Delighted to experience a proud moment when I came to know that the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) is drawing its efforts for the professionals for their skill up-gradation and providing access to such youth who have little or no access to the higher education. For reaching the unreached, the CUHP has established Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) for offering its academic programmes through online learning (OL) mode. In the today's fast growing world, online learning and distance learning is the best way to kill, reskill and up-skill our youth and enable them to lead a better life. I am fully sure that the CUHP will continue its endeavours of providing quality higher education through its ODL and OL programmes of CDOE by ensuring inclusive access and equity as has been emphasized in our Indian Constitution and National Education Policy-2020. I extend my best wishes to CDOE for such noble efforts.

Considering the vital significance of the Goal of "Viksit Bharat@2047" and moving ahead on the path of vision enshrined in National Education Policy-2020, I feel extreme pride that our university Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamshala has stepped into a new era of offering academic programmes at higher level through online learning (OL) mode. The NEP-2020 talks about increasing the access to higher education and improving GER at higher level to 50% by 2040. The current GER at higher level is much low and the programmes through open and distance mode and online learning mode can play a major role in realizing this target. To add an Aahuti (contribution) to this 'National Yajna', our University has established Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) which shall offer various higher education academic programmes through ODL and OL mode. Our university has been accredited with A+ Grade and has been accorded Graded Autonomy by UGC. We have been working seamlessly to create a sturdy network of national and global partnerships with higher education institutions, research organizations and industries. The university has undertaken many significant steps for quality enhancement in higher education and as a result of such efforts, significant achievements have also been made by the university. In the array of such steps, offering of Online Learning (OL) programmes through CDOE is a major breakthrough that will provide the opportunities to the students belonging to socially disadvantageous classes of the society and those in remote areas have very limited representation in higher education. Our mission is to reach the unreached and provide educational facilities to poorer and weaker sections of the society. Additionally, we are also eyeing on global learners, professional workers to take advantage of such OL programmes. Online Learning has been accepted as an effective way of learning and with the IT and ICT enabled facilities such as virtual class rooms, e-tutorials etc. We, at CDOE, have established online LMS for offering online programmes. We have established state of the art media lab and computer centres for offering online programmes. the provision for e-SLM, video lectures, OERs and live discussion forums will create such e-learning environment that will remain memorable for the learners of CDOE. Being the Host as Head of the University, I extend a very warm welcome to all our prospective learners of CDOE and hope that you will cherish the experiences that you will receive through CDOE during your academic programme.

Never denying a fact that learning at a distance through online mode is the need of the hour. The educational sector has largely got influenced by technological advancements and IT and ICT services to offer various academic programmes have become a necessity at present. The NEP-2020 calls for leveraging advantages of technology through ICT based educational initiatives to optimize its use in meeting challenges of quality education. In order to serve education at the door steps of the learners and translating the mantra of 'Learn while Earn' into reality through the use of IT and ICT facilities, the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) has been established in the Central University of Himachal Pradesh to provide learners with flexible learning opportunities. We are providing educational opportunities to the learners who wish to enhance their educational and professional qualifications. The CDOE follows choice-based credit system (CBCS) in its programmes and adopts modular approach for transacting its curriculum. The curriculum offered by CDOE competes with world class HEIs so as to make the learners competent to portray their capabilities and skills on a global platform. We at CDOE offer a blend of innovative learning and teaching techniques to enhance professional skills and competence of the learners. I invite the learners to have such global academic and professional experiences at CDOE, CUHP and enjoy your academic journey with our dedicated faculty and organization.

Today we are living in the era of science and technology. Every moment, we are witnessing advancement in every sphere of life. At this ever-changing point of globalization, quality becomes a dominant factor of success in every sector of the economy and this includes quality of education also. Today’s society is ‘Knowledge- led Society’ and current economy is ‘Knowledge-based Economy’. Without knowledge and education, one will find it difficult to succeed in life and a number of challenges will be in the path of success in this competitive world. In order to provide educational opportunities to all, the Central University of Himachal Pradesh has set- up Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE). This centre will offer such academic programmes at various levels through open and distance learning mode and online learning mode. Such programmes through ODL and OL mode can make a major contribution in enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio and ensuring inclusive access and equity in higher education to large sections of our country, particularly ‘reaching out the unreached’ and to meet the demands of lifelong learning for professional workers which has become more of a necessity in present knowledge society. The CDOE, CUHP shall play its role to meet the educational needs of the young aspirants including the professional workers, marginalized and the excluded youth, spread across the length and breadth of our country, to give the impetus to render the best services in the field of higher education. I am of the firm belief that learners of CDOE, CUHP will be fully equipped with knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of the global market and contribute to the growth of the nation. As Registrar of CUHP, I assure you that you will enjoy your academic journey with CDOE, CUHP. Our friendly and considerate faculty, helpdesk staff and technical staff will ever be with you to support, guide and handle your academic concerns. I request all the learners to keep your academics as your topmost priority to upgrade your knowledge, skills for your prosperous future and successful life.