Distance learning accounts for more than a tenth of India’s higher education GER: Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said distance and open learning account for more than one-tenth of higher education enrollments across India.

Delivering a video message on the occasion of the 21st Annual Convocation of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) held in Mysuru on January 31, Majumdar also stated that distance and open learning are a vital pillar in achieving the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 target of 50% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 2035.

In his meeting speech, copies of which were distributed on the occasion, Mr. Majumdar said that education is the foundation of national development and open and distance learning has emerged as a powerful tool for inclusive growth and social transformation.

Distance education, especially online education, is fundamentally changing the global education landscape by redefining how, when and where learning occurs. “Advances in digital technologies, widespread internet connectivity and the proliferation of smart devices have enabled education to move beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms, making high-quality learning accessible to millions of people across continents,” he said.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), micro-certifications and modular certificate programs enable students to acquire industry-relevant skills relevant to rapidly changing job markets, while blended and hybrid models combine the strengths of online and face-to-face teaching to increase effectiveness and scalability, he said.

Pointing out that the future of education is digital, blended and technology-supported, Majumdar said, “We are witnessing a rapid transformation through artificial intelligence-supported adaptive learning, massive open online courses, micro credentials, virtual laboratories, simulation-based learning and hybrid education models.”

He said open and distance learning institutions must develop as innovation hubs, focusing not only on content delivery but also on employability, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.

KSOU Vice Rector Prof. Sharanappa V. Halse, in his welcome speech, said that the university is accredited with NAAC A+ Grade with CGPA of 3.31 and has been ranked second in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 for Open Universities. He also stated that KSOU offers 80 academic programs recognized by UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau), the highest number approved for any open university in India.

“Students’ confidence in KSOU is evident with the three-fold increase in student admissions and enrollments from around 6,000 students to 40,000 students per academic session, taking the total student strength to over 1.5 lakh,” he said.

The Center for Future Skills (CFS), established in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cyber ​​Security, Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality and Cloud Computing, ensuring that KSOU students are future-ready and industry-ready.

A total of 10,691 candidates received degrees in the KSOU meeting. Additionally, 68 people were awarded doctorates. A total of 65 gold medals and 62 cash prizes were awarded at the event.

Degrees were also awarded to eligible candidates from the academic years 2013-14 and 2014-15, as well as students from the January 2021-22 session to January 2023-24.