Directorate of Distance Education, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore was established in 1981. Its affiliated to Vidyasagar University.

The University was established on 29th September 1981 by an Act called the Vidyasagar University Act 1981 (West Bengal Act XVIII of 1981) after the name of Pandit Iswar Chandra Bandyopadhyay known as Vidyasagar, the educationist and social worker of Bengal. The University Grants Commission(UGC) accorded financial recognition to the University under 12B on March 1,1990. The total area of the University is 182.75 acres (Main Campus 103.74 acres and Residential Campus 35.04 acres).

The courses offered at the directorate have been fully covered by the norms of the Distance Education Council. The aim of the directorate is to provide an answer to the needs of the region, ethnic, socio cultural and geographical along with mainstream education. A number of Management Institutes (NSO) applied to the University seeking affiliation of various management courses. The University in principle has also agreed to affiliate a Medical College which is going to be started soon at Midnapore town.

The university authority is also considering the proposal for introducing postgraduate courses at undergraduate colleges affiliated to the university. The teaching in the postgraduate departments is being offered in unconventional areas, research is being carried out in fields mostly unexplored, and extension and field action being geared to the fulfillment of the above mission. The University is also running post graduate courses as well as one year bridge course in distance mode in five arts and commerce subjects as well as two science subjects. 

The Vidyasagar University is established with a mission to provide an answer to the needs of the region, ethnic, socio – cultural and geographical along with mainstream education. The University logo with the motto “ Education, Knowledge, Progress” embodies the mission stated above. The University is an affiliating the having its jurisdiction which shall not be extended beyond the limit of Midnapore District or any District which may be created in future out of any part thereof.

Thirty colleges of Calcutta university within the District of Midnapore were initially deemed to have been affiliated to Vidyasagar University .Now the total number raised to 39 including three engineering Colleges -one Haldia Institute of Technology at Haldia, one College of Engineering & Management at Kolaghat and one MCKV Institute of Engineering at Liluah. MSW Course of Vidyasagar school of Social work was given affiliation by the University. A number of Management Institutes (NSO) applied to the University seeking affiliation of various management Courses.

The University in principle has also agreed to affiliate a Medical College which is going to be started soon at Midnapore town. The University Authority is also considering the proposal for introducing Postgraduate Courses at Undergraduate Colleges affiliated to the University. The teaching in the Postgraduate Departments is being offered in unconventional areas, research is being carried out in fields mostly unexplored, and extension and field action being greared to the fulfillment of the above mission. These courses are fully covered by the norms of the Distance Education Council. In fact the Council has offered some financial support for infrastructural development. A good number of Postgraduate students of this University were qualified for NET , GATE and SLET. Many candidates were admitted to the Ph.D .degrees of this University. Some other scholars have submitted their theses for adjudication. Many candidates have registered theirs names for Ph.D. degree.