The IGNOU Regional Centre, Cochin was established on 17th November, 1988 to provide open and distance education in the State of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Over the years, the activities of IGNOU in the region grew and a number of Study Centres were established with substantial student enrolment in various academic programmes of the University.
With the establishment of Regional Centre, Trivandrum in the year 2009, jurisdiction of three southern districts of the State viz., Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thriuvananthapuram districts have been allotted to the Regional Centre, Trivandrum. Later, in 2011, another Regional Centre was established at Vatakara in Kozhikode district, with the jurisdiction of four northern districts such as Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Now, the Regional Centre, Cochin caters to seven districts of Kerala viz., Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kottayam, Idukki and Alappuzha. In addition, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep also comes under the jurisdiction of RC, Cochin (Fig: 1).
Fig: 1 Map showing the jurisdiction of IGNOU Regional Centre, Cochin
The University has constructed a Four storied building and a Six storied building at the Regional Centre Campus at Kaloor, Cochin.
The first building with four storey’s and roof top was constructed in the year 2008 and this was inaugurated on 3rd April 2010 by Sh. K.V. Thomas, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Kerala in the presence of Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, Dr.Latha Pillai, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dr. K.S.D Nair Regional Director, RC Cochin. The present four-storied building has the Regional Centre, the Gyan Vani FM Radio Station, Computer Labs, Classrooms, Conference rooms, Guest Room, Recreation centre and Library.
The second six storied building construction was started from the year 2010 and was inaugurated on 11th January 2016 by Sh. K Babu (The Ex. Minister of Excise, Fisheries & Port, Government of Kerala) in the presence of Prof. Nageswar Rao, VC, Dr. V.V. Reddy, Director RSD and Dr. M. Rajesh, Former Regional Director, RC Cochin. This building houses the Regional Evaluation Centre and the Model Study Centre SC14000.
