Admissions open at Punjab's 1st open varsity

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 15

Recently-established Patiala-based Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University has started the admission process to its various courses for the first academic session of 2021-22 from Thursday.

State’s first and nations’ 14th open university will also provide free education to 550 students from economically weaker section in the state, of which one-third of seats are reserved for girl children.

Vice-Chancellor (VC) Karamjeet Singh said the university would provide low-cost education to students without compromising on quality. “We did a survey of the best universities of the world, including Harvard and Stanford, and shortlisted the best courses to be run here. Need-based innovative programmes, including certificate courses in cyber security, digital marketing, artificial intelligence and its application, along with progressive courses, including values of Sikhism, and rural management among others.”

These courses will be offered at Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. “The fee to be charged at our university will be 30 per cent less in comparison to government universities providing distance education,” he said.

The university has started admission to eight certificate courses and is awaiting UGC approval for degree courses.

Dr Singh pointed out that the degrees earned through distance education mode will be at par with regular courses done from traditional universities.