Tamil Nadu Open University

Tamil Nadu Open University

File:TNOU emblem.jpg
Motto	Education for all and always
Type	Public
Established	2002
Chancellor	Excellency Dr.Konijeti Rosaiah, Hon'ble Governor of Tamil Nadu
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. (Mrs.)Chandrakantha Jeyabalan
Location	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	University Grants Commission (India)
Website	http://www.tnou.ac.in

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) is the 10th Open University in the country, was established in 2002 by the government of Tamil Nadu, India. This university aims at benefitting the sections of people who have been deprived of and/or denied access to higher education. The community of the deprived includes the destitute, the physically challenged, the working men and women, the economically weaker and marginalised people, and the drop-outs owing to various reasons. In nutshell, it aims at reaching the hitherto unreached. Within a decade, since its existence, the TNOU has remarkably catered to the learning needs of more than 5 lakh students with over 100 programmes, through 13 schools and 7 divisions. It has a well-knitted network of student support services with 4 University Co-ordinating Centres (UCC), 152 Learning Resource Centres (LRC), 165 Computer Programme Centres, 195 Community Colleges, 10 General B.Ed. Programme Study Centres (PSC), 13 Special B.Ed. Programme Study Centres, 9 Special Centres in Prisons, 33 Off-campus Centres, 3 Counselling and Psychotherapy Centres. In addition, the University has entered into a MoU with various Virtual Study Centres (VSCs).

TNOU’s instructional system comprises quality print materials in Self-learning format, digital content through stand-alone CDs, face-to-face contact sessions, continuous assessment and term-end examinations. Most of the operations of the University have been brought under e-Governance for the efficiency, accuracy and transparency. The university is poised to embark on technology enhanced learning environments. This is the first university in the state to have produced self-learning materials (SLMs) and implemented Credit System, based on expected learner-input/workload. Some of its SLMs have been adopted on royalty basis by various other Universities including Dr.B. R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad.

It offers subjects in the Open pattern. There is a minimum set of qualifications for entry. Diplomas, certificates, undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered. It is modelled on the lines of the Indira Gandhi National Open University. It has ease of entry and a flexible examination system as the main advantages. Its vocational courses are useful for knowledge as well as job opportunities. It is situated at Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai.

Vision

The Tamil Nadu Open University was established by an Act (No.27 of 2002) of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Tamil Nadu to benefit those who have been deprived of and/or denied the access to higher education especially destitute, physically challenged, working men and women, economically weaker sections of the society, and those who discontinued education for various reasons, etc. In the main, it aims to reach the hitherto unreached. The University offers many Programmes in various disciplines.

Mission

Towards becoming a Centre of Excellence in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) by offering quality programs to meet the current and emerging needs of the adult population, by widening the access to higher education and by functioning as a catalyst to bridge social, including digital divides and to build a developed India, Tamil Nadu Open University shall:

• Evolve flexible and robust curricula to widen educational access, deepen knowledge frontiers and create entrepreneurial skill sets.
• Reach the rural communities through lifelong learning programmes for livelihood improvement.
• Establish networked environments for quality assurance.
• Foster private-public partnerships.
• Bridge the digital divide and implement 'anywhere, anytime' learning environments.
• Become a digital repository for ODL in the State facilitating Research and Development for new knowledge creation.
• Coordinate and implement standards in ODL.

External links

• Official website