A seed of vision planted by Government of Gujarat in 1994 has grown into a lush green ‘tree of knowledge’ in its fruitful journey of 27 years and counting. The University impacts the lives of citizens of Gujarat with easy access to higher education without any barriers of age, time, and space. It offers more than 75 programmes through open and distance mode. It has 6 Regional Centres and more than 280 Study Centres in a number of districts across Gujarat encompassing urban and rural areas. In the leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ami Upadhyay, the university has achieved newer milestones in academic, administrative and societal fields:

Hosted All India Vice Chancellors’ Meet organized by Association of Indian Universities – BAOU became the first open University to host it – Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji inaugurated and addressed the Meet.Introduction of Tej-Trusha Talent Hunt, a pioneering initiative taken by BAOU across all Indian Open Universities. Establishment and inauguration of Gurukul - Model Learner Support Centre at BAOU, Atri - Special Learner Centre at BAOU, Gargi - Centre for Holistic Development of Women at BAOU,Dronacharya – Centre for Startup, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at BAOU, SC-ST Research Centre at BAOU, Suresh Joshi Gyanpith (Chair) at BAOU for literary activities. BAOU has adopted 03 villages namely Chharodi, Dantali, and Jaspur and contributed with lot many extension activities for awareness and social welfare. Introduced and implemented 20+ new Policies. Extra mile efforts for transgenders and their higher education. Free-of-Cost Education – Covid-19: Noble social initiatives; such as refunding the fees of students who lost their lives to Covid, providing financial support of Rs. 11,000 to the family of such a student, and providing free-of-cost education to Covid-orpaned persons as well as women who lost their breadwinner father/husband/son to Covid-19. Free-of-Cost Education to war-widows and their children. 'Chaitanya’: Activating a Refereed and Peer-reviewed International e-Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences; a Multi-Disciplinary, Multilingual and Educational E-Journal published quarterly, accepting quality research papers in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Sanskrit language. 'Gyanganga': University Newsletter: Reviving the university newsletter; documenting the major events of the university.

After more than a decade university got possession of more than half of its pending land. Land is acquired for the establishment of Regional Centres at Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Palanpur. Aquisition of land is in process for Regional Centres at Surat, Rajkot, Godhra, Chhota Udaipur, and Navsari.

Prof.Dr. Ami Upadhyay, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor has been conferred "Award of Honour" for achievement as Open and Distance Learning Administrator declared on the occasion of 24th IDEA National Conference on Emerging Perspectives of Open and Distance Learning held on 17-18 July, 2020 Organized by University of Mumbai, Indian Distance Education Association and Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University has been conferred with "Best Innovative Government University" by ABP News - National Education Awards 2019 held on 4th July, 2019 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has awarded for Innovation in Distance Learning and Distance Learning Leadership. GTU has awarded Best Government Distance Learning/Satellite of TV or Webinar-based Learning System to BAOU.

Website : https://baou.edu.in/