The  IGNOU  Regional  Centre,  Vatakara  bifurcated  from the  Regional  Centre,  Cochin  and established as a separate Regional Centre on 4th January 2011, with the objective to provide access to Open and Distance Education in the Malabar region of Kerala covering the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad,Kozhikode, Malappuramand Union Territory of Mahe. The office of the Regional Centre, Vatakara currently functions in a hired office space at Puthur, Vatakara, Kozhikode district. The RC has 15 Learner Support Centers (14 Regular Study Centre + 1 in Central Prison).

The student registration in the year 2025 stood at 50235. The cumulative learner registration of the Regional Centre since its inception is 300274 under the various programmes comprising of Certificate, Diploma, Post Graduate diploma, Bachelors and Master's Degree programmes of IGNOU. 

The Regional Centre has had an impressive presence in the region with establishment of Learner Support Centres in the varios districts and with one of the highest enrolment under South India; serving the educational aspirants of the learners in the jurisdiction of the region by offering various programmes of the university.