Karnataka State Open University was formally established on 1 June 1996 under the Karnataka State Open University Act of 1992, with the objectives of introducing and promoting the system of open university and distance learning in the state of Karnataka, and coordinating and determining the standard of such a system in the state. The University has its headquarters in Mysore. The university was initiated by the Government of Karnataka. The objective is to provide education to people who cannot attend full-time or part-time educational courses offered by universities. The distance education programmes of Karnataka State Open University provide opportunities to working professionals who cannot afford full-time education to earn degrees or diplomas. The Karnataka State Open University originally started as the Institute of Correspondence Course and Continuing Education, a wing of University of Mysore. The Karnataka State Open University is the 8th Open University to be established in India.
