Distance Education is an established and recognized mode of education which is in consonance with changing socio-economic needs and emerging demands of the knowledge era. Keeping up with the spirit of Open University system and in the view of long-standing demand of heterogeneous groups of student's community, the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak (MDU), has started a wide spectrum of courses. Over the years, DDE has expanded tremendously in terms of programmes, enrolment and study centres.
The various programmes offered by the Directorate range from conventional to management and technical as per needs of the area and employment opportunities available in the country. In order to meet the growing demand of computer education, the Directorate with its experience and expertise in both computer and distance learning launched programmes in Computer/IT. These programmes are telescopic in nature wherein a diploma/advanced diploma is awarded after completion of each year of training culminating into a university degree. Moreover, to provide greater choice and flexibility to the students, provision for lateral induction in Computer/IT programmes has been adopted.
The teaching-learning strategies employed for effective dissemination of knowledge and mitigating the feeling of isolation of distance include printed study material in simple form, Sunday and other holidays classes at University approved study centers, personal contact programme (PCP), Assignments, Internal Tests, Projects, Field work and well established labs. The excellent technical libraries include facility of Videocassettes, E-mail, Internet, CD-ROM, and practical. In addition to above, face-to-face (F2F) and telephone counselling is provided to distance learners by in-house faculty of DDE at the headquarter and by the resource persons at respective study centers.
In order to promote effective academic and administrative support to the distance learners, DDE has a network of study centers, which makes teaching-learning process easier and more interesting for them in a congenial atmosphere. Expert teams make frequent visit to the study centers to get first hand information and this feedback helps the directorate to make further improvement in its programmes.
DDE is housed in a spacious building, which is properly ventilated and easily approachable. Enquiry cell and Computer lab are manned by experienced staff. The credit for the present status of the directorate goes to the invaluable participation and co-operation of the University Authority, IGNOU, DEC, NCTE & Statutory Bodies associated with Distance Education Systems.
