IGNOU vs SMU: Which is the Best University for Distance Education?

IGNOU vs SMU: Distance learning

IGNOU VS SMU - Distance education has completely changed the way students approach higher studies. It not only opens up endless avenues for students but also offers convenience and flexibility to those who want to study at any location in India.

Distance education means students can enroll in their desired course even though they are not physically present in the classroom of the university in which they have secured admission. The study material and assignments are mailed to students and they can read them on their own and learn at their own pace. However, at the end of the year/ term students have to appear for exams at the university to obtain their respective degree, diploma or certificate.

While distance education has become a popular option among students seeking higher education, choosing the right Open University is mostly a herculean task. Among various distance learning universities in India, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education (SMU-DE) are two popular options among students.

Further in the article, we will be comparing IGNOU and SMU to help candidates make an informed decision on the distance learning university that they should choose for admission.

Read: Which one is Better, IGNOU or DU Regular?

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Established by an act of parliament in in 1985, IGNOU is a public/ government university offering a variety of courses in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The university caters to the educational needs of over three million students in India and abroad through its 21 schools of study.

The university offers about 228 degree, diploma and certificate courses to students at UG, PG and PhD level. The varsity offers these courses through a strength of about 810 faculty members.

Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education (SMU-DE)

Sikkim Manipal University was established in the year 1995. The university was the first government-private initiative in the region of Sikkim and is considered as the first ever Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the country for higher education services. SMU is recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC) and approved by Government of India.  

Under its Directorate of Distance Education, SMU offers total six bachelors and masters courses to students:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Computer Application (MCA)
• Master of Computer Science in Information Technology (MSc IT)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSc IT)

Over past few years, SMU-DE has been recognised as one of the best distance learning institutes in India by various industry bodies including ASSOCHAM and Silicon India. Apart from this, SMU-DE has also won the Silver Award in the Digital Learning Transformation Category at the 2018 Learning Award Ceremony.

IGNOU vs SMU: A comparative view

While IGNOU and SMU are two reputed universities in India that impart quality education in distance learning mode, given below is a comparative view of both. Candidates juggling between the two options can go through the pros and cons of both universities below in order to make an informed decision:

• Study material: The study material provided by IGNOU is set by experts and PhDs in their respective fields. Therefore, IGNOU study material is not only of high quality but also easy to understand for students on their own. On the other hand, SMU provides self-learning study material to students that can be accessed by students in online mode on EduNxt tool of the university anytime.
• Term end exams: Term end examinations of IGNOU are usually more difficult than that of SMU-DE. Also, IGNOU officials keep a strict watch on timely submission of assignments which demand sincerity from students.         
• Tech-based education: As evident in the point above, SMU makes use of high-tech tools such as EduNxt to ensure proactive and ‘on the go’ learning for students. Although IGNOU too provides online learning to students for few of its courses, the varsity lacks in terms of latest technology.  
• Course fee: Fees for IGNOU courses is much lesser than programmes offered at SMU (refer table below). Therefore, IGNOU is better option for those having financial constraints.
• Placement opportunities: SMU-DE offers personalised career counselling and placement opportunities to students. SMU-DE students get placed in public, private as well as mixed sector undertakings across different industries Telecom, Software, Automobile, etc. On the other hand, IGNOU also has campus placement cells that are operational in few of its regional centres only.
• Study centres: Being a public university, IGNOU is authorised to open study centres anywhere in the city. On the other hand, SMU does not have study/ learning centres in any part of the country. 

Read: IGNOU Notable Alumni - Successful People who have Inspired Generations of Students

For further clarification on the differences between IGNOU and SMU-DE check out the table below:

Also Read:

• IGNOU 2019 Admission Procedure, Status & Registration
• UGC Approved Distance Education Courses & Universities
• Student Enrollment in Universities: Regular Vs Distance Education