Open University In India: All You Need To Know

Currently regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC), an open university in India can be found in many forms. It is divided into a network of national and state institutions along with online learning portals. With the soaring need of individuals to acquire skill-based quality education, open and distance learning offers them a competent alternative of regular education. With flexible admission criteria, candidates hailing from wide-ranging backgrounds can now take advantage of industry-recognized education. Further, this model of education has also helped those living in remote areas of the country where traditional educational institutions have been unable to reach. In this blog, we will shed light on various aspects related to the this mode of education in India. 

Open University in India: Categories of Institutions

As mentioned, the current structure of the system of open university in India is categorized into central, for instance, Indira Gandhi National Open University and state open universities, for instance, Nalanda Open University. Apart from this, there are also private institutes such as Symbiosis International University following the same route. The education imparted ranges from basic primary and secondary level education to senior secondary, tertiary education and even life enrichment training. Relaxations in age and previous studies are a major feature of a considerable number of course offerings at such universities in India. 

Open University in India: List of Institutes

The universities in India offering programs through online or distance education are steadily gaining popularity and are being counted amongst the top open universities around the world. From skill-based courses in the disciplines of computer software and languages to major degree courses such as a distance learning MBA, these institutes cater to the educational needs of a range of individuals. The following lists collate the open university in India which are counted amongst top 15:

S.No.	Name of the Open University in India	Location
1.	Indira Gandhi National Open University	Delhi
2.	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University	Hyderabad
3.	Tamil Nadu Open University	Chennai
4.	Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education	Sikkim
5.	Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning	Pune
6.	Delhi University School of Open Learning	Delhi
7.	National Institute of Open Learning	HQ-Noida
8.	Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad	Hyderabad
9.	University of Mumbai Institute of Distance & Open Learning	Mumbai
10.	Netaji Subhas Open University	Kolkata
11.	Karnataka State Open University	Mysore
12.	Uttarakhand Open University	Nainital
13.	Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University	Kota
14.	Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University	Bhopal
15	Pt. Sunderlal Sharma Open University	Chattisgarh

Note: The course offerings of the above universities may vary depending on the nature of the institution. Students are advised to go through the list of programs offered by a specific university before applying. Refer to MHRD website for more information on more names of open university in India as well as other relevant information.

Commonwealth of Open Learning (COL)

To encourage and initiate growth and development in the methods of open and distance learning education, the Government of India along with other countries has taken a series of steps over the years. Amongst these, the Commonwealth of Open Learning (COL) is one such example. It is an international association of Commonwealth countries founded to create and exchange educational resources for better delivery of open and distance education. Furthermore, in an effort to bring quality education to one location and make it accessible, the Indian govt started Sakshat in 2006, an online consortium of freely accessible resources such as MOOCs and ePathshala, amongst others. Close to 50 crore people have benefited from the portal since its inception. The recently launched Swayam Prabha portal, which broadcasts higher and school-level educational programs 24*7 has also opened a platform for students to learn online and is thus playing the role of an open university in India.

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Global Open & Distance Education

The concept of an open university in India witnessed growth due to multiple factors. One of which is the global awareness regarding education has been growing and many leading institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, etc across the globe all have started offering distance learning and online programs. Further, portals like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy have no less than revolutionized the outlook toward education. All of the above factors have contributed to making education an open-for-all and lifelong journey rather than a mere formality.

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If you are an individual looking to enroll at any regular or open university in India or wish to study abroad at leading global institutions, take the assistance of experienced counselors through a 30-minute free session at Leverage Edu. The experts will guide and will help you take an informed step towards building a rewarding career in the field of your choice.