ABSTRACT
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has emerged as a powerful instrument for augmenting opportunities for higher education. Further, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have acted as a great supplement on delivery of distance mode programme, viz., interactive technologies are more facilitating learner-centred personalised education and help improve the process of distance education expanding the scope and content of the curriculum. These technologies have initiated systemic change and the entire system in the process of transition from campus-based face-to-face learning to an emerging distributed learning environment.
There has been phenomenal growth of higher education in India since independence. There were only 20 universities and 500 colleges at the time of independence and these numbers have increased to 50 times in universities and 100 times in case of colleges in terms of student enrolment. Presently, there are 993 degree-awarding institutions and 39,931 colleges with a gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 26.3 per cent. However, the current GER is not only less than global average of 27 per cent but also the GER of developed nationals.
Therefore, reaching the unreached areas is more important through ODL and virtual education. The recent National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 headed by Dr Kasturirangan also highlighted that ODL will play significant role in promoting the GER of higher education up to 50 per cent by the year 2035. The report also mentioned that
