Aligarh Muslim University\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nThe university grew out of the work of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the great Muslim reformer and statesman, who in the aftermath of the Indian War of Independence of 1857 felt that it was important for Muslims to gain education and become involved in public life and government services in India. Raja Jai Kishan helped Sir Syed in establishing the university\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\n\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nThe British decision to replace the use of Persian in 1842 for government employment and as the language of Courts of Law caused deep anxiety among Muslims of the sub-continent. Sir Syed saw a need for Muslims to acquire proficiency in the English language and Western sciences if the community were to maintain its social and political clout, particularly in Northern India. He began to prepare the foundation for the formation of a Muslim University by starting schools at Moradabad (1858) and Ghazipur (1863). His purpose for the establishment of the Scientific Society in 1864, in Aligarh, was to translate Western works into Indian languages as a prelude to prepare the community to accept Western education and to inculcate scientific temperament among the Muslims. The intense desire to ameliorate the social conditions of Indian Muslims led Sir Syed to publish the periodical, \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Tehzibul Akhlaq\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' in 1870.
The Centre for Distance and Online Education is an integral part of the University and an expression of the University’s concern and commitment for the spread of education in all strata of society and all parts of the country. The desire and demand for education exist in every section of society, but since Colleges and Universities cannot accommodate beyond a defined limit, many cannot find admission. There is also a large section of society that is unable to participate in the regular/ formal stream of education due to occupational, financial, or social constraints. Persons like these can get an opportunity to derive the benefits of education through online mode.
By taking advantage of recent developments in information and communication technologies to widen the reach of education and to enhance the quality of education through the use of multi-media methods of teaching and learning, the Centre aims at providing the students an opportunity to learn and appear for the examination of various courses which will be conducted by the University. Adopting flexible and innovative methods of education to ensure ‘independent learning’ to anyone, anytime and anywhere, the Centre offers programs of the study that are customized to meet the learning requirements of knowledge seekers as well as to ensure that they learn at their own pace and convenience. Within the financial means of University, due care has been taken to keep the cost of education low so that educationally backward sections can take advantage of University’s programs. The Centre for Distance and Online Education has a special commitment to the cause of Women’s education, particularly of the minority community, among those who are educationally and economically deprived section. Given an opportunity to study at home supported with study materials, women can benefit immensely from this program.