Tamil Nadu Open University to offer 22 new courses

The university would also offer short-term, non-credit certificate programmes in skill development in various areas, including basic computing, office automation, programming techniques, computer applications, multimedia systems, hair dressing, tailoring and dress making, surface embellishment, bridal makeup and flower decoration, fashion jewellery making and proficiency in English. 

Currently, the university offers 148 programmes through 13 schools of study, and has 419 study centres spread across Tamil Nadu. It admits the students throughout the year under two admission cycles. During the year 2016-17, 26,361 students registered with the university, including 13,279 women candidates. 

Currently, 78 PhD scholars and 67 M Phil scholars are pursuing their research studies under fulltime and part-time streams. 

The 22 new programmes that the university is introducing include three postgraduate courses, five undergraduate courses, seven PG diploma courses, three diploma courses, two certificate courses and two vocational diploma programmes. 

The university has been accorded the 12(B) Status of the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently. It is also one of the few institutions in the country to have been identified by IGNOU for learning under SWAYAM (Study Web of Active Learning for Young and Aspiring Minds). 

The university has established seven zonal centres, one each at Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, The Nilgiris, Tiruchy and Villupuram districts, and seven constituent community colleges. 

The university has set up new zonal centres at Villupuram and The Nilgiris and offering educational services. It introduced Online Admission System recently.