Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India: Mindler Blogs
If there is one thing the 21st century has offered us, it is the power to choose widely and diversely.
Want to read? Choose to read from a physical book or an ebook
Eyeing to own a One Plus? Walk into your nearest One Plus Experience store or order from an e-commerce store online from the comfort of your couch!
Hungry? Cook your favorite dish or place an order from Zomato or Swiggy.
The field of education is not left behind in this regard. Today, there are multiple modes of instruction to choose from in order to get your degree! One can choose to opt for a traditional mode of study or distance education or the recent online learning mode. Although distance education in India was initiated in the form of correspondence courses since 1962, it has gained prominence in the last decade. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated it even further.
Over the years, distance education has grown to become one of the most popular ways for students to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. This includes a diverse audience of learners from working individuals wishing to advance their careers, stay-at-home mothers, and young students who do not wish to pursue a traditional education.
Here are the Pros and Cons of Distance Education:
Pros
Allows to study at your own pace
Flexibility to learn from anywhere at anytime
Saves time
Saves cost
Cons
Limited interaction with faculty and peers
Lose out on networking opportunities
Inadequate opportunities for holistic development and development of communication skills
Limited practical exposure
Difference Between Distance and Online Learning
As per the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 –
“Online Mode” refers to a method of providing flexible learning opportunities by bridging the gap between teacher and learner through the use of the internet, e-Learning Materials, and full-fledged programme delivery via the internet and technology-assisted mechanisms and resources.
“Open and Distance Learning Mode” refers to a method of delivering teaching-learning experiences, such as practical or work experiences, by bridging the gap between teacher and learner through a variety of media, such as print, electronic, online, and occasional interactive face-to-face meetings with learners or Learner Support Services. So here, physical books are sent to students and there are PCP (Personal Contact Programme) classes held occasionally which allow students to have face-to-face interaction with the faculties.
Some of the Factors to Consider While Choosing a University Are:
UGC-DEB Recognition
Updated Curriculum
Faculty Background Check
Type of Projects/Assignments
No. of PCP in a year
Corporate/Industry Connects
Placement Assistance
Top Distance Education Universities in India
1. Indira Gandhi National Open University
Founded in 1985, The Indira Gandhi National Open University is the world’s largest open university and India’s top university for distance education. IGNOU has gained popularity for its quality education that is recognized and certified by the government. It offers 295 courses in all including bachelor’s, master’s, diploma, postgraduate diploma, certificate, and doctoral programmes. It has a total of 21 schools comprising distinct schools such as the School of Vocational Education and Training(SOVET) and School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary studies(SOITS). The best part is the cost of programmes at IGNOU is 1/5th of the fees of private colleges for the same programmes.
2. Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning
Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) is one of the largest autonomous distance learning education institutes in India. Since its foundation in 2001, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) has achieved remarkable progress in providing high-quality education to a large number of students, making it one of India’s few large and well-known distance learning institutions. It offers postgraduate diploma, diploma, and certificate programs across industry sectors including Business Management, International Business, Banking and Finance, Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management, Insurance Management, Education Administration, Entrepreneurship Development, etc. They have partnered with top-notch companies from the industrial world including Airtel, Zydus Wellness, Aditya Birla Group, Bharti Walmart, Cipla, and Cognizant to name a few.
Recommended Read: Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Courses in India
3. NMIMS Global Access School For Continuing Education
NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education is one of India’s premiere institutions for career-led education. Recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) & the Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) of India, they were granted Autonomy Category I by UGC in 2018. It offers industry driven programs ranging from applied finance, digital marketing, business analytics, etc. It has tie-ups with leading corporates and start-ups to provide students with interview opportunities to excel in their careers. Also, mentoring sessions are conducted by industry leaders to guide students.
4. Amity University Open Distance Learning
Amity University ODL has been providing high-quality distance education in management and other professional sectors. It is guided by Amity’s Academic Advisory Board, who frequently contribute towards integrating the curriculum with the industry’s most recent trends. It provides a cutting-edge learning management system that includes Personal Contact Programs, Webinars, and audiovisual study materials. Their programmes are approved by the Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB) of India.
5. Annamalai University
It is one of the oldest and most famous universities in South India. Courses offered at Annamalai Distance University are affiliated with the UGC-DEB. “The QS World University Ranking – 2024” has ranked Annamalai University in the band of 501 – 600 in Asia Ranking.
6. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Open University was established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It aims to provide opportunities of higher education to all sections of society inorder to meet the changing individual and social needs. Apart from English, some of the courses are also offered in Telugu and Urdu. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, certificate and diploma programmes.
7. Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
Established in 1989 by the Maharashtra State Legislature, the University offers higher education at affordable costs to large segments of the population by removing barriers of age, entry qualification, place, and pace of study. It leverages student-teacher interaction by offering seamless teaching-learning experiences. Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), the apex body of open and distance learning universities in the commonwealth countries has honoured the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) of Nashik with two Awards of Institutional Excellence. It is also recognized by the UGC.
8. Sikkim Manipal University
Sikkim Manipal University-Distance Education has been recognized as one of the best distance learning institutes in India by various academic and industry bodies like Careers360, ASSOCHAM and Silicon India. Equipped with a rich learning portal EduNext which is designed for 24*7 learning, the university
creates a collaborative and interactive environment for learning and includes small group mentoring, virtual classrooms, simulation, self-study content, recorded presentations and shared browsing.
9. JECRC University
JECRC University in Jaipur is recognized by the University Grants Commission-Distance Education Bureau. Its vision is to provide skill based education through distance mode of learning for capacity building and capacity enhancement. It offers bachelor’s and master’s courses like BCA,BBA,BCom, MCA and MBA. It follows a modular course structure i.e. flexibility of lateral entry and exit. It also offers placement assistance to distance learners.
10. Karnataka State Open University
Established in 1996, Karnataka State Open University is considered to be a reputed open university in the country. It is recognized by the UGC. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, certificate and diploma programmes. It also provides scholarships to students. The university also offers an application(both on android and iOS platforms) to gain access to study material, exam updates and results announcements.
Recommended Read: 11 Tips for Balancing Study with Life
Some Other Distance Education Universities Are:
Kurukshetra University
IMT Centre of Distance Learning
Suresh Gyan Vihar University
Lovely Professional University
School of Distance Learning, Delhi University
Netaji Subhas Open University
Institute of Distance and Open Learning, University of Mumbai
Conclusion
Given the plethora of opportunities available, whether to go for a regular or distance education course or choosing a particular career stream, can be a daunting task.
Mindler is here for you!
Mindler is an ed-tech organization that provides career counselling services to students of class 8th to students planning to pursue higher education. We aim to guide students towards their suited career paths with an in-depth assessment, research and analysis.
Your perfect profession awaits with Mindler’s Career Counselling online.
