The IGNOU Regional Centre, Vatakara has bifurcated from the Regional Centre, Cochin and established as a new Regional Centre on 4th January 2011, with the objective to provide open and distance education in the Northern State of Kerala covering the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode. Apart from the Regional Centres- Vatakara and Cochin, one more Regional Centre, viz., the Regional Centre Trivandrum functions in the State.

The office of the Regional Centre, Vatakara currently functions in a hired office space at Nut Street, Vatakara, Kozhikode district. The Maniyoor Grama Panchayat, Vatakara has already been sanctioned 2 acres of land for the construction of own building.

The RC has 25 Learner Support Centers (5 RSC, 13 PSC and 7 SSC) and the annual enrolment comes to 3500 (January and July sessions). Currently, the Regional Centre has around 8000 learners in its roll, undergoing various programmes of IGNOU.