For homemakers and working professionals, pursuing higher education won't be a tough task any more.

Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) will open 24 study centres across seven districts of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Ramgarh, Chatra, Koderma and Hazaribagh to launch distance education from the forthcoming academic session. Both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 24 subjects will be on offer.

As of now, the university has provisionally selected 24 colleges where these study centres would come up and learning material is being prepared.

The university is in touch with the distance education bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC) for completing the necessary formalities. Principals of the selected colleges have been asked to submit details of available infrastructure before March 14.

A team from the university will carry out an inspection of the proposed study centres. After verification of the infrastructure, the number of study centres may be curtailed.

'Facilities such as Net connection, computers and science laboratories and libraries are basic requirements for launching the study centres. Other necessary equipment like teleconferencing facilities will be provided to the selected colleges,' said VBU vice chancellor Gurdeep Singh told The Telegraph.

Vice chancellor Singh said a notification for launch of the courses would be sent within a month, while admissions would begin after completion of all formalities. Those interested would be able to register themselves online.

'According to the guidelines of the UGC's distance education bureau, classes for all the courses will be held on Sundays and during vacations,' said VBU director of the directorate of distance education Kaushal Kishore Srivastava.

He explained that syllabus for both regular as well as distance education courses would be the same.

Asked about teacher shortage, Srivastava said that they might invite guest faculty.