MESSAGE

The enrollment ration in higher education in India is close to 10.5% against the average International enrollment ratio of 53% It Implies that 90% of our youth does not pursue higher education which is a big challenge for the overall growth of the country.

The Government of lndia in its IltPhlan has targeted to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education from 11% to 20%. This implies that we need to double up our capacity for higher education. Besides other steps to achieve the above, the Government of lndia is planning to increase the contribution of distance education from the present 24% to 40%. Thus, there is a need for Universities to establish high quality distance education systems to achieve these targets.

Our Government has declared 2010-2020 as the "Decade of Innovation" and in assistance to this every person of lndia should come up with little innovative ideas for the growth of our Nation. We need to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth in education, skill  development, health care, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. New solutions in many areas are necessary to reach such targets in expedient ways and in summarizing to
above we have come up with an innovative idea.

I am very happy that Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has, contributed a lot in Distance Education since 1996 and again come up with an innovative idea of online learning with Online Examination of KSOU courses in collaboration with BER & VEDANT.

It is appreciable that KSOU has established its network not only in the urban sector but also in the far fluqg areas which have been deprived of opportunities of higher education.

I am confident that Univers~ty w~ll increase the enrollment ratio in higher education and rise in the academic world in near future. I am giving my best w~shesto each and everyone.

Prof. K. S. Rangappa
Vice Chancellor
Karnataka State Open University
Manasagangotri
Mysore - 570 006.