India

The Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) was established in July 1989. It is the Fifth Open University in the country. The YCMOU has been recognised under section 12 (B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. It is a member of various prestigious associations and bodies like the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), Commonwealth of Learning (COL), and Canada to name a few. Due to statutory powers conferred by an Act of Maharashtra state legislature and the recognition by the University Grants Commission of India, this university is fully empowered to award various academic certifications like certificates, diplomas, and graduate, post-graduate, doctoral degrees. All the degree and post-graduate degree programmes are duly recognised and approved by the University Grant Commission (UGC). Hence, these programmes are equivalent to the respective programmes offered by any other statutory university in India, for the purpose of employment, promotion and further education. In this respect, the status of this university is at par with all other statutory universities of India.