Centre for distance and online education

The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Odisha Legislature on 10th December 1966 to fulfil a long-cherished dream of the people of Western Odisha for the establishment of a University. The University started functioning on 1st January 1967 with Prof. Parsuram Mishra as the first vice-chancellor. The University was inaugurated on 4th January 1967 by Hon’ble Chancellor A. N. Khosla. The University started functioning in 1967 in a rented private building at Dhanupali, Sambalpur and a Government building at Ainthapali, Sambalpur from 1968 - 72. In the year 1973, the University was shifted to the present campus named Jyoti Vihar at Burla.

The territorial jurisdiction of the University covers six districts of the state of Odisha namely Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Boudh and Athamallik Sub-Division of Angul District.

Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) Course offered by Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Sambalpur University is an initiation programme for students to gain detailed computer knowledge in fundamental knowledge of computer, operating systems, computational techniques, database management and the fundamental principles of programming.

This course caters to the needs not only of the fresh graduates but also to the experienced professionals with computer skill, but lack of formal qualification for the same. It aims at preparing graduates to deal with the responsibilities of handling computers in large industries/ MNC's and Government Organizations.

India has emerged as one of the leading countries for the supply of Qualified Managers and Computer Professionals to the entire world. This has led to a crisis and shortage of IT & Management Professionals in India at all levels. It is well known that the opportunities in the Management, Marketing and IT sector are growing in a geometric progression. Although India has a strong human resource base, unless we plan for the anticipated growth in the above sector, we would be left far behind. The emphasis and focus on IT and Management Education by the Universities could not have come at a better time.

In the fitness of this, PGDCA Course of Centre for Distance and Online Education, Sambalpur University initiated through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, with thirteen affiliated colleges under Sambalpur University serving as Learner Support Centre (LSC), with a hope to reach out to more and more people and help them in their endeavour to study further and taking education to people at their doorstep by removing all barriers of learning.