The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has approved 29 Overseas Study Centres (OSCs) abroad. The country-wise study centres are: United Arab Emirates (7), Qatar (1), Kuwait (2), Oman (1), Bahrain (1), Saudi Arabia (5), Mauritius (1), Ethiopia (1), Ivory Cost (1), Papua New Guinea (2), Kenya (1), Singapore (1), Nepal (2), Sri Lanka (2), and Afghanistan (1).

IGNOU has informed that upon their internal review, it came to the notice of the University that these Study Centres were functioning without the prior approval of the Visitor as envisaged in the Act of the University. The University has, accordingly kept in abeyance all the operations of Overseas Study Centres (OSCs) in these countries w.e.f. 01/01/2014 but not closed so far. However, interests of the existing students have been protected by allowing their re-registration, conducting term-end examination in June 2014 and admitting students who have passed Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP) to the Bachelor’s Degree Programme (BDP) during July 2014 admission session.

Once a comprehensive proposal for Overseas Study Centres is received from IGNOU, the Ministry shall initiate action for Visitor’s approval.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Lok Sabha question.

Source: PIB