Mysore/Mysuru: Laying of lawn, whitewashing buildings, felicitation to alumni and construction of study department building. These are plans of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) as part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations.

Started in 1996 to fulfil the aspirations of people for higher studies, this institution is celebrating 25 years of its glorious existence as premier distance education provider in the country. Academic activities, which was missing for almost nine months due to COVID-19 pandemic, have resumed, thanks to simplification of strict guidelines.

Lawn: The Horticulture experts from Bengaluru, have been entrusted with the work of laying lawn in and around the KSOU Administrative Building on Hunsur Road. These experts maintain lawn in Bengaluru’s Lalbagh. Fifteen workers are engaged in this work. The lawn has given new look to the Administrative building.

White paint: It has been decided to paint all the buildings of KSOU in white colour to have uniformity. 

Felicitation: As many as 20 IAS officers who have secured degree and post graduate certificate from KSOU while in service, would be honoured. Plans are on to identify noted scientist among the alumni, to felicitate them during Silver Jubilee celebrations. 

Regional Centres in Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Mangaluru which were functioning in rented buildings would get permanent structures on land owned by KSOU in those three cities.

Tender process has begun to construct Study Department building as part of Silver Jubilee celebrations. Year-long celebrations are planned which included national and international level workshops, lecture series and talks by nobel laureates. A High Power Committee would be constituted to chalk- out the programmes as part of celebrations.

KSOU is offering 51 courses including 20 certificate courses and 31 UG and PG courses, to around 40,000 candidates. As many as 1,293 candidates have registered their names for MBA course. The institute has 76 teaching and non-teaching staff to train 5,000 students. There is a demand for more staff due to increase in academic and research activities.

“Our institute has been imparting education to lakhs of youths in the last 25 years. It is a matter of proud that many KAS and IAS officers are alumni of this institute. It faced rough weather for some time. But, we have overcome it. Celebrations will be held throughout the year.”— Prof. S. Vidyashankar Vice-Chancellor,  KSOU