The revolution in information technology has changed the way distance education is perceived both in India and abroad. Distance education in India is managed by 40 correspondence directorates and two clearly defined types of universities open-mode and dual mode. The Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi is a national university and the others are state universities that function in collaboration with laws and regulations formed by IGNOU.
Advantages of correspondence studies in India
Traditionally considered as inferior to regular college education, distance education in India has changed over the years to a mode of learning that facilitates higher studies and specialization for professionals who work and at the same time wish to continue with further studies.
Flexibility
This perhaps is the greatest advantage of online study courses. There are no time restrictions on the student. Candidates are spared the trouble of traveling to college campuses daily and attending regular classes. The same level of instruction and quality is now being disseminated through online media, audio visual techniques, virtual classes etc.
Financially viable
Most of the distance learning programs are nominally priced courses. Besides most of the course material is available online through computer based trainings, and other technology facilitated interactive material.
24 *7 Support
Distance education in India has changed a lot as institutions are adopting Internet and application technology to provide support to students. They can access study material through the net and can join virtual forums for clarification of doubts and interaction with subject experts.
Greater Outreach
This mode of education has turned into a boon for students who live in areas that still lack educational infrastructure and lack of good teachers. Students today can easily decide on when and where to take an online class. Studies are no more dependent on the presence of a teacher, instructor and classroom.
List of Distance Learning Universities in India
| Names of the University | Contact Details |
|---|---|
| Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education | DDE Building,Chidambaram,
Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu – 608002 India. Fax: +91-4144-238987 Tel: +91-4144-237160, 238610 Website: annamalaiuniversity.ac.in/distance_edu.htm |
| Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya Institute of Open & Distance Education | Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh,
India. Website: bubhopal.nic.in/iode.htm |
| Acharya Nagarjuna University Center for Distance Education | Nagarjunanagar,Guntur,
Andhra Pradesh, India. Website: anucde.info |
| Delhi University School of Open Learning (DUSOL) | South Study Center, South Moti Bagh,Old Moti Lal Nehru College Building,
Delhi, India. Fax: +91-11-2410 4027 Tel: +91-11-2688 2897 Website: https://sol.du.ac.in/ |
| Kurukshetra University Directorate of Correspondence Courses | Kurukshetra University Campus,Kurukshetra,
Haryana, India. Website: kukinfo.com Fax: +91-1744-238628 Tel: +91-1744-238518 |
| Tamil Nadu Open University | DOTE Campus,Guindy,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Fax: +91-44-22200601 Tel: +91-44-2235 2898, 2235 3522, 2220 0506 Website: tnou.ac.in |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | Maidan Garhi,Delhi- 110 068
India. Fax: +91-11-2953 2312 Tel: +91-11-2953 5924-32 Website: ignou.ac.in |
| Anna University Chennai Centre for Distance Education | Tamil Nadu, India.Email: distanceprog@annauniv.edu/ dirdistance@yahoo.co.in/ enquiry@distanceannauniv.org
Website: http://www.annauniv.edu/ Tel: +91-44- 64502506, 22203112 |
| Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University | 17 Maharshi Dayanand Marg (Thornihill Road),Allahabad,
Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: sanyal@nde.vsnl.net.in Website: uprtou.org.in Tel: +91-532-2623250, 242270 |
| Nalanda Open University | 2nd/3rd Floor, Biscomaun Bhawan,Gandhi Maidan,
Patna, Bihar, India. Fax: +91-612-2201001 Website: nalandaopenuniversity.com Tel: +91-612-2201013 Email: nalopuni@sancharnet.in |
| Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University | Rawat Bhata Road,Akhelgarh,
Kota, Rajasthan, India. Fax: +91-744-426159 Tel: +91-744-426971 /421254 Email: root@kou.raj.nic.in Website : vmou.ac.in |
| Madurai Kamraj University Directorate of Distance Education | Palkalai Nagar,Madurai,
Tamil Nadu, India. Fax: +91-452-2458265 Tel: +91-452-2458471 Email: mkudde@mkudde.org Website: mkudde.org / mkuniversity.org |
| Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University | Red Cross Bhavan,Shivaji Nagar,
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Fax: +91-755-340553 Tel: +91-755-4972017, 2784102, 4972018 Website: bhojvirtualuniversity.com |
| Netaji Subhas Open University | 1, Woodburn ParkKolkata,
West Bengal, India. Email: nsou@cal2.vsnl.net.in Fax: +91-33-2283-5082 Tel: +91-33-2283-5157 Website: wbnsou.com |
| Maharashi Dayanand University Directorate of Distance Education | Rohtak,Haryana,
India. Fax: +91-1262-431132 Tel: +91-1262-43133/432327 Website: mduonline.org |
| Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University | R.C. Technical Campus,Opposite Gujarat High Court,
Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Website: baou.org Fax: +91-79-27663751 Tel: +91-79-27663747 |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University | Near Gangapur Dam,Nashik,
Maharashtra, India. Fax: +91-253-2231716 Tel: +91-253-2231714 /2230459 / 2230470/ 2231715 /2230228 Email: registrar@ycmou.com/ openuniv@bom6.net.in Website: ycmou.com |
| Andhra University School of Distance Education | Waltair,Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh, India. Website: andhrauniversity.info/sde/index.html Tel: +91-891-2552158/2554966 |
| Karnataka State Open University | Manasagangotri,Mysore,
Karnataka, India. Website: ksoumysore.edu.in Fax: +91-821-2500847, 2500846 Tel: +91-821-251 9941 / 251 9948 Email: bkd30165@yahoo.co.in/ vcksou@etc.net |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Directorate of Open and Distance Education | Kashmere Gate,Delhi,
India. Website: dde-ipu.com Fax: +91-11-23900111, 2385941 Tel: +91-11-23900168, 23900100, 23900167, 23900166 |
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