38 Tamil Nadu Open University programmes get UGC recognition

TNOU Vice-Chancellor M Bhaskaran said, "With reference to the public notice issued by the UGC, a total of 38 academic programmes of TNOU has been recognised under ODL for five years." TNOU clarified that UGC gave recognition only for the academic programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate level," he said.

According to Bhaskaran, among 14 state open universities and more than hundreds of other distance education institutions across the country, TNOU has been recognised with the highest number of academic programmes next to Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU).

He added that TNOU will continue to provide 128 programmes of certificate diploma, post-graduate diploma and vocational diploma and these programmes do not require UGC recognition.

About the future plans, the vice-chancellor said it will offer quality programmes to meet the current and emerging needs of the adult population and by widening the access to higher education. TNOU will evolve flexible curricula to widen educational access, deepen knowledge frontiers and create entrepreneurial skill sets.

Stating that the university will reach the rural communities through lifelong learning programmes for livelihood improvement, he said that the university will establish networked environments for quality assurance.