The 21st century is considered to be the age of information. Information technologies have become indispensable in the spheres of education and scientific research. TSU functions as a consulting and coordinating center for all Siberian universities involved in the project of establishing a system of open and distance learning on the basis of modern information technologies. Back in 1995, TSU and California State University carried out the first international project in distance learning in the Asian part of Russia.
Today TSU is famous for its leadership in this sphere and is a member of International Council on Distance Learning. TSU initiated the establishment of the Association "Siberian Open University" which unites more than 30 universities and research institutes in the region. The Institute of Distance Learning at TSU is busy with developing and collecting electronic databases for learning and scientific research, and developing teaching techniques that incorporate distance technologies. It also takes great pains to train university faculty and school teachers on distance learning methods.
TSU with 7 other Siberian universities was the winner in the contest for its project "Establishment of Federal Resource Centre of Scientific, Methodological, Personnel and Material-Technical Provisions for Development of Unified Educational Information Environment in Siberian Federal District". Implementation of this project resulted in the setting up of the Siberian Resource Centre of the RF Ministry of Education. The center aims to integrate and coordinate the activities of all educational establishments in the district. The server of the Centre contains databases from all the educational establishments in the Siberian Federal District.