Since its establishment in 1985, IGNOU has contributed significantly to the development of higher education in the country through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

The 'People's University' follows a learner-centric approach and has successfully adopted a policy of openness and flexibility in entry qualifications, time taken for completion of a programme, and place of study. The University, at present, offers 338 programmes of study through over 3,500 courses to cumulative student strength of over 30 lakh students. The programmes are offered by the University at the following levels: doctorate; masters and bachelors degree programmes; post-graduate and under-graduate diplomas; and certificates.

The education is disseminated in conventional, as well as emerging inter-disciplinary areas, such as consumer protection, disaster management, environment, human rights, tourism, women empowerment and child development, participatory forest management, participatory planning, resettlement and rehabilitation, teacher education, food and nutrition, continuing medical and health education, Retail Management, Footwear Technology & Leather Goods & Accessories Design, laboratory techniques, and online learning. One of the biggest contributions of the University has been making available to long-distance learners, courses which were hitherto exclusively limited to Face-to-Face (Regular) programme in the upcoming & job oriented areas. All the programmes offered at FDDI & other programme in physical and natural sciences, nursing, health, engineering and technology, computers, library and information sciences are some of the popular programmes designed to cated the need of the corporate.

The University develops its academic programmes through 21 Schools of Study. A dedicated faculty, trained in distance education methodology, is responsible for planning, designing, developing and delivering academic programmes. IGNOU involves a large number of senior teachers and experts from premier institutions in the country as 'content experts' for developing and delivering its course material. The University has established a network of 43 Regional Centres (RCs), 6 Sub-Regional Centres and 1,400 Study Centres (SCs) all over the country to provide easy access and effective support services to the learners. These include Programme Study Centres (PSCs), as well as Special Study Centres for SC/STs, minorities, differently-abled learners, jail inmates, and personnel of different wings of Defence and Para-military services. The University has also extended its outreach beyond the borders of the country. IGNOU has entered into bilateral and multilateral alliances with several countries, especially in Asia and Africa: Australia, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea and Liberia. The academic programmes of the University have multi-media support. The University has facilities for audio, video, radio, television, interactive radio and video counselling, as well as tele-conferencing. IGNOU has also been identified as the nodal agency for running a 24-hour educational TV channel — Gyan Darshan — in collaboration with other institutions of higher learning. Gyan Vani is emerging as a huge cooperative network of FM radio stations, exclusively devoted to education.

Apart from teaching, research and training, extension education is an important component of academic activities at IGNOU. Extension education provides the much-needed linkages between the community and the University. Various literacy programmes focusing on community awareness and education and training in need-based and relevant areas have been successfully executed by the University. This is part of the University's strategy of social intervention, and building the skill and knowledge capability of the community.