About Osmania University
The Osmania University, established in 1918, is the seventh oldest in the country, third oldest in South India and the first to be established in the princely State of Hyderabad. Though the need for a university for the Hyderabad State was felt, both by the intelligentsia and the people for a long time, the initiative came from a civil servant, SirAkbar Hydari, who was then the Home Secretary to the State Government. Sir Hydari, in a Memorandum to the Education Minister in early 1917, emphasized the need to establish a University for Hyderabad with 'Urdu' as the medium of instruction "as it is the language of the widest currency in India, official language of the State, and it is a language which is understood by a vast majority of the population of the State" He believed that higher education must have its foundations deep in national consciousness.
The propitious moment, however, came a few months later on 26th April 1917 when a Firman was issued for the establishment of the University. The Firman also detailed the 'Mission ' and 'Objectives' of the University to be that:
About the PGRRCDE
The PGRR Centre for Distance Education, Osmania University was established in the year 1977. Ever since the Osmania University established the Centre for Distance Education, the Centre has witnessed phenomenal growth and emerged as a pioneering institution in the field of Distance Education, with Potential for Excellence. The Centre has been named after Prof. G. Ram Reddy who was the doyen of Distance Learning in India and also the Vice Chancellor of Osmania University for two terms. He was the founding Vice Chancellor of first Open University in India in 1982, then known as Andhra Pradesh Open University (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University) and Indira Gandhi National Open University. (IGNOU), Vice President of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Vancour, Canada, apart from being the Chairman of UGC and Chairman of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).
The functions of Centre for Distance Education include
- To provide a system of learner centred self-paced studies
- To provide flexible, diversified and need based courses
- To provide access to higher education for all, in order to realize' Higher Education ForAll (HEFA)
- To facilitate Open and Distance Learning for the benefit of those persons not able to pursue their education through regular mode.
- To offer Open Distance Learning and Online courses in emerging and job oriented courses.
- To facilitate knowledge acquisition throughout one's life and be an active member in a knowledge society.
At present the student support services at the Centre for Distance Education are essentially based on the supply of reading materials for home study by the learner, supported and supplemented by facilities, like study Centres orAuthorised Learning Centres. This is found to be well received from student target groups. The Distance Education mode with interactive learning system at the core is the need of the day.
- The ancient and modern, the oriental and occidental arts and sciences are synthesized in such a mannerthatthe defects of the present system of education are rectified.
- The ancient as well as modern methods of physical, intellectual and spiritual education are to be fully utilised along with an effort for the propagation of knowledge, the moral improvement of the students is regulated on the one hand, and research work of a high order in all branches of knowledge is conducted on the other.
- Though the medium of instruction of the University was 'Urdu' an Aryan language that has direct Kinship with other languages of the country, instruction of English, as a language, was made compulsory for each student.
One of the basic ideals of Osmania University is to achieve an intellectual synthesis of oriental and occidental learning of the best that has been thought of and said, both in the East and in the West. Further, it aims at a cultural synthesis (as reflected in its architectural variety), the development of a national ethos, and the creation of an academic and social environment in which 'National Integration' is not a nebulous idea but a tangible reality.
Vision Of The University
The Vision of the University is to generate and disseminate knowledge through a harmonious blend of ancient and modern wisdom, and to serve the society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural, ethical and humane sensitivities; to foster a scientific temper, and to promote professional and technological expertise. Central to this vision is a commitment to regional and national development in consonance with our culture, heritage and environment.
Mission of the University
- To achieve excellence in teaching and research
- To generate, disseminate and preserve knowledge
- To meet the challenges of a complex, and modern society through informed social outreach
- To empower through knowledge and information
- To develop a responsible and productive citizenry
- To develop, enhance and improve the quality of human resources
- To cultivate resolute moral and ethical values
- To meet contemporary regional and national needs and anticipate future social and economic development
- To preserve and promote cultural heritage, humanistic and spiritual values.