The university houses 46 academic departments. It is popularly known as the ‘Oxford of the East’. Savitribai Phule Pune University has the status of graded autonomy granted by the UGC. It has about 307 recognized research institutes and 612 affiliated colleges offering graduate and under-graduate courses. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a system where teachers and learners need not necessarily be present either at the same place or at the same time, and is flexible in regard to modalities and timing of teaching and learning, as well as the admission criteria, without compromising necessary quality considerations.