STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

There is no alternative to lifelong learning to maintain the sustainability and protect our future generation. The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) gives the opportunity of lifelong learning. Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) is one of 14 State Open Universities in India and it was established by the West Bengal State government in the year 1997. The challenge was to provide education at every door step within the state with equity and quality. Within a very short span of 11 years, the University has become a people's University with more than 140,000 learners on its roll. The University is playing a pivotal role in capacity building and it gives a person a chance to earn the degree which (s)he could not get it earlier due to socio-economic reasons. The success of the University has come through effective implementation of support services. The strength of an open and distance learning institute depends on its services which are provided to the learners. On one hand, the learners of this system are adult; on the other hand, they belong to disadvantaged groups like dropouts, scheduled cast, scheduled tribe, women, minorities, house wives etc. Again, they are separated from teacher as well as from the Institutes under open and distance learning system, so they desperately need support before, during and even after their study. The term ‘Student Support Services’ is not associated with the conventional system of education. We commonly use this term in ODL system of education. The Student Support Services in ODL not only include these nonacademic services but also the academic services as provided by the Institute and faculty. NSOU uses both Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and non-ICT related Student Support Services. In this paper I have highlighted how NSOU has achieved the status of Mega University with the help of its Student Support Services.