Open Universities

Open universities in India are the distance learning and research universities. Open universities provide education to the students wishing to pursue higher education on the basis of part-time or the people with health disabilities. Open universities in India are governed by DEC. DEC (Distance Education Council) is an organization in New Delhi. DEC is responsible for promotion, coordination and determination of standards of open universities or the distance education in India. There are many open universities in India. List of Open Universities 

Open universities has a number of methods for distance learning, including written materials, audio material, the Internet, disc-based software , television programs on DVD, Study materials are composed originally by in-house and external academic contributors and from third-party materials licensed for use of students of open universities. In open universities students are supported by associate lecturers who gave them assignments and provide feedback on their work by telephone, or on the Internet, Web-based VoIP, Telephone, Videoconferencing, Web conferencing, Direct-broadcast satellite, Internet radio, Live streaming, Audiocassette, E-mail, Message board forums, Print materials, Voice Mail/fax. With distance education in open universities students are not restricted to a teaching space for certain hours on a specified day. With the help of technology, students are able to send their assignments, projects to their instructor at any time. Student can save considerably on transport and living.

The majority of staff in open universities is Associate Lecturers, salaried academic employees, others who are also academic-related and support staff. Open universities has Faculties of Arts, Education & Language Studies, Health and Social Care, Law, Mathematics, Computing and Technology, Science, Social Science, and a Business School. Assessment in open universities is performed on the basis of examination and coursework. Assessments results issued on a graded basis, consisting of pass grades 1 (85%, a distinction), 2 (70-84%), 3 (55-69%) and 4 (40-54%), and fail (below 40%), which is the lower grade of the overall.

Major issue in distance education is when the student is required to complete assignments and give exam. There is difficulty in controlling cheating in distance education during examination, tests due to lack of teacher control. In a classroom situation a teacher can monitor the student’s activities and preserve a level of integrity according to the institution's reputation. However, with distance education the student can completely escape from supervision. Some schools come up with integrity issues regarding test and examination by requiring students to give examinations in a controlled environment.