The Board of Extra- Mural Studies has been established in the year 1949. Vice chancellor chairs the Board. From the beginning the Board of Extra Mural Studies has been organizing the Lecture Series, Extension Education programme, Need Based Programmes, Summer Schools, Empowerment of Women, and other programmes for adult learners through its selected Centres. The activities of Board of Extra Mural Studies have been carried out with the help of BEMS Centres in colleges, Public Libraries, NGOs; but those are approved by the board.

1. Historical Background:

University of Pune was established in the year 1949 and as in the same year university had established the Board of Extra- Mural Studies and had made the provision under the ordinance 48 to 51 in its statute for Adult education, Extension, enlightenment through reach to outreach people. Vice chancellor chairs to the Board. From the beginning this Board of Extramural Studies organizes the Lecture Series and Extension Education to outreach people, Need Based Programmes, Summer Schools, Empowerment of Women, and other courses for adult learners through its selected centers. Mr. N. A. Gore M.A. was appointed Secretary of the Board of Extra –Mural Studies. He Joined duty on 24th October, 1950. Extramural Lectures were inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor on 12th January 1951 in the Lady Ramabai hall of the Sir Parashurambhau
College, Poona, when prof. D.R. Gadgil delivered a lecture in Marathi on "आर्थिक नियोजनाची पूर्वतयारी " (Preparation of Economic Planning). The first short course of three lectures in Maraathi was delivered by Prof. S. V. Kogekar on "भारतीय राज्यघटनेचे स्वरूप " (Features of Indian Constitution),for three days from 5th March 1951, in Raja Dhanrajgirji High School in the East of Poona. By an announcement in the press, people were requested to enroll themselves for the short course. In the first year 1951 five centers of Extra Mural studies at the places of Talegaon Dabhade, Satara, Chiplun, Mahad and Poona were established and 25 lectures were arranged in the said year. Under Vice- Chancellor's instructions, the Secretory also arranged the lectures of distinguished visitors and other persons as follows:

1.By Prof. L Alsdorf of the Hamburg University, Germany, on “the Central Conceptions of the Vedic Religion in the Light of New German Researches” on the8th March, 1951, in the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. The metting was precised over by the Vice Chancellor.

2.By Dr. Sir C. V. Raman, F.R.S., on “ TheColours in the Mineral World” in the Lady Ramabai Hall of the Sir Parashurambhau College, on the 9th March 1951. The Meeting was presided over by the vice Chancellor.

3.Dr. H.D. Sankalia, M.A., Ph.D., delivered a lecture on 20th March 1951, on “From history to Pre- history in Maharashtra” in the Biology Hall of the Fergusson College. The lecture was illustrated with lantern slides, and a short film dealing with the excavations at Nasik was shown. The vice- Chancellor was present at the meeting.

4.By Prof. R.V. Oturkar, M.A. on UNESCO's Declaration of Human Rights' in the S.P. College on 8/12/50.

5.By Dr. A.C. Ewing of the University of Cambridge on “Has Idealism been disproved?' in the S.P. College on 2-12-50.

6.By Prof. Paul A. Schilpp of N. W. University, U.S.A. lo understanding 1 at S. P. College on 5/2/51

7.By Prof. Gardner Murphy on ; 'Wanted a Social Philosophy for the Atomic Age' at the S.P. College on 6-2-51