Himachal Pradesh University,
a premier institution of teaching and research
in the country,
is situated at Summer Hill, a suburb of Shimla
at a distance of 5 km. from the main town. It
covers 200 acres of lush green land and offers
a panoramic view with its distinctive architectural
style. It was established in 1970 by an Act
of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
The Government of Himachal Pradesh and the University
Grants Commission mainly finance it. The University
has 12 Faculties and 30 Teaching Departments
covering various programmes such as Management,
and Vocational Studies; Commerce ; Engineering
and Technology; Languages; Law; Life and Physical
Sciences; Social Sciences; Ayurveda, Dental,
and Medical Sciences; Information Technology,
Computer Science, Performing and Visual Arts.
The University also has its Academic Staff College
which offers Orientation and Refresher Courses
for University and college teachers. As many
as two hundred seventy colleges/institutions
(govt./private) from within the State are affiliated
to the University in addition to Centres of
Distance Education (ICDEOL), Evening Studies,
Legal Studies and Regional Centre at Dharamshala
Distance Education
Teaching through distance mode is now recognised as
an effective method of instruction in all the advanced
countries of the world. In the fast developing socio-economic
milieu of today, educational facilities need constant
refurbishing and augmentation. It is now acknowledged
by the academics of all shades that it is learning which
is important and not the channel or the process through
which one gets enrolled for education. The educational
system in India has been changing from time to time,
taking into consideration the socio-political needs
and economic conditions of the society. Although the
contribution to the various branches of learning by
the conventional educational system cannot be underestimated,
the fact remains that education through the formal mode
has been accessible only to a few. The distance and
open education system as an alternative mode of imparting
instruction has, over the years, been meeting the demand
for education of millions of people at different levels.
It is an effort not only to solve the problem of over-crowding
in our-educational institutions but also to equip the
adult community with the tools and skills to attain
professional competence. Over the past four decades
various Indian universities have adopted the programme
of distance education or open learning. Realising the
importance of the system, Indira Gandhi National Open
University was established in 1985 in New Delhi.
International Centre
for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL)
Immediately after its establishment in 1970, the
Himachal Pradesh University took a bold step towards
proliferation of knowledge and democratisation
of educational opportunities by setting up a Directorate
of Correspondence Courses in 1971. The University
has played a pioneering role in launching the
programme of distance education at the postgraduate
level. It was the first to impart instruction
at postgraduate level in social-sciences, humanities,
commerce and teacher training through the mode
of distance education. Research studies at M.Phil.
level were also introduced through this medium
in the various disciplines. Over the years, the
Directorate of Correspondence Courses moved towards
absorbing the emerging philosophy of distance
education and adopting multi-media approach to
impart instruction. In view of this, the Directorate
of Correspondence Courses has now been rechristened
as the International Centre for Distance Education
and Open Learning (ICDEOL). It is located in the
H.P. University complex at Summer Hill, a suburb
at the western end of Shimla, 5 Km from the main
town. Summer Hill Railway Station is a 5 minutes
walk from the ICDEOL complex.
Working Hours
The library of ICDEOL at Shimla remains open from 10.00
a.m. to 5.00 p.m. throughout the year except on Second
Saturday, Sunday and other University holidays.
