Experts’ Speak: Distance Education Is For Everyone

Education is a huge contributing factor to how one turns out to be overall. It shapes our personality. Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, an individual may not be able to get the kind of education they deserve. Everyone deserves the kind of education they want, and they should be able to have access to it. Often, a regular university does not provide the kind of flexibility required by such people. That is where online and distance education steps in.

Distance education is gaining a lot of popularity in India now because of the flexibility it offers learners with. Distance education is perfect for people who are working professionals and do not have the time for regular university programme but still wish to further their education.

The Dr. C.V. Raman University offers through the institute of open and distance education (IODE) various programmes leading to Certificates, Diploma and Degrees which are conventional as well as innovative. Most of these programmes have been development after an initial of the demand for such programmes in the job market. They are launched with a view to fulfill the learner’s need for skill and employability.

IODE-CVRU is always trying to do its best to keep up the norms and standards of distance education methodology as prescribed by the DEB and would continue to strive in the same direction. It may not be out of place to mention that IODE-CVRU is working predominantly in the tribal, rural areas and is providing yeoman service to the students in these areas, too.

A learner has the option to study at their own schedule and from wherever they are. Distance education of IODE-CVRU increasingly uses combinations of different communication technology to enhance the abilities of teachers and learners to communicate with each other. IODE-CVRU offers UG/PG/Diploma programme in every major stream such as management, IT, Science and Arts.

IODE-CVRU provides high quality distance learning courses. For the quality distance learning courses, IODE-CVRU mainly focused on course design, content, instructor and support systems. The study material by IODE-CVRU provides to learner is easy to read and understandable by everyone so that no learner feels held back by any aspect of the program. Learners are also provided with guidance every step of the way to ensure that all of their grievances are solved to the best of our efforts. There are people dedicated to ensuring that no learner has unsolved issues or problems. 

Key Features

Our ODL System provides a viable alternatives mode with the objective to take education to the doorsteps of the learner, enhancing social equity, and create flexibility for lifelong learning. It provides increased access and much structural flexibility which have an edge over the conventional formal system. It helps to increase the capacity and cost effectiveness of education and training system to reach the target groups with limited access and to promote innovation and opportunity for lifelong learning. Our distance learning programme is very different from conventional learning. We always put the learner first.

• Study material is dispatched to the learners timely .The study material provided is prepared by subject matter experts. These are dispatched to the registered learners within a month of registration. 
• Assignment question are dispatched to the learners in a similar manner. 
• Most of the education happens in the form of distance learning, but there is face to face interaction when needed.
• Self-instructional: study material provided is written in a self-instructional style. 
• Audio-Visual Aids: Audio and video CDs are provided to the learners in order to make learning easier for them. Each video is 25-30 minutes long. 
• Counselling sessions: Counselling sessions are held after regular working hours and when the learner needs it. 
• Teleconference and videoconference are provided as well. Other modes of communication used are SMS, email, etc. Everything is done to ensure that the learner gets all the support they need. 
• Self-assessment exercises are there at the end of each unit. There are also tutor evaluations.

Community Radio

The university has a community radio, Radio Raman, with the approval of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Important announcements regarding assignments, classes, seminars or workshops are broadcasted through Radio Raman. 

During interactive sessions, the counsellors are supposed to deal with all the grievances of each learner. Learners who have to attend these sessions are pre-decided by the learning centre. Complete support is offered to every learner. These sessions are an important aspect of our distance education system because they add the much required human aspect to the education system, uniquely combining the traits of regular education and distance education. There are also specific counselling sessions held for learners who have grievances, and every learner gets to have their issues solved. 

 Benefits of Studying at IODE CVRU

• The flexibility of individual study and flexibility in terms of time and place of study.
• Latest information and communication technology is used. 
• The programs are cost-effective.
• Studies are done in a modular format. 
• The courses and programs are updated regularly to be socially and educationally relevant.
• We combine conventional learning and distance learning.
• Making higher education available to those who cannot usually reach it. 
• The professional education provided is need and knowledge-based. 

Distance education is a good option for people who are looking to restart their learning process and do not have the time to attend regular university. Sometimes, people are hesitant to restart their education because they are uncomfortable or under-confident about attending regular university. Distance education is a really good option for such people, because why should hesitation ever be a reason that puts a stop to learning? Learning is an endless process especially in today’s world, where careers are changing and human beings have to constantly keep learning and keep reinventing themselves.