As part of the state government’s commemoration of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday okayed the establishment of the “Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University” at Patiala.Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a Bill would be presented in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha for the enactment of “Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Act 2019”.The decision to set up the open university is in line with the global shift in the nature of education, with more and more students pursuing online courses through distance education. Such Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are becoming increasing popular worldwide, thus prompting the Punjab Government to also follow suit by deciding to set up this University for Open and Distance Learning in reverence to the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the first Sikh Guru.The main objective of the University is to provide educational opportunities to students with no or little access to institutions of regular higher learning. The University would focus on the realization of equal opportunities in higher education for all sections of the population, including those in employment, women/house wives, adults and Non Resident Indians, who wish to upgrade their qualification or acquire knowledge and studies in various fields through Open and Distance Learning mode.This institute of higher learning would also provide flexibility with regard to eligibility enrolment, age of entry, choice of courses, methods of learning, conduct of programmes, besides offering degree, diploma and certificate courses for the benefit of the working population in various disciplines.