Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University

About Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University

Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU or previously known as Kota Open University, renamed through a Gazette notification by the Government of Rajasthan on 21st September 2002) came into being in 1987 as a pioneering institution for open learning in Rajasthan. The idea of establishing an open university in the State of Rajasthan has its origin in the observations of the UGC Committee under the Chairmanship of Late Prof. G. Rama Reddy which observed that “the distance system in Rajasthan is well established and has the potential of growing into a full-fledged Open University.” The establishment of VMOU (Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University) took place with the amalgamation of two institutes of correspondences courses viz. Institute of Correspondence Studies and Continuing Education Jaipur and (College of Correspondence Studies) Udaipur with a view to strengthen and achieve proper coordination among the scattered vast distance education resources and to serve the people of State a uniform high quality education. Today,  VMOU is one of the premier institutions of Distance Learning and higher education in India. At present it is offering 80 Academic Programmes which include Ph.D., M.Phil., Post Graduation, Graduation, P.G. Diploma, Diploma and Certificate Programmes. Plans are on the anvil to increase the courses further to actualise our dream to offer ‘Academic Programme for Someone in Every Family’. In the inaugural year in 1987 there were only 9 Academic Programmes in which only around 4000 students took admission. However, in 2007 nearly 35000 students took admission in the University. The university headquarter is located at Kota and its operational jurisdiction extend to the whole of Rajasthan.

Faculty

• Pol. Science
• Economics
• Management
• History
• Education
• Lib. & Info. Sc
• Economics
• English
• Pol. Science
• Hindi
• Computer Science
• Law

Facilities

Study Centres - 85 study centres have been set up in different cities in the State to provide regular information and learning support. Each study centre is provided with library, TV, Audio and Video facilities. Study centres function on all holidays and Sundays and are supervised by the coordinators. To coordinate the functioning of study centres, 6 Regional Centres have been set up at Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur. They are also entrusted with publicity work providing information, orientation and training programme. In the Open University System, students support services are build on the concept of a local centre known as Study Centre. Study Centres are established to offer students academic facilities & communication link with the VMOU. The activities of Study Centres are basically meant to supplement the course contents covered in the printed material. It is done by organising audio-video sessions and face to face interaction with academic counsellors. The basic objective of operational facilities is to make a student independent learner and to develop a proper attitude in learner for learning from latest communication technologies used in the field of education. At present four types of Study Centres are operating in different parts of the state. These are Regular Study Centres, Programme specific Study Centres e.g. B.Ed., Cliental specific study centres e.g. for women and army and Satellite study centres for rural and army areas.

Counselling - Academic counselling is an important instructional component of Distance Education System. Weekend counselling sessions are organized for all the courses at study centres of the university. Besides, the university organizes Phone-in-Radio Counselling Programme on every fourth Sunday of the month.

Central Library - The V.M. Open University system consist of headquarters’ Central Library, and libraries at Regional and Study Centres. The Central Library caters to the need of students as well as tutors and counsellors. It has 87700 collection of books. Library is subscribing 195 journals (174 nationals and 21 foreign journals), 16 newspapers.

Regional Service Unit - Regional Services Unit provides a state wide network of academic support services for the students. This is organised through 53 study Centres and 6 Regional Centres established throughout the state.

Research Degree Programme (Ph. D.) - The University provides the facility of research to the students through Distance education mode.

Students Support Service - Under the effort to help students in teaching-learning process, the VMOU opens study centres mainly in the academic institution of higher learning wherever possible and use the premises on holidays and in off hours. Local qualified talent is being involved in imparting education on part time basis with the help of Self-Instructional Material provided to each student by VMOU. This makes the university a cost effective organization. The work of the part-time staff at Study Centres is supervised and monitored by Director, Regional Centre. At present there are six Regional Centres working in the State.

Student Advisory Cell - Located at the Headquarter, SAC (Student Advisory Cell) advises students on all aspects of the available curricula. Their grievances are redressed by sending their received communications to the relevant units. SAC also undertakes sale of Admission Forms and Prospectus relevant to various academic programmes. The promotional literature is prominently displayed there and delivered to the persons on demand.

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Information compiled from: Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University Website