IGNOU is India's largest open university, established in 1985 to provide accessible higher education to all segments of society through open and distance learning. It has over 3 million students across India and 40 other countries. IGNOU offers 226 academic programs through its network of 67 regional centers, 2667 study centers, and 29 overseas centers. The university aims to widen access to education and provide professional development opportunities through various media and technologies.

1. IGNOU
Indira Gandhi National Open University

3. Introduction
 IGNOU is a distance learning national university located in New Delhi
named after former prime minister of country INDIRA GANDHI.
 It was established under the act of IGNOU 1985 with the budget of 20
million.

4. expansion
 As of 2011 IGNOU served over 3 million students in India. The
headquarters, and 40 other countries in Abroad.
 It has 21 schools and a network of 67 regional centers, 2667 study
centers, ands 29 overseas centers.
 Approx. 20% students enrolled in higher education in India are
enrolled with IGNOU. IGNOU offers 226 academic programs
comprising courses at certificates, diploma and degree levels.

5. Mandate to University
 The mandate of the University is to:
 Provide access to higher education to all segments of the society;
 Offer high-quality, innovative and need-based programmes at different levels, to all those
who require them;
 Reach out to the disadvantaged by offering programmes in all parts of the country at
affordable costs; and
 Promote, coordinate and regulate the standards of education offered through open and
distance learning in the country.
 To achieve the twin objectives of widening access for all sections of society and providing
continual professional development and training to all sectors of the economy, the University
uses a variety of media and latest technology in imparting education. This is reflected in the
formulated vision of IGNOU, keeping its objectives in focus, which reads:


6. Features
 It is largest university in the world with over 4 million students
founded to impart education by means of Distance & Open education
 It provides higher educational opportunities to the disadvantaged
segments of the society, encourage, coordinate and set standards for
distance and open education in India to strength the human resource
through education.
 It is decentralized in five zones viz north, south, east, west, and north
east.

7. Characteristics
 The first of the regional headquarters, catering to four southern states,
Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, is being set up
in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram in kerala.
 Ministry of HRD is responsible for draft policy on Open and distance
learning and online courses to IGNOU

8. Division
Academics & coordination division
Administrative Division
Construction and maintenance
Computer division
International division
Finance and accounts division
Library and documentation division
Material production and distribution
Regional services division
Students evaluation division
Students evaluation division

9. Research Unit
Research Unit has been established at IGNOU under notification dated 6th October
2008. prior to that research related activities were looked after by the academic
coordination division. The objectives of RU’s establishment were:
 To conduct Research council and Research Council’s Standing Committee meetings
foe developing policies and frameworks for conduct of research activities.
 To register and monitor all full-time and part time MPhill and PhD candidates.
 To engage Research Teaching Assistants under IGNOU- DEC RTA scheme for
conduct of research & training.
 To conduct workshops/seminars on research methodology for full-time and part
time research candidates
 To facilitates systematic/ discipline based research in the university.

10. Accreditation & recognition
 IGNOU is granted the authority to confer degrees by clause 5(1)(iii) of IGNOU
act 1985
 It is recognized as a central university by the UGC.
 The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognizes IGNOU conferred
degrees as on par with the degrees conferred by its members.
 AICTE recognizes the MCA & MBA program of IGNOU.
 In 1993, IGNOU was designated by the Commonwealth of Learning as its first
Centre of Excellence for Distance Education.
 It operates as an accreditor for open university and distance education
systems in India through the Distance Education Council. Authority to do so is
granted under Clause 16 and statute 28 of the IGNOU act 1985.