Newsletter Dear Readers, We are bringing out this Special Issue of the IGNOU Newsletter as supplement to the regular (October 06-March 07) issue to provide to you critical student-friendly information well in time for you to access items like: § § § § §
New Programmes on Offer Telecast Schedule Gyan Vani Schedule Updates on Study Centre Date-Sheet of December 2006 Term End Examination
We have also, via this special issue, the privilege of introducing to you our new Vice-Chancellor Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai at whose initiative this special issue is being offered. Do mail your feedback to us at sunainak@ignou.ac.in
Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai has joined IGNOU on Oct 21, 2006 as its sixth Vice-Chancellor. Prof Pillai brings with him 36 years of experience as a teacher, researcher, institution builder and educational administrator. Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai has held Vice-Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor level positions in Universities/National Institutions for more than a decade. For the last five years he has been working with the UGC, first as the Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) where Prof. Pillai was instrumental in triggering and implementing a large number of quality initiatives in colleges and universities. Later, as Vice-Chairman/Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Govt of India, he has been actively interacting with Universities and Colleges for promoting the independent initiatives of institutions and influencing change. Earlier, Prof Pillai has been Chairman of Deemed Universities Committees, AICTE-Accreditation teams, and AIU affiliation committees; Vice-Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam; Vice-Chancellor (Acting) of the Cochin University of Science and Technology; Founder-Director of the School of Chemical Sciences; Dean of Faculty of Science; Controller of Examinations; Director of College Development Council; Founder-Director of the School of Professional Distance Education; and Chief, Employment and Information Guidance Bureau of the Mahatma Gandhi University. He has a sustained track record of quality innovations, and excellent research contributions (which continue even now in the midst of administrative responsibilities). An active teacher and researcher in the field of Chemical Sciences, Prof. Pillai has held post-doctoral and Visiting Research Professor positions in the Universities of Tübingen, Mainz (Germany) and Lausanne (Switzerland). His research contributions have been well-recognized and he is a Fellow of the prestigious Indian Academy of Sciences, and Honorary Senior Fellow of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research. He has been honored with D.Sc. (honoris causa) for his contribution in the areas of polymer science, biopolymers and peptides. In 2006, he has been conferred the triennial Prof. M.V. Pylee Award instituted by the Cochin University of Science and Technology for the Distinguished Academician of the Country. He is also recipient of the Materials Research Society of India Lecture Award (1997). Further, he is leading an internationally renowned research group in the area of biopolymers and peptides and has published extensively (about 200 refereed research publications in international journals) in this area. About 50 doctoral researchers have been guided by him, all of them occupying leading positions in academia, R&D and industries all over the world. He holds an International Patent for the gram-scale preparation of biologically important peptides which is being used by a Swiss Company. His expertise is also sought by the Boards of some biotech related companies and by committees in education, science, technology and culture. Professor Pillai is associated with several eminent bodies as • • • • •
Chairman, Convenor and Member of several national and international committees on Science, Education and Technology; Member of the working group constituted by the Government of India for the preparation of Indian Science Policy Document for UNESCO; Convenor and member of the Search Committees of Vice-Chancellors for Central and State Universities; Member of the working group which prepared the 10th Plan Vision-Document for higher education; and Leader of an Indian delegation of Vice-Chancellors for Internationalization of Indian Higher Education in East African Countries.
Prof. Pillai’s current interests include interaction with other sectors connected with higher education for capacity-building of teachers in the general liberal education system. The much-needed focus on social sciences, humanities and basic sciences is a major contribution he has made during his tenure in the UGC. Technology-enabled teaching and learning for the conventional collegiate education system with the help of institutions like IIIT is a major initiative he has launched. Integration of the Technology enabled Open and Distance Learning System and convergence of those systems are the areas in which he continues to focus. Creating brand institutions of undergraduate higher education in basic sciences (based on the existing high quality institutions) and humanities in the pattern of IITs and IIMs is a project wherein he has significantly contributed.