Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (commonly referred to as BAOU) was founded in 1994. It was established under the provisions of Act No. 14 of 1994, which was passed by the Gujarat State Legislature. Situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Ambedkar Open University is a public institution. It is recognized by the UGC and has received accreditation from the NAAC with a Grade A++. Furthermore, BAOU is affiliated with various organizations, including the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), among others. It is also endorsed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). According to the NIRF 2024 rankings, Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Ahmedabad is ranked 3rd in the Open University category.
BAOU University Ahmedabad offers undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, certificate, and diploma programs through its four schools of study, catering to students in Arts, Commerce, Science, Education, Management, and other fields. The university has set up over 7 regional centers and more than 270 study centers throughout Gujarat. It provides over 80 courses in a distance learning format. At the undergraduate level, BAOU's offerings include BA, BCom, BCA, BBA, and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), among others. Additionally, BAOU Ahmedabad provides MBA, MCom, MCA, and other programs at the postgraduate level. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University also offers online courses through its Centre for Online Education (COE). Admissions for BAOU courses are primarily based on merit for most programs available at the university.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University has partnered with numerous national and international organizations. BAOU has entered into MoUs with institutions such as Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Astrakhan State University in Russia, and Stree Chetana, among others. The university has a dedicated Training and Placement Cell (TPC) that provides placement support to its students. The placement cell frequently organizes training programs to assist students in securing favorable job placements. The key highlights of BAOU University are outlined below:
Particulars | BAOU Highlights 2025 |
|---|
Establishment year | 1994 |
Ownership Type | Government |
Also known as | BAOU, BAOU Ahmedabad |
Location | Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
Top accreditation | A++ Grade by the NAAC |
Recognition and membership | UGC, AIU, ICDE, AAOU, NCTE |
NIRF 2024 (Open University) | 3 |
Mode of study | Distance |
Application mode | Online |
Flagship courses | MBA, BSc |
No. of courses | 80+ |
No. of regional centres | 7 |
No. of study centres | 270+ |
Official Website | baou.edu.in |