Gold medal winners pose for a photograph at the 21st Convocation of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) held in Mysuru on January 31.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said distance and open learning comprise over one-tenth of the total enrollment in higher education across India.
Mr. Majumdar, who delivered a video message on the occasion of Karnataka State Open University’s (KSOU) 21st Annual Convocation held in Mysuru on January 31, further stated that distance and open learning is 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 convocation speech, copies of which were distributed on the occasion, Mr. Majumdar said education is the foundation of national development, and open and distance learning has emerged as a powerful instrument for inclusive growth and social transformation.
Distance education, particularly online education, is fundamentally transforming the global educational landscape by redefining how, when and where learning takes place. “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 across continents,” he said.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), micro-credentials and modular certification programmes are allowing learners to acquire industry-relevant skills aligned with rapidly changing job markets, while blended and hybrid models are combining the strengths of online and face-to-face instruction to improve effectiveness and scalability, he said.
While pointing out that the future of education is digital, blended and technology-enabled, Mr. Majumdar said, “We are witnessing rapid transformation through artificial intelligence-driven 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 evolve as innovation hubs, focusing not only on content delivery, but also on employability, entrepreneurship and life-long learning to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.
In his welcome address, KSOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Sharanappa V. Halse said the university has been accredited with NAAC A+ Grade with a CGPA of 3.31, and has secured the second rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 for Open Universities. He also noted that KSOU is offering 80 academic programmes recognised by the UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau), which is the highest number approved for any open university in India.
“The trust placed in KSOU by learners is evident in the threefold increase in student admissions and enrollments growing from around 6,000 to 40,000 learners per academic session, taking the total learner strength beyond 1.5 lakh,” he said.
The Centre for Future Skills (CFS), which has been established in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality and Cloud Computing, ensures that KSOU learners are future-ready and industry-aligned.
A total of 10,691 candidates received degrees at the KSOU convocation. PhD degrees were also conferred to 68 persons. A total of 65 gold medals and 62 cash prizes were also awarded on the occasion.
Degrees were also awarded to students from the 2021-22 January cycle to the 2023-24 January cycle as well as eligible candidates from 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
Published – January 31, 2026 06:17 pm IST
