Nalanda Open University - NOU

About Nalanda Open University - NOU

The Nalanda Open University is the only University in the State of Bihar meant for imparting learning exclusively through the system of distance education. The University was established in March, 1987 by an ordinance, promulgated by the Government of Bihar. Later, Nalanda Open University Act, 1995 was passes by the Bihar Legislature, replacing the Ordinance, and the University came under the authority and jurisdiction of the new Act automatically. The University is named after the famous Nalanda University of Ancient India.

Founded in the 5th Century A.D., Nalanda is known as the ancient seat of learning. 2,000 Teachers and 10,000 Students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied at Nalanda, the first Residential International University of the World. A walk in the ruins of the university, takes you to an era, that saw India leading in imparting knowledge, to the world - the era when India was a coveted place for studies. The University flourished during the 5th and 12th century.

At present, the University is functioning from its camp office at Biscomaun Bhawan, 2nd and 3rd Floors, Patna 800 001. The University has established at its camp office at Patna a well equipped and fully automated modern office in an area of approximately 30,000 sq. feet, which houses an examination centre for about 550 students, a state of the art Library with about 30,000 titles and a computer laboratory of about 40 IBM Pentium-4 computers, apart from administrative offices and other infra-structures. The University is recognised by the Distance Education Council (DEC), University Grants Commission, and Ministry of HRD, Government of India for imparting education through distance mode.

Nalanda Open University has 28 Study Centers all over Bihar. They are situated in the more important cities like Jamshedpur and Ranchi and also in small towns like Katihar and Bettiah, thus catering to the educational needs of every section of the society. Degree courses at undergraduate level and degree as well as diploma courses at post graduate level are offered. Certificate courses for 6 or 9 months are also provided in this university. Nalanda Open University is the only university where various courses on Bihari Languages (Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili) are offered.

The University has been re-organized to function through the following Schools of Learning :

1. School of Management Studies and Physical sciences - This School looks after courses in subjects, like, Insurance Management, Financial Management, Marketing Management, etc. From the current session, this School has been also given the responsibility of organising and co-ordinating Science Courses for Intermediate and B.Sc. (Hons.) students. This school is headed by Prof. (Dr.) Usha Singh, Retired Pro-Vice Chancellor, Nalanda Open University. This School has so far developed B.Sc. (Hons.) courses in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Zoology and Mathematics, apart from I.Sc. courses in same subjects.

2. School of Health and Environmental Sciences - This School is headed by Dr. G. K. Prasad, Retired Addl. Director, Health Services, Govt. of Bihar. This school is responsible for designing and running courses in Hospital Management, Environmental Sciences and Certificate/Diploma/Degree courses in Nursing, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Radiotherapy, Radio-Diagnosis Technologies, Pathological Laboratory Techniques etc.

3. School of Commerce and Social Sciences - This School is headed by Prof. R. P. Singh Rahi and is responsible for coordinating and running Post Graduate, Graduate and Under Graduate programmes in Commerce and Social Sciences. The subjects being offered at Post Graduate, Graduate and Intermediate levels in Social Sciences include subjects, like, History, Political Science, Geography, Psychology, Economics, Sociology and Hindi etc. The Commerce Courses are offered only at Intermediate and Graduate levels, though there is scheme to run M.Com courses also in very near future.

4. School of Indian Languages and Religions - This School is headed by Prof. P.C. Pandey. This school is responsible for organising courses/programmes in Indian languages, like, Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Urdu etc. This school has also been given the responsibility to design and organise courses in various religious beliefs of the people, like, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism, with a view to bringing out the best of these religions and make people aware of their contribution to society so that people of different socio-religious background understand and appreciate each other's view point more coherently and in a spirit of mutual tolerance.

5. School of Computer and Information Sciences - This School is under over-all supervision of two computer experts, namely, Amar Nath Panday (MCA) and Sarfaraz Alam (MCA). Through this School, the University is imparting education and practical training in Bachelor of Computer Application programme and a six months? Certificate Course in Computers. Recently, the University has introduced a four weeks course in home usages of computers, on a nominal fee basis, for laymen, senior citizens, and house-wives etc. with a view to providing these sections of society enough knowledge and practice of computer handling so that they can perform their day-to-day work on-line and make use of computer for works, like, railway reservation, banking transactions, word processing, letter drafting, telephony, use of internet etc.

This School also coordinates post graduate, graduate and certificate programmes in Library and Information Sciences under the overall Honorary supervision of Dr. U. M. Thakur, retired Prof. of Information and Library Sciences of Patna University.

6. School of Teachers Education - This School will be responsible for organising and imparting education to students of M.Ed., B.Ed. and Certificate courses in teachers education. NCTE (National Council for Teacher's Education) has recently granted permission to commence B.Ed. Course for in-service school teachers of Bihar from the current academic session. It is a 2 Years course.

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Information compiled from: Nalanda Open University - NOU Website