Karnataka State Open University


Karnataka State Open University is a distance learning university founded in 1996, located in Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka.

History

KSOU started as the Institute of Correspondence Course and Continuing Education, a wing of University of Mysore. It was formally established on June 1st, 1996 under the Karnataka State Open University Act of 1992, with the objective of introducing and promoting the system of open university and distance learning in the state of Karnataka.

Academics

The university hosts 13 departments managed by 57 faculty members. It offers programmes leading to degrees from the graduate level to the doctoral level and offers a variety of diploma and certificate programmes.

Campus

State Open University is situated on 36 acres along the Mysore-Mangalore highway, in the Manasagangotri campus of the University of Mysore. It is about 5 km from the city centre. University headquarters houses administrative offices, the academic block, lecture halls, library, cottages for students coming for examinations and contact programmes, and necessary amenities such as post-office, bank and canteen.

Recognition controversy

De-recognition and re-recognition

de-recognized several courses of KSOU with effect from 2012-13. The university was de-recognized in 2015 after it was found violating several norms of UGC and DEC, IGNOU. The university had violated the norms related to territorial jurisdiction by establishing study centres across India and also offered admission to courses within India and abroad in violation of regulations. Even after a show cause notice was issued, it continued this practice. Thousands of students were jeopardized by the de-recognition leading to protests by students and petitions to the Karnataka High Court/Supreme Court. After several initiatives by KSOU, the Government of Karnataka and the direction of the high court, 17 courses of KSOU were granted recognition from 2018 onwards. However, lives of earlier students remain in limbo without degrees, though a bridge course and a test is likely to be conducted. In 2018 UGC gave programme-level recognition from 2018-19 to 2022-23 via UGC order F.No. 1-6/2018 dated 03-10-2018 for B.A.,B.Com.B.L.I.sc.,M.L.ISc.,M.A., M.Com.,M.Sc.