摘要：Electronic Governance (E-governance) in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) System is
the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for the governance and
management of the ODL institutions. This includes planning, implementation, and
monitoring of university programs, projects, and activities. Interest in e-governance is
growing with the increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) by
government to improve the quality of governance and service delivery. ODL system,
commonly known a distance education, has evolved as an effective medium to support the
increasing demand for education of a variety of learners, in a developing country like India.
In the 21st Century, most of the learners entering the ODL institutions are digital natives.
This makes it more important that the e-governance is an integral part of the ODL system to
deliver cost-effective education, with dedicated learner services, and improved processing of
transactions within the institution, and between the government and other agencies. In this
paper we discuss about e-governance in distance education context. We also highlight some
of the important initiatives such as implementation of enterprise resource planning solution,
online admission system, national open and distance learners’ library and information
network, taken by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), a premier Open
University in India, towards e-governance. The paper also discusses various issues and
challenges related to the planning, development and implementation of e-governance projects
and initiatives in an ODL institution.
