Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Open University shortly called as PSSOU is located in the city of Bilaspur at the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The university was established on the 55th year of republic of India and the university was accorded assent in the year 2005 on the 20th of January by the Governor of the state of Chhattisgarh. The academy of the university aims at offering education to more and more people of economically and socially backward rural areas. The best thing about PSSOU is that the university offers a special learning programme through distance education for handicapped people thereby standing out of the other universities in the nation. The Open University system is more learner-oriented and instructions are imparted by the university through distance education rather than through face-to-face communication.

Pandit Sundarlal Sharma University offers education through different departments functioning under its control like department of herbal sciences, department of Ayurved, Department of Computer Science & applications, department of mathematical Science, economics, department of political science & public administration, department of sociology, department of history, department of education, department of commerce, department of library science, department of Sanskrit, Department of English, department of Hindi and department of Indian philosophy. The list of courses offered by the Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University through these departments is given below:

Department of Indian Philosophy – Jyotish and Yogic Sciences:

• Diploma in

o Yogic Science

o Jyotish and Vastushatra

• Post Graduate Diploma in Yogic Science

• Master of Arts in Yogic Science

• Doctor of Philosophy in Yogic Science

Department of Hindi:

• Bachelor of Arts in Hindi

• Master of Arts in Hindi

• Doctor of Philosophy in Hindi

Department of English:

• Bachelor of Arts in English

• Master of Arts in English

• Doctor of Philosophy in English

Department of Sanskrit:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sanskrit

• Master of Arts in Sanskrit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Sanskrit

Department of Library Sciences:

• Bachelor of Library & Information Sciences

Department of Commerce:

• Bachelor of Commerce

• Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce

Department of Education:

• Diploma in Education (proposed)

• Bachelor of Education

• Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Department of History:

• Bachelor of Arts in History

• Master of Arts in History

• Doctor of Philosophy in History

Department of Sociology:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

• Master of Arts in Sociology

• Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

Department of Political Science & Public Administration:

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

• Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration

• Master of Arts in Political Science

• Master of Arts in Public Administration

• Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration

Department of Economics:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics

• Master of Arts in Economics

• Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

Department of Mathematical Sciences:

• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

• Master of Science in Mathematics

• Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics

Department of Computer Science & Application:

• Diploma in Computer Applications

• Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications

• Bachelor of Computer Applications

• Master of Computer Applications

• Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Applications (proposed)

Department of Ayurved:

• Diploma in Ayurved Prabodh

• Doctor of Philosophy in Ayurved

Department of Herbal Sciences:

• Diploma in

o Medical Plant Cultivation

o Cultivation Marketing & Management

o Herbal Medicine

Instructional System followed by Pandit Sharma Open University, Chhattisgarh:

Pandit Sharma Open University works in a different way when compared to conventional universities. As mentioned earlier, the university follows an educational system that is more learner-oriented and the students of the university has to be an active participant in the teaching-learning process. The university follows mult-channel approach for instruction, which comprises of the following:

• Gyan vani – FM Radio Channel

• Gyan Darshan Channel

• Practicals

• Assignments

• Face-to-face counseling by educational counselors at study centres

• Audio-video programmes transmitted through Doordharshan and Radio

• Video and audio cassettes

• Self-instructional printed material

The university is also planning to introduce web-based learning support for the benefit of students from different areas.

Special features of the university:

Some of the special features of Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Open University are:

• Modular programmes

• Cost-effective programmes

• Student support services

• Usage of latest communicational and educational technologies

• Flexible rules of admission

• Jurisdiction spread over the whole state

• Flexibility in terms of duration of study, pace and place of study

• Resource sharing, networking and collaboration between other open universities in the country

With these features, Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Open University offers the most convenient form of learning to students belonging to different communities.