Welcome to Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU). I greatly appreciate the interest shown by you in surfing this website of VMOU. In my view this interest is reflective of your conscious recognition of the importance of education in man’s life - a consciousness which is very critical for the progress of the self and the society. With the steady growth of institutions for higher education the accessibility, cost and quality aspects have been a matter of concern. As an alternative to the conventional University, Distance Education has emerged a major player in the area of higher education. Ably assisted by science and technology, Distance Education has been successful in evoking keen interest in many individuals like you. In India this concept of Distance Education started in the 1980s. In Rajasthan the Legislative Assembly by an Act established The Kota Open University in 1987, which was later on renamed as Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Kota ( VMOU ). It is the third oldest Open University in India. VMOU as an institution of Open Distance Learning, in essence, intends to take education to individuals who are unable to leave home or workplace to seek education from a regular or conventional educational institution. By adopting multiple strategies like liberal admission criteria, delivering study material at affordable prices at the doorstep of the students, timely counselling and other student support services, flexible time schedule, etc. VMOU seeks to facilitate many students who, for such reasons like multiple responsibilities or inadequacies of time, space and money have not been able to access higher education through conventional universities Today, after 20 years of its establishment, VMOU is one of the premier institutions of Distance Learning and higher education in India. At present it is offering 80 Academic Programmes which include Ph.D., M.Phil., Post Graduation, Graduation, P.G. Diploma, Diploma and Certificate Programmes. Plans are on the anvil to increase the courses further to actualise our dream to offer ‘Academic Programme for Someone in Every Family’. In the inaugural year in 1987 there were only 9 Academic Programmes in which only around 4000 students took admission. However, in 2007 nearly 35000 students took admission in the University. I am sure these students as well as those who have passed out have had a very satisfying experience with VMOU. I hope VMOU will be able to also cater to your particular need related to higher education and assure you of all the possible cooperation.