About Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
IGNOU or Indira Gandhi National Open University is a central university was established in 1985 by an act of Parliament. It was founded with a goal of democratizing education with the help of bringing education to the doorstep of its students. Currently, the university offers around 274 certificate, diploma, bachelors and masters degree, and doctoral programs through 21 School of Studies with a faculty strength of 810 and 574 academic staff members. It is spread pan India with a coverage of 56 regional centres, 1843 study centres and 21 overseas centres in 15 countries. IGNOU has been known as the largest public university with over 3 lakh enrollments .
With its innovative approach to learning and emphasis on flexibility, the university has transformed the educational landscape, making quality education attainable for those who might otherwise be unable to pursue traditional paths of study. One of the defining features of university is its open and distance learning mode, allowing students to study at their own pace and convenience. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for working professionals, homemakers, and individuals residing in remote areas, enabling them to balance their educational pursuits with other commitments.
In addition to its reach and affordability, the university prioritizes quality in its curriculum design. The course materials are developed by experts in their respective fields, ensuring relevance and comprehensiveness. Moreover, the university uses teaching methodologies such as multimedia resources and online learning platforms, to enhance learning experience of its students.
IGNOU Study Centre 2024
The University has around 1843 study centres across the country. When you register for IGNOU admission, you will be allocated a study centre and regional centre. Study centre can be allocated as per your own choice. Although, it is an ODL (Open and Distance Learning) Mode, study centres help students have access to various University resources such as library with multimedia and books, practicals, counselling, on campus classes, assignment submission area as well as administrative support. According to your study centre, a regional centre is allotted to you. IGNOU Regional Centre is acts as focal point between University and students. All the notifications that you receive from the University are sent to you through IGNOU Regional Centre usually via Emails.
How to Find Your Nearest IGNOU Study Centre or IGNOU Regional Centre ?
Find out your nearest IGNOU study centre and IGNOU regional Centre using the below steps.
- Visit the IGNOU website ignou.ac.in
- You will see ‘Regional Network’ option in the top menu. You will see a list of options in the drop down menu.
- Click on ‘Study Centres’ from the drop down menu.
- You will see a document with a list of Regional Centres alphabetically on the left and its Learner Support Centres (LSC) and Study Centres on the right.
- On the basis of your nearest regional centre, click on the link on the right to have access to all the study centres in your city/region.
- You will see dialogue box asking to the open the link. Select open link.
- You will see a list of study centres with their code, location, address, phone number and programs. You can use the chosen study centre with your program during registration process of Admission.
IGNOU Delhi Headquarters : How To Reach
The University is headquartered at 93 Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110068 . It is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 6pm. You can reach IGNOU office through your own vehicle, bus, auto or metro. Nearest Metro station to IGNOU Maidan Garhi is Saket on Yellow Line which is an 18 minute walk to the University Campus. There are also many shared/individual autos right outside Saket Metro station if you do not want to walk all the way. The nearest bus stand to IGNOU is Maidan Garhi Village Bus Stop which is just 600 meters away, you can have access to DTC buses 523, 523A , 536 from here. It is 20kms away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and 16 km from Nizamuddin Railway Station, Delhi.
Here is a Map with directions to reach IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, Delhi from landmark areas.
Facilities
IGNOU offers numerous facilities to its distance education students to promote open and inclusive education among students of all age groups. It is known for its wide array of facilities aimed at supporting distance learners, catering to the diverse needs of its student body. Here are some of the key facilities offered by IGNOU:
- Egyankosh : The University’s online platform for study material
- Gyandarshan: It is the online platform for all audio visual material, broadcasted lectures on various topics across all programs.
- Library services are provided through IGNOU study centres and IGNOU Learner Support Centres.
- Placement Cell that enables students in exploring career opportunities and internships.
- Scholarships, fee concessions and financial assistance for deserving students.
Notable Alumni
Indira Gandhi National Open University boasts a vast and diverse network of alumni, representing a multitude of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds. These alumni, who have traversed the corridors of distance education, embody resilience, determination, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Moreover, the alumni network serves as a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Alumni connect through various channels, including social media groups, alumni associations and reunions. In case you have a degree from IGNOU, you can also join their Alumni Network here. A number of celebrities, actors, public servants , social servants have degrees with IGNOU University. Here are some of the notable alumni of the University:
- Deepika Padukone – Indian Actress
- Barun Mazumder- Indian Journalist
- Vijay Kumar- IPS Officer
- Abhay Sopori- Indian Musician
- Arjun Munda- Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand
- V.S.R. Murthy- Indian Military Officer
- Aman Raj – Indian Golfer
- Vaani Kapoor – Indian Actress
- Ashok Khemka- Indian Bureaucrat
- Manoj Pande- Indian Railway Officer
- Pushpa Preeya- Indian Social Activist
- Celina Jaitly- Indian Actress
IGNOU Portal
The official website of IGNOU is www.ignou.ac.in . The University uses this website to communicate all its official notifications related to admission, registration, examination, results, student grievances, degree etc. In case you want to reach out to the University headquarter, here are the list of contacts and emails .
What is Samarth IGNOU ?
SAMARTH is a Project under Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. It is an Open Source, Open Standard enabled Robust, Secure, Scalable and Evolutionary Process Automation Engine for Universities and Higher Education Institutions”. It is Designed & Developed By Institute of Informatics Communication, University of Delhi under National Mission in Education through ICT. By Logging into the Samarth IGNOU portal, students can have access to services such as request for change in study centre, regional centre or postal address, podcasts, course details, audio visual material etc.
Read more on IGNOU Samarth Portal here:
IGNOU Accreditation and Recognition
IGNOU is a National Open University established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 (Act No. 50 of 1985). The Degrees/ Diplomas/ Certificates issued by IGNOU are recognized by all the member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and are at par with the corresponding Degrees/ Diplomas/ Certificates issued by all Indian Universities/ Deemed Universities/ Institutions etc. It is the First Open University in the Country to have been accredited with the highest A++ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
5 thoughts on “IGNOU Overview”