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The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has drawn up a master plan for its development and expansion. The Rs.200 crore master plan proposes shifting of the present University from the 12 acre campus in the Mysore University’s Manasa Gangotri to a spacious 100 acre land. The master plan has been sent to the Karnataka Government for its approval.The Open University, established over five years ago to provide distance education, is becoming popular. Last year, around 36,000 students have enrolled for the courses, while around 20,000 have completed the courses.
The University expects raise in enrolment to 100,000 in the coming years. In order to cater to these increasing numbers, the KSOU has launched ‘phone-in’ programme in the All India Radio every fourth Sunday of the month. It is making use of the ’Jnanavani’ F.M. Channel, two hours a day. ‘Jnanavani’ is an exclusive education channel of the All India Radio. It has also started B.Sc. (IT) and S.C. (IT) on line courses. The two courses have attracted 500 and 700 pupils, respectively. KSOU is also preparing audio and video cassettes for self-learning. It plans to establish a studio of its own for these purposes.
The second annual convocation of the KSOU was conducted in Mysore on February 17. As many as 7,464 students were awarded degrees. They consisted of 856 graduate, 6,547 post-graduate, 60 M.Phil. students. Besides one student was conferred doctorate degree. Of them, 3,948 were women. Prof. V.C.Kulandai Swamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, Tamil Nadu and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, was conferred KSOU’s first honorary doctor of literature degree in recognition of his services in the field of education. Dr.G.Parameswara, Karnataka’s Minister for Higher Education and Pro-Chancellor, presided and conferred the degrees. Prof. H.P. Dikshit, Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, delivered the convocation address.
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