Open and Distance Learning

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system is a system wherein teachers and learners need not necessarily be present either at same place or same time and is flexible in regard to modalities and timing of teaching and learning as also the admission criteria without compromising necessary quality considerations. ODL system of the country consists of State Open Universities (SOUs), Institutions and Universities offering education and includes Correspondence Course Institutes (CCIs) in conventional dual mode universities. This is becoming more and more significant for continuing education, skill updation of in service personnel and for quality education of relevance to learners located at educationally disadvantageous locations.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was established in 1985 by an Act of Parliament with the dual responsibilities of (i) enhancing access and equity to higher education through distance mode and (ii) promoting, coordinating and determining standards in open learning and distance education systems. Since then, the IGNOU has undergone rapid expansion and emerged as an international institution in the field of Open and Distance Learning.

For detailed information on the programmes, enrolment etc. visit www.ignou.ac.in

IGNOU has international character and offers its programmes in other countries, which include United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, Doha, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives Nepal, Kenya, Fiji, Caribbean Islands, Samoa, Malaysia, Krgystan, Singapore and Ghana, among others. The University also offers its Distance Education Programmes in collaboration with UNESCO and International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, in Ethopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Ghana, whereas, education programme in Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Seychelles, Jamaica, Malawi and Belize are being offered through an agreement signed with Commonwealth of Learning (COL).

The University plays an active role in SAARC consortium for Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) and Global Mega Universities Network (GMUNET).

State Open Universities

 There are at present 13 State Open Universities in India, which are single mode institutions, which means they provide education only in the distance mode. These universities cater to people who are unable to pursue regular courses due to various reasons. The list of 13 SOUs is as follows:

DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY (BRAOU), HYDERABAD, A.P. - (1982)
Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg Road No.46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad - 500033
Tel: 91-40-23544910, Fax: 91-40-23544830. http://www.braou.ac.in

VARDHMAN MAHAVEER OPEN UNIVERSITY (VMOU), KOTA, RAJASTHAN - (1987)
Rawatbhata Road, Akhelgarh, Kota-324010, Rajasthan
Tel: 91-744-2471254. Fax: 91-744-2470451. http://www.vmou.ac.in/

NALANDA OPEN UNIVERSITY (NOU). PATNA, BIHAR - (1987)
IIIrd Floor, Biscomaun Bhawan, West Gandhi Maidan, Patna - 800001, Bihar
Tel: 91-612-2201013. Fax: 0612 2201001. nalopuni@bih.nic.in

YASHWANTRAO CHAVAN MAHARASHTRA OPEN UNIVERSITY (YCMOU), NASHIK, MAHARASHTRA - (1989)
Dnyanagangotri, Near Gangapur Dam, Nashik-422222, Maharashtra
Tel: 91-253-2231714, 2231715 . Fax: 91-253-2231716. openuniv@vsnl.com

MADHYA PRADESH BHOJ OPEN UNIVERSITY (MPBOU), BHOPAL, M.P. - (1991)
I.T.I (Gas Rahat), Building Govindpura, Bhopal – 462 023
Tel: 0755 2784102, 5272017. Fax: 91-755- 2600704. vc@rbuphop.mp.nic.in

DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY (BAOU), AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT - (1994)
Govt. Bungalow No.9, Dafnala, Shahi Baug, Ahmedabad-380003, Gujarat
Tel: 91-79-22869690/91. Fax: 91-79-22869691. baou@sancharnet.in

KARNATAKA STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY (KSOU), MYSORE, KARNATAKA – (1996)
Manasagangotri, Mysore - 570006, Karnataka
Tel: 91-821-2515149. Fax: 91-821-2500846. vcksou@eth.net

NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY (NSOU), KOLKATA, W.B. - (1997)
1, Woodburn Park, Kolkata -700020, West Bengal
Tel: 91-33-22835157. Fax: 91-33-22835052. nsou@cal2.vsnl.net.in

U.P. RAJARSHI TANDON OPEN UNIVERSITY (UPRTOU), ALLAHABAD, U.P. - (1998)
17, Maharshi Dayanand Marg (Thornhill Road), Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Tel: 91-532-2621840, 2623250. Fax: 91-532-2624368. uprtou_alld@hclinfinet.com

TAMIL NADU OPEN UNIVERSITY (TNOU), CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU - (2002)
Directorate of Technical Education Campus, Guindy, Chennai-600 025
Phone: 044-22351414. Fax: 044 2220 0601. http://www.tnou.ac.in/

PT. SUNDERLAL SHARMA OPEN UNIVERSITY (PSSOU), BILASPUR, CHHATTISGARH - (2005)
Near Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Park, Vayapar Vihar, Bilaspur (Chattisgarh) -495001
Phone No: 07752 – 514255. Telefax : (0771) 2221259. http://www.pssou.ac.in/

UTTARANCHAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, HALDWANI, (NAINITAlL), UTTARANCHAL
Near Sourabh Mount View, Bhotia Traow, Haldwani-263141, Nainital
Tel: +91 5946 263014, +91 5946 261123. Fax: +91 5946 264232. http://uou.ac.in/

KRISHNA KANTA HANDIQUE STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY, GUWAHATI, ASSAM
Housefed Complex, Last Gate, Dispur, Guwahati – 781006, Assam
Ph. No: (0361) 2235971, 2235642. Fax: (0361) 2235398. http://www.kkhsou.org/

DISTANCE EDUCATION COUNCIL (DEC)

Distance Education Council (DEC) is one of the authorities of the IGNOU, which was established to fulfill the second objective of the premier institution, which is to promote the Open and Distance Learning Systems and coordination of standard of such systems in the country.

The DEC provides technical and financial support to the Open and Distance Education Institutes in the country.

The technical help includes development of technological infrastructure, institutional reform, professional development and training, student support services, computerization and networking of improvement of quality of education.

The DEC’s financial help includes financial assistance to State Open Universities (SOUs) and other institutions of open and distance learning like CCIs, research grant on topics of contemporary relevance, travel grants to individuals to attend international conferences and funds for organizing seminar to institutions.

For a detailed information on DEC, visit www.dec.ac.in.

COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) was established through a Memorandum of Understanding between Governments of Commonwealth countries in the year 1988. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations to improve access to quality education and training.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, COL is the world's only intergovernmental organisation dedicated solely to promoting and delivering distance education and open learning, and is the only official Commonwealth agency located outside Britain.

COL is voluntarily funded by the Commonwealth countries and India is third major donor after United Kingdom and Canada. India is represented on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of COL through Secretary, in-Charge of Higher Education.

COL has focused its attention on activities in the instructional materials, telecommunication technology and training and information service. COL has located its Educational Media Center for Asia (CEMCA) in India and Joint Secretary in charge of Distance Learning is a member on Advisory Council of CEMCA.

For more information on COL, visit www.col.org

  

SAKSHAT: A One Stop Education Portal

The pilot project SAKSHAT: A One Stop Education Portal launched on October 30, 2006 by His Excellency, the then President of India to facilitate lifelong learning for students, teachers and those in employment or in pursuit of knowledge free of cost to them. The content development task for ‘SAKSHAT’ was looked after by the Content Advisory Committee (CAC) for the respective subject, which consisted of representatives from educational institutions like IGNOU, Delhi University, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan (KVS), Navodyaya Vidyalaya Sangthan (NVS), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prominent academicians in the field. In addition, some NGOs had also provided the contents developed by them free of cost for this portal.

The vision is to scale up this pilot project ‘SAKSHAT’ to cater to the learning needs of more than 50 crore people through a proposed scheme of ‘National Mission in Education through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The scheme is to provide connectivity to all institutions of higher learning to world of knowledge in the cyber space, to leverage the potential of ICT, in providing high quality knowledge modules with right e-contents, to address to the personalized needs of learners, in order to take care of their aspirations. These modules are to be delivered through ‘SAKSHAT’. The scheme may also have a provision of certification of competencies of the human resources acquired through formal or non-formal means as also to develop and maintain the database of profile of human resources.

For more information on Sakshat, please visit www.sakshat.ac.in

  

RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND DEGREES

The Distance Learning Division in the Ministry of Human Resource Development receives a number of queries from the general public seeking clarifications in respect of recognition of academic qualifications acquired through distance mode and their acceptance for the purpose of employment in Central/State Government service. The position in this regard is clarified as under:

a.             It is up to the concerned academic institution/university to recognize the qualification including certificate diploma, degree, etc. for the purpose of academic pursuit, i.e. continuing education for acquiring another academic qualification, with it. As regards recognition of academic qualifications for the purpose of employment, it is the prerogative of the concerned employer to take a view on the recognition of the degree, diploma, etc.

b.            Central Government, as an Employer, had made its position clear in respect of academic qualifications; acquired through distance mode of education, for the purpose of employment under it, vide Gazette Notification No.44 dated March 1, 1995.

It is clarified that the recognition of the qualification by Distance Education Council or All India Council for Teacher Education (AICTE) means the recognition of specific programme or degree and not merely the recognition or approval of the institution/university-offering programme through distance mode.

The Gazette Notification referred to above is equally applicable to the qualifications acquired from private as well as public institutions/universities.