The main headquarters of the UDO and the office of the Rector (Director) is located in the city of Cumaná and was created as a national (federal), public and autonomous study house, from which thousands of professionals in various careers have graduated.

25,831 by the Governing Board chaired by Dr. Edgar Sanabria, as Minister of Education on Dr. Rafael Pizani, under the leadership of its founder Rector Dr. Luis Manuel Peñalver.

It became operational on 12 February 1959, which marked the birth of the University of the East and a year later, 113 students and a dozen teachers, in an old mansion of Cumana Caiguire sector, leading the way of fruitful academic activity in this house college.

On 29 March 1960, the republic's president, Rómulo Betancourt, officially opening the Universidad de Oriente, an act on the former site of the School "Pedro Arnal" in the capital sucrense.

The Oceanographic Institute of Venezuela was created as a branch of the University of East by means of the Executive Order 459 of President Edgar Sanabria signed on November 21, 1958.

The institute began its work in 1959 at the Marine Biology Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture in Caigüire, Sucre, and moved to its definitive headquarters at the University main campus in the city of Cumaná, in 1963.

In its conception, the Universidad de Oriente is defined as a higher education system at the service of the region with objectives common to other Venezuelan and world universities.

The Oceanographic Institute of Venezuela (IOV), founded in 1963, has received international recognition that guarantees its level, for being a world reference in the study of marine sciences.

At the Universidad de Oriente you can take courses or carry out academic research and development in the areas of: Aquaculture, Administration, Agronomy, Architecture, Bioanalysis, Biology, Marine Biology, Fisheries Biology, Spanish and Literature, Civil Engineering, Computing, Accounting, Education, Electricity, Nursing, Statistics, Physics, Management, Geology, Hospitality, IT, English, Mathematics, Maintenance, Mechanics, Medicine, Mines, Animal Production, Petroleum, Chemistry, Human Resources, Computer Systems, Industrial Systems, Sociology, STEM, Food Technology, Electronic Technology, Mechanical Manufacturing Technology, Social Work, Tourism.