The Uttarakhand Open University (UOU) was established by an Act of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in 2005 (Act no 23 of 2005) with the aim of disseminating knowledge and skills through distance learning, using the flexible and innovative methods of education to ensure ‘independent learning’. The university uses novel educational programmes, various modes of communication technology and contact sessions to make distance learning more effective.

Professor Vinay K Pathak, vice chancellor of the university, says, “Owing to the educational needs of the students in the far flung areas and for those who cannot pursue a regular course, the university has its centres across the state.”


One of the major objectives of the university is to cater to the educational needs of the target groups to create skilled and knowledge-based human resource for speedy upliftment and development of the state. The University aims to impart quality education by maintaining high academic standards. For this purpose, it has radically reoriented itself in view of the rapid changes in the sphere of professional and technical education and has developed a number of new and innovative self-employment/employment oriented courses of study.
“The fee structure is very reasonable, keeping in view the paying capacity of different sections of society. The courses offered by the university have been tailor-made to ensure multifaceted growth of the learners,” says Prof Pathak.

Alumni Speak

My yatra began from here: I completed Class 12 in 2010 from Behri, a small city in Uttar Pradesh. I initially wanted to pursue a BBA, but my parents advised me to do a professional course that was of one-year duration. BBA would have taken three-and-a-half years and my parents were not in favour of that. Since I scored only 56% in 10+2, I had limited options in terms of undergraduate courses. So, I opted for a one-year diploma in tourism from Uttarakhand Open University for which I paid Rs. 56,000.

Both the study material and the guidance I received during the course were excellent. The university puts emphasis on the practical aspects rather than theoretical ones. Students are given notes which are extremely useful and the faculty is at par with any other regular institute and college anywhere in the country.

At present, I am working with Yatra.com in Gurgaon and I am quite satisfied with my work profile. I am earning a good salary too. After my diploma course, I was so impressed with the study programme that I have now applied for the bachelor in tourism programme with the same university. I have decided to make a career in this field. The only problem is that the university has study centres only in Uttarakhand. It becomes difficult to work in Gurgaon and go and attend classes somewhere in the state. I wish the university introduces online study programmes that will encourage more and more students to apply for its courses – Saurabh Singh, working with Yatra.com, did his BBA from UOU.

As told to Jeevan Prakash Sharma

What’s on offer

Contact programmes

Uttarakhand Open University conducts personal contact programmes, counselling sessions through study centres, where students directly take advice from the faculties and counsellors. The University also conducts special workshops for one week at various regional centres on each subject, where expert speakers from related fields are invited to deliver lectures. The website also has video lectures of the faculty and field experts

Material available

There are more than 20,000 students enrolled at present. The university provides both self-learning material in print and digital formats. Plans are also afoot to start a community radio station at the new campus to reach the learners directly

Programmes offered

Besides traditional courses like BA, BCom, BBA and BSc, there are various programmes offered in the fields of journalism and mass communication, social work, tourism and hotel management, agriculture, management, computer science and education. Special focus programmes include certificate in technical excellence. BSc (biotech), BA (IT), MA (education), MCA, MJMC, MSc (geo informatics) and many more. Several certificate and diploma courses have been developed for the people of Uttarakhand. These include ayurvedic beauty care, ayurvedic masseur, technical excellence, yogic science, naturopathy, ayurvedic herb cultivation, basic workshop techniques, basic maintenance and repair, management information science and technology for rural youth, acupressure, ayurvedic food and nutrition, industrial training, panchkarma assistant, industrial process, public health and community nutrition, modern dietetics and ayurvedic nutrition, broadcast journalism

Exam centres

UOU doesn’t have any study centre outside Uttarakhand. So, a student who has enrolled with the university has to be physically present at the study centres which also serve as examination centres. From this session onwards, the university is going to start an online admission process for students who don’t have access to the regional centres for collection of prospectus

Admissions

Admission is given twice a year starting June and January.

Prospects after UOU

"Since we are a government university and committed to impart cheap education the fees are very nominal,” says Pathak. UOU facilitates placement of students passing out from the university’s various departments besides collaborating with leading companies, organisations and institutes in setting up of internship and training and placement programme of the students. The director of the cell coordinates with the industries and the cell also liaises with various industrial establishments, corporate houses etc that conduct campus interviews and select the graduate and postgraduate students

Straight from the head

There is stress on practical exposure. Agriculture, journalism, social work, panchkarma and jyotish vigyan are some fields where students get professional training - Prof Vinay K Pathak, vice chancellor, UOU.

Source: Jeevan Prakash Sharma, HT Education

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