Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University, commonly abbreviated as PSSOU, is a state open university located in Bilaspur in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The university offers distance education and open learning programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels, and serves as the principal state-level institution dedicated to open and distance learning in Chhattisgarh.
| Name | Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | PSSOU |
| Type | State open university |
| Location | Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India |
| Mode of instruction | Open and distance learning |
| Named after | Pandit Sundarlal Sharma |
The university is named after Pandit Sundarlal Sharma, a social reformer, freedom fighter, poet, and educationist from the Chhattisgarh region, who is widely regarded as one of the early champions of social reform and anti-untouchability work in central India. By naming the state's open university after him, the Government of Chhattisgarh sought to associate the institution with his legacy of inclusive education and social upliftment.
PSSOU was established by the Government of Chhattisgarh as a dedicated open university to expand access to higher education for learners who could not pursue conventional, full-time degree programmes. This includes working professionals, women learners, residents of remote and tribal regions of the state, and students seeking flexible modes of study.
The university offers a range of programmes typical of state open universities in India, including:
Instruction is delivered through self-learning printed material, contact-cum-counselling sessions at affiliated study centres, and term-end examinations. Study centres are spread across districts of Chhattisgarh to facilitate access for learners outside the state capital and Bilaspur.
The university is headquartered in Bilaspur, the second-largest city of Chhattisgarh and an important administrative, judicial, and educational centre in the state. Bilaspur also hosts other notable higher education institutions, making it a regional hub for tertiary education in central India.
As the state's open university, PSSOU plays a key role in widening participation in higher education in Chhattisgarh, a state with a substantial tribal population and large rural areas where conventional university campuses may not be easily accessible. By offering distance and open learning, the university contributes to adult education, skill development, and second-chance learning opportunities, complementing the work of conventional state universities such as those based in Raipur and Bilaspur.