Utkal University, founded on 27.11.1943 is the mother University of Odisha. Pandit Nilakantha Dash, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Pandit Godavarish Mishra, were amongst other doyens of modern Orissa who had played a leading role in the establishment of the University. On 27th of Nov 1943, the Utkal University started functioning at Ravenshaw College (now University), Cuttack. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, laid down the foundation of the present 400 acre sprawling campus on 1st January 1958. The University thereafter was singularly honored when a great educationist Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India inaugurated the present campus at Vani Vihar on 2nd January 1963. It was originally an affiliating and examining body only.

A number of Post-Graduate Departments and other centers were established in the University Campus. There are more than three hundred general affiliated colleges under the University. The University has 15 Autonomous Colleges under its jurisdiction. It has 27 constituent Post-Graduate Departments, 2 Constituent Law Colleges, a Directorate of Distance & Continuing Education and a number of centers like Population Studies, School of Women's Studies, Ambedkar Study and Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Study, an Academic Staff College, a Pre-School, a High School etc. The University also offers number of Self Financing Courses.

Utkal University is recognized by the UGC. It is a member of the Indian Association of Universities and Commonwealth Association of Universities. Utkal University has been reaccredited by NAAC with A+ Grade in December 2017 for a period of five years.

The Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education (DDCE) a constituent directorate of the Utkal University, had a modest beginning as the University Evening College in October, 1962 with an objective to provide continuing education. The College offered I.A. and B.A. programme. It operated in the premises of BJB College, an affiliated college, under Utkal University. Shri Ram Chandra Rajguru, Shri DamodarMishra , Shri Baidyanath Mishra and Shri Shiv Kumar Panda were the Principals. Shri Purna Chandra Pattanaik, Shri Ashutosh Pattanaik, Sri Khitish Chandra Dey and Shri K.P.A. Pillai served as Vice Principals.

On 27th November, 1974, The University Evening College was converted into Directorate of Correspondence Courses under the auspices of our Administrator Shri Gyan Chand, IAS. Dr. Ram Shankar Rath, took over as the OSD of DCC and served as its first Director from 29.10.1975 to 31.05.1993. The DCC offered I.A and B.A. Programmes from July 1975. B.Com was subsequently added and B. Ed was offered for a short duration. The DCC operated from the Administrative Block of the Utkal University. It was shifted to its present campus in 1987. The first floor of the DCC building was inaugurated on 1 January, 1995 by Prof. S.N. Acharya, Vice Chancellor. Shri A.N. Mishra served as the Director in-charge from 10.06.1993 to 24.11.1995. Prof. S.P. Pani took over as the Director from 25.11.1995. Prof. Pani served as the Director for 18 years (1995-2000, 2004-2010 & 2010-2017) in phases. Since 1st Dec 2018 Dr. Sujit Kumar Acharya, Head Dept. of Business Administrative of our Directorate has taken over as Director.

As per the revised UGC guidelines for Open and Distance Learning, the DCC was converted to Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education w.e.f. 15.10.1996. Prof. G.K. Das, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ajit K. Mohanty, Prof. K.B. Pattanaik, Prof. S.P. Pani and Shri Alekh Chandra Mishra, A.O., DDCE played an active role in giving new directions to the rechristened institution.

DDCE introduced several new programmes in succession besides BA, and B.Com (Pass and Hons.). M.A. in Odia and History in 1996, Political Science and Sanskrit in 1997, Public Administration, English and Education in 2000, Economics, M.Com and MSW in 2011 were introduced. M.A. Sociology was offered from 2000 to 2005 and has been revived since 2013. DDCE introduced courses in Computer Science in 1998 under the leadership of Shri A.K. Tripathy, IAS, and the Vice Chancellor. Subsequently, MCA in regular mode as an evening course was introduced in 1999 under the tutelage of Prof. G.N. Das, Vice Chancellor. DDCE offered B. Sc (ITM), BITM, and Diploma in Digital Art, BCA, DCA and PGDCA etc. for a short duration. DDCE introduced a Management Programme in 2000. At present, IMBA, MBA and PG Diplomas in Management (HR, MM, FM, POM, and TTM and DNM) are being offered under distance mode. From 2014-15 sessions DDCE is offering MBA Evening Program for working executives in face to face Regular Mode. Prof. R.K. Jena, the first Coordinator, Prof. S.K. Das, Prof. B.R. Mohanty, Prof. S. Sahoo, Prof. P.K. Sahoo, Prof. R.C. Mohapatra and others assisted DDCE. Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Insurance Management (In Regular Face to Face Mode) in collaboration with ICICI Bank was introduced in 2007 as an initiative by Prof. L.N. Mishra, Vice Chancellor, Shri A.K. Tripathy IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Dept. of Higher Education, Shri K.V. Kamath, Chairman and Shri Paul Delima, DGM, ICICI Bank and Prof. S.P. Pani. Certificate and Diploma Courses in NGO Management in Odia medium were introduced 2010 in collaboration with UNAIDS, New Delhi. Prof. B.K. Rath, Vice Chancellor, Ms. Sarita Yadav, UNAIDS and Prof. S.P. Pani provided the necessary leadership. This course stands suspended from 2014.The Soft Skill Development Cell was established in 2007. MSW, M.COM and M.A. Economics were introduced in 2011. M.A. in Hindi was introduced in 2013. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell, Utkal University was functioning in DDCE from 2011 to 2014. DDCE had also set up the Centre for Women's Studies in 1997. Prof. Sukhadeo Throat, Chairman, UGC inaugurated the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Study established by DDCE on 23.02.2008. Both are now independent centers and stands shifted out of DDCE. PG Diploma in Lib. Sc., PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and M.Sc. in Data Science are to be introduced from the session 2019-20.

The PCP Block was added in 1997. An Extension Counter of the Syndicate Bank was opened on 16.09.1997 and was upgraded to a Branch on 10.11.2005. The foundation stone for the Silver Jubilee Building was laid by Prof. S.P. Pani on 14 July 1999. The Silver Jubilee Building stands on the place where Shri Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, had laid the foundation stone of Utkal University on 1 January, 1958. The office establishment and the library have been functioning in this building since January, 2005. Prof. P.K. Sahoo, Vice Chancellor, along with Prof. S.P. Pani, Director and Team DDCE laid the cornerstone of the 2nd Floor of the Silver Jubilee Building and Old Administrative Block on 30.06.2012. The second floor of the Silver Jubilee Building was inaugurated by Prof. P.K. Sahoo, Vice Chancellor, Prof. S.P. Pani , Director and Team DDCE on 13.05.2013. This floor has been now named as "TATHAGATA BHABAN". An image of Lord Buddha in Dharma Chakra Prabartan Mudra has been placed in the corridor.The library hall named after BharataRatnaAmbedkar is located in the TathagataBhavan.A new complex of halls named after Indian noble laureates Mother Teresa, Amartya Sen, C.V. Raman and R.N. Tagore now stands at the second floor of the old building. Those halls along with Ambedkar Hall were inaugurated on 27th November 2013 by His Excellency S.C. Jamir Hon'ble Governor of Odisha and our Chancellor. The Centre for Teacher Education was inaugurated by Honorable Chancellor, Utkal University on 27th November 2016. Virtual Tutorial Project was inaugurated by Honorable Vice Chancellor, Utkal University on 1st February 2017. Civil Service Coaching Centre of Utkal University was inaugurated by Shri G.V.V Sarma, IAS, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Odisha on 20th March 2017. The Foundation stone of Platinum Jubilee Building was laid by Prof (Dr.) A.K. Das, Vice Chancellor, and Mr. M.K. Biswal, Registrar and Team DDCE led by Prof. S.P.Pani, Director. On 27th November 2017 His Excellency Dr. S.C. Jamir, Hon'ble Governor of Odisha and our Chancellor has inaugurated the renovated Heritage Hall, the Shree Mandap and the Platinum Jubilee building.

Computerization was initiated in 1994. The first computer was procured in 1996. Today we have 2 computer labs, 100+ Computers, 5+ Servers, 5+ Printers, CCTV surveillance system with 16 cameras, Internet Lease line from BSNL and Radio Link Internet Connectivity from STPI and Structured LAN. We have already computerized admission, accounts and examination processes, initiated modest Online Learning for PGDBIM.The Utkal University Examination Management System is also being operated by DDCE.

Prof. A. Mishra, Prof. P.C. Tripathy, Prof. R.C. Mohapatra, Prof. B.C. Guru,Prof. P.K.Sahoo, Prof. H.K. Swain and Prof. R.K. Bal have served as In-charge Directors. Presently the Utkal University is headed by His Excellency Shri Ganeshi Lal, Hon'ble Governor of Odisha as the Chancellor. Prof. Soumendra Mohan Patnaik is our present Vice Chancellor. Prof. Patnaik was serving at Delhi University before joining us.