ACCESS TO DIPLOMACY: EVOLUTION OF IGNOU’S GLOBAL PRESENCE

Abstract

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has evolved from a national experiment in distance education to a global leader in open and distance learning (ODL). Central to this transformation is the International Division (ID), established in 1996 as the university’s single-window system for international operations. Initially focused on government-led projects and bilateral collaborations, the ID has expanded IGNOU’s reach to over 57 countries through its distinctive four-fold approach of collaboration, cooperation, coordination, and competition.

This paper traces the evolution of the ID from implementing state projects to advancing transnational education (TNE) aligned
with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4. It situates IGNOU’s internationalisation
within a comparative framework alongside the Open University (UK), Athabasca University (Canada), and UNISA (South Africa),
underscoring its unique Global South orientation. Through initiatives such as the e-VidyaBharati and GOAL projects, IGNOU demonstrates how ODL can function as an instrument of educational diplomacy and South–South cooperation. The study argues that IGNOU redefines internationalisation not as market expansion but as inclusive knowledge partnership—advancing a model where education serves both national development and global equity.