)榮譽。