Since its establishment in 1985, IGNOU has contributed significantly to the development of higher education in the country through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

The 'People's University' follows a learner-centric approach and has successfully adopted a policy of openness and flexibility in entry qualifications, time taken for completion of a programme, and place of study.

The University, at present, offers 338 programmes of study through over 3,500 courses to a cumulative student strength of over 30 lakh students.

The programmes are offered by the University at the following levels: doctorate; masters and bachelors degree programmes; post-graduate and under-graduate diplomas; and certificates.

The education is disseminated in conventional, as well as emerging inter-disciplinary areas, such as consumer protection, disaster management, environment, human rights, tourism, women empowerment and child development, participatory forest management, participatory planning, resettlement and rehabilitation, teacher education, food and nutrition, continuing medical and health education, HIV/AIDs, laboratory techniques, and online learning.

Join the IGNOU discussion group at Facebook. Follow the link http://on.fb.me/ignougrp or http://www.facebook.com/groups/231251166917128/. The group boasts not only the current and former students of IGNOU but also teachers, faculty and staff of IGNOU as its members.