Centre for Distance Education - Shivaji University, Kolhapur was established on 17th October 2007.  It is one of the constituent parts of the Shivaji University, Kolhapur which was established in 1968. CDE has shifted to its newly constructed building in the Shivaji University campus, Kolhapur on 19th August 2010.

It is one of the premier colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone in the part of progress.
 
The college is self-affiliated to Shivaji University, Kolhapur and it is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) & 12(B) under Act, 1956.

It is also recognized and approved by Distance Education Council (DEC), New Delhi. The DEC was established mainly to empower higher education through distance mode.

In order to enhance the quality of their education and reach out to the larger section of the society which has for various reasons remained distant from the portals of learning - be it the working service class, women, housewives or those who have aspirations for furthering their education, the Shivaji University, aiming at social inclusion has opened its doors to them by proposing the Centre for Distance Education (CDE). CDE became an independent unit in the year 2007.

The Centre for Distance Education has developed Self Instructional Material (SIM) with a view to helping the distance learner in his learning process for selective subjects offered through distance mode.

The features of SIM developed by CDE are as follows:

• Available in English and Marathi Language
• Easy and Simple language
• Use of examples and diagrams, pictures, etc.
• Distribution of a unit into small sections and sub-sections for better understanding of a content based on the objectives
• Self Assessment/Practice questions after each section/unit

The SIM will be provided to the distance learners permanently and this SIM will remain lifelong with the learners. The learners will also be benefitted from the guidance and counseling sessions for each subject from subject experts at the approved and authorized Study Centres of CDE which are also the affiliated colleges of Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

The CDE is offering several certificate /diploma /degree /post-graduate courses in various disciplines to thousands of girls/housewives/working women who could not complete their education (not even SSC/HSC) but are strongly motivated to upgrade their educational and /or professional qualifications. In last 33 years, more than 3 lakhs women are benefitted by this facility and improved their careers in life.

Vision:

• Shivaji University is committed to meeting the educational, social, cultural & economic needs of the region and the nation to create a just and humane society

Mission:

• To promoting and fostering a culture of high-quality teaching and learning, and to serve societal needs by encouraging, generating and promoting excellence in research and extension activities

Objectives:

• To more number of distance learners from the various age groups
• To different sections of the society, who are for some reason unable to pursue education and bring them into the mainstream
• To the female class of the society who have remained deprived because of domestic responsibilities and social restrictions
• To the working class who choose to study at their own place
• To all sections of the society irrespective of caste, religion, gender, area of origin, social and financial status etc
• At affordable costs
• To offer courses of study along with Self Instructional Material, contact sessions, counseling facilities, library and internet facilities through designated Study Centres