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Indira Gandhi National Open University
Indian public university

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), established in 1985 in Delhi, is a public open & distance learning university operated by the Government of India. As the world's largest university, IGNOU offers over 333 programs through 21 Schools of Studies, supported by 67 Regional Centres and 2,257 Learner Support Centres. It partners with organizations such as the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the NSDC to provide skill-based education. IGNOU also hosts the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning and offers 268 MOOCs via the SWAYAM portal, promoting accessible education nationwide.

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History

Dipanshu Sharma, the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare organized a seminar on 'Open University' in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the UGC, and the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO. After the seminar recommendation, an open university in India was established on an experimental basis. Starting in 1974, the Government of India appointed an eight-member working group on the open university, the leading role was given to G. Parthasarathi, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The working group recommended that an open university be established through an act of Parliament as soon as possible. They stressed the importance of the university having jurisdiction over the entire country, ensuring that once it is fully operational, students in even the most remote areas can access its educational resources and degrees (Working Group Report, 1974).

To support effective instructional and management processes for the open university, the working group proposed several key measures, including: a streamlined admission process, age relaxation policies, the development of comprehensive reading materials, the creation of core groups of scholars in various disciplines, the establishment of study centers, the implementation of curricular programs, and opportunities for live interaction with instructors. Following these recommendations, the Union Government prepared a draft bill for the establishment of a National Open University; however, progress on this initiative was delayed for various reasons.

In 1985, the Union Government made a policy statement for the establishment of a national open university. A Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education to chalk out the plan of action for the National Open University. On the basis of the report of the Committee, the Union Government introduced a bill in Parliament. In August 1985, both the Houses of Parliament passed the bill. Subsequently, the Indira Gandhi National Open University came into existence on 20 September 1985, named after the late prime minister.

In 1989, the first Convocation was held and more than 1,000 students graduated and were awarded their diplomas. IGNOU audio-video courses were the first broadcast by radio and television in 1990 and IGNOU awarded degrees received full recognition by the University Grants Commission in 1992 as being equivalent to those of other universities in the country.22

In 1999, IGNOU launched the first virtual campus in India,23 beginning with the delivery of Computer and Information Sciences courses via the Internet.

As of 2011 IGNOU has served over three million students in India and 40 other countries abroad.24 These are the UAE, the UK, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Ethiopia, Namibia, Kenya, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Fiji, France, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Liberia, West Indies, Samoa, Lesotho, Malawi, Switzerland, Nigeria, Mongolia, and Zambia.

Languages

The IGNOU offers education in undergraduate degree in different Modern Indian Language (MIL): Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Meitei (Manipuri), and Nepali.25

International Presence

Established in 1996, the International Division of IGNOU, originally the International Cell, focuses on promoting collaborations with international educational institutions and inter-governmental agencies to enhance global access to higher education. It operates on a four-fold approach of collaboration, cooperation, coordination, and competition, providing comprehensive support services to overseas and foreign students in India, including admission, examination, and degree awarding. The division also serves as the nodal center for online programs for international students and coordinates international delegations and visits to the University.

On an international scale, IGNOU has formed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and MoU with the Open University of Kenya and maintains a strong presence in 88 countries, including 19 African nations connected through e-Vidyabharti and e-Arogya Bharti (e-VBAB) project of Ministry of External Affairs, offering 51 programmes. Afghanistan was also included later. Additionally, the University has signed Memoranda of Collaboration (MoC) with Baikal State University of Russia, the Financial University of Moscow, and the Hellenic Open University (HOU) of Greece. Further, to promote its online programs internationally, it has introduced the Overseas Facilitator scheme and signed Memoranda of Agreement with 14 existing Overseas Study Centres in the first phase. Recently, MoAs were also signed with ICA Education Pvt. Ltd. in Nepal and the Centre for Open and Distance Education in Kenya. The university is also offering a Hindi Awareness Program in collaboration with the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), with registration from 42 countries in its latest third batch. Furthermore, IGNOU operates 14 online facilitation centres and offers 168 programs (including 44 online programmes) through 25 Overseas Study Centres across 15 foreign countries, with a cumulative international student enrollment of approximately 92,000.26

Schools

IGNOU has 21 schools of studies as listed below :-

  1. School of Agriculture (SOA)
  2. School of Humanities (SOH)
  3. School of Social Sciences (SOSS)
  4. School of Sciences (SOS)
  5. School of Education (SOE)
  6. School of Continuing Education (SOCE)
  7. School of Engineering and Technology (SOET)
  8. School of Management Studies (SOMS)
  9. School of Health Sciences (SOHS)
  10. School of Computer and Information Sciences (SOCIS)
  11. School of Law (SOL)
  12. School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS)
  13. School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS)
  14. School of Tourism and Hospitality Service Management (SOTHSM)
  15. School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS)
  16. School of Social Work (SOSW)
  17. School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET)
  18. School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS)
  19. School of Foreign Languages (SOFL)
  20. School of Translation Studies and Training (SOTST)
  21. School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA)

Accreditation and recognition

IGNOU has been granted the authority to confer degrees by Clause 5(1)(iii) of the IGNOU Act 1985. IGNOU is also recognised as a Central University by the University Grants Commission of India (UGC).27 The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises IGNOU conferred degrees as on par with the degrees conferred by its members2829 and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) recognises the Master of Computer Applications and Master of Business Administration program of IGNOU.30

In 1993, IGNOU was designated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) as its first Centre of Excellence for Distance Education empowered "to actively participate in Commonwealth co-operative endeavors to identify, nurture, and strengthen open learning institutions throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in the Third World ..".31

IGNOU also operates as an accreditor for open university and distance education systems in India through the Distance Education Council (DEC). Authority to do so is granted under Clause 16 and Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act 1985.32

IGNOU is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the highest grade of A++.33

Notable alumni

Main article: List of IGNOU alumni

See also

Notes

28°29′40″N 77°12′16″E / 28.4945°N 77.2045°E / 28.4945; 77.2045

References

  1. "Indira Gandhi National Open University, 1985" (PDF). Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120417134753/http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/IGNOUACT-1985.pdf ↩

  2. "IGNOU Official Website". IGNOU. Archived from the original on 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.ignou.ac.in/ ↩

  3. Nigam, Neeti (28 November 2024). "IGNOU Admissions (2023–24): Over 7.53 lakh students register; know why MA (Political Science) is the most popular programme". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025. https://indianexpress.com/article/education/ignou-admissions-over-7-53-lakh-students-register-dip-in-ug-increase-in-pg-courses-in-last-6-years-9642840/ ↩

  4. "IGNOU Admissions: Over 7.53 lakh students register; dip in UG, increase in PG courses in last 6 years". Legal Chariot. 25 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2025. https://www.legalchariot.com/2024/11/ignou-admissions-over-7-53-lakh-students-register-dip-in-ug-increase-in-pg-courses-in-last-6-years-25.html ↩

  5. IGNOU Website: Objectives Archived 23 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine (URL last accessed on 29 April 2007) http://www.ignou.ac.in/aboutus/objects.htm ↩

  6. "About IGNOU". Retrieved 29 July 2013. http://www.ignourcblr.in/aboutus.html ↩

  7. "About IGNOU". Retrieved 29 July 2013. http://www.ignourcblr.in/aboutus.html ↩

  8. "Success story". Frontline. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2020. https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/advertorial/article30176187.ece ↩

  9. "IGNOU – Announcements – Latest – New Education Policy: Survey on Open and Distance Learning and Online Courses". ignou.ac.in. Retrieved 11 October 2015. http://ignou.ac.in/ignou/bulletinboard/announcements/latest/detail/New_Education_Policy_Survey_on_Open_and_Distance_Learning_and_Online_Courses-1676 ↩

  10. "Retail through distance mode". The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Retail-through-distance-mode/articleshow/2295768.cms ↩

  11. "Accomplishments" (PDF), IGNOU Profile, New Delhi: Registrar, MPDD, IGNOU, p. 16, 2023, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428164806/http://ignou.ac.in//userfiles/Profile%202023.pdf ↩

  12. "Accomplishments" (PDF), IGNOU Profile, New Delhi: Registrar, MPDD, IGNOU, p. 16, 2023, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428164806/http://ignou.ac.in//userfiles/Profile%202023.pdf ↩

  13. "IGNOU Official Website". IGNOU. Archived from the original on 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.ignou.ac.in/ ↩

  14. "Accomplishments" (PDF), IGNOU Profile, New Delhi: Registrar, MPDD, IGNOU, p. 16, 2023, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428164806/http://ignou.ac.in//userfiles/Profile%202023.pdf ↩

  15. DEB ID is a unique identification number that must be created by any learner who wants to enroll in an Open and Distance Learning or Online Program. ↩

  16. "DEB ID Mandatory for IGNOU Students – UGC Guidelines". ignou student corner. Archived from the original on 11 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.ignoustudentcorner.com/users/display_article/366 ↩

  17. "Announcements". The Internet Archive. 25 January 2025. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250125111754/https://www.ignou.ac.in/announcements/0?nav=6 ↩

  18. "Announcements". The Internet Archive. 25 January 2025. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250125111754/https://www.ignou.ac.in/announcements/0?nav=6 ↩

  19. "DIPP : DIPLOMA IN PARALEGAL PRACTICE". IGNOU SAMARTH. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2025. https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/programme-detail?id=22f0ac51d9df02d349c40daad905fd92b550e1326101629258ae52c287bc13211081 ↩

  20. "IGNOU confers over 3 Lakh Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates at its 38th Convocation". IGNOU. 12 March 2025. Archived from the original on 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025. https://www.ignou.ac.in/announcements/0?nav=6 ↩

  21. "IGNOU Holds 38th Convocation, Over 3 Lakh Students Receive Degrees, Diplomas". Times Now. 5 March 2025. Archived from the original on 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025. https://www.timesnownews.com/education/ignou-holds-38th-convocation-over-3-lakh-students-receive-degrees-diplomas-government-article-118737600 ↩

  22. IGNOU Website: Milestones Archived 23 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine (URL last accessed on 29 April 2007) http://www.ignou.ac.in/aboutus/milestones.htm ↩

  23. Newsbytes: IGNOU Launches First Virtual University in India, 6 July 1999 (URL last accessed on 29 April 2007) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HDN/is_1999_July_6/ai_55097055 ↩

  24. "Profile of IGNOU – Preamble". Ignou.ac.in. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216183845/http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/profile/2 ↩

  25. ANI (16 February 2023). "Kashmiri language introduced by IGNOU at under graduate level". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 March 2023. In addition to these disciplines, the School has an elective basket of Modern Indian Languages on offer to undergraduates: Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Manipuri and, Nepali. https://theprint.in/india/kashmiri-language-introduced-by-ignou-at-under-graduate-level/1375099/ ↩

  26. "IGNOU". IGNOU. Archived from the original on 11 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.ignou.ac.in/pages/180 ↩

  27. UGC Website: Universities Directory – Indira Gandhi National Open University (URL last accessed on 29 April 2007) http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/univmore.php?id=102 ↩

  28. UGC: UGC Circular No. F1-52/2000 (CPP-II), 5 May 2004 ↩

  29. AIU: AIU Circular No. EV/B(449)/94/176915-177115,14 January 1994 ↩

  30. AICTE: AICTE/Academic/MOU-DEC/2005, 13 May 2005 Archived 27 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine http://www.ignou.ac.in/aicte.htm ↩

  31. COL Website: IGNOU named "Centre of Excellence" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, COMLEARN, October 1993 (URL last accessed on 29 April 2007) http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/1835 ↩

  32. DEC Website: Statutory Authority Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine http://www.dec.ac.in/stat_auth.htm ↩

  33. "Accreditation Results" (PDF). www.naac.gov.in. http://www.naac.gov.in/images/docs/AccreditationResults/54SC/54-SC--Cycle-1.pdf ↩