CONTENTS Knitting A Future 4
IN FOCUS: The IGNOUIAM Fashion and Design Management Centre and ATDC-IGNOU Community College Schemes are set to create an industryready managerial cadre for the growing apparel industry
The German Edge IGNOU, Goethe Institut and 10 SPOTLIGHT: University of Vienna, Austria, launch Diploma in Teaching German (DTG) as a Foreign Language in distance mode to bridge the demand-supply gap
NATURE ZONE ................8
STUDENTS’ CORNER.....15
NEWS UPDATES............12
MILESTONES ................16
REGIONAL UPDATES .....14
GYAN DARSHAN............16
IGNOU OPEN LETTER is Printed by Printek Grafix, 148-D, Pocket-F, GTB Enclave, Delhi-110093 and Published by Ravi Mohan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi. New Delhi 110068. Ph: +91-11-29535924-32; +91-11-29535062-65 Fax: +91-11-29535933; E-mail: openletter@ignou.ac.in Managing Editor: Ravi Mohan Photos: Rajesh Sharma/Amlan Paliwal
FROMTHE VICE CHANCELLOR
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n just four years, IGNOU has, in the face of stiff competition from both public and private institutions, almost trebled the number of students on its rolls from 1.1 million to 3 million. Today, we are the largest university in the world — a fact confirmed by a Wikipedia listing of 61 top universities in the world by student enrollment. Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal Open University is a distant second at 1.8 million students, followed by Iran’s Islamic Azad University with 1.3 million. B.R. Ambedkar University, the oldest open university in India, comes in at No. 9 with 450,000 students. A close perusal of the list provides some interesting insights. There is only one private institution in the Top 10, and only two in the Top 20. All the institutions in the Top 10 are from developing nations, barring the University System of Ohio in the U.S. And, most importantly, there are as many as four open universities at the head of the list, underlining the fact that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system is the best way for developing countries with large populations to bridge the knowledge divide. As a system, ODL is not only flexible and innovative but, because it provides economies of scale, it is also the cheapest way to take higher education to the largest number of people, many of whom live on the margins of society with little or no access to conventional education. Indeed, flexibility and innovation have had a lot to do with IGNOU’s emergence as the world’s largest university. In these past four years, we have been able to reach out to multitudes of learners because of our ability to forge unconventional and rewarding alliances. We have collaborated with public and private institutions in education at the state and national levels, as well as other sectors such as technology, health, IT, management and science. In the social sectors too, we have had fruitful collaborations like the one with local Panchayati Raj institutions. Such tie-ups have, among other things, allowed us to optimally use state-of-the-art facilities available with these institutions that would otherwise have remained under-utilised. It has allowed us to reach the unreached, skilled and unskilled and take education to the doorsteps of every learner. There are huge challenges ahead. Having the largest number of students on our rolls is one thing, but it is quite another to ensure that these students receive the kind of quality education that they deserve. At IGNOU, we have set out to do this by innovatively using technology and evolving effective management information systems to strengthen our processes. We have been on a decentralisation drive so as to ensure that activities that are crucial to our students are located closer to where they are. Over the past couple of years, our Student Services Division has been leading the charge in decentralising the examination process. The distribution of study material is now undertaken by the Regional Centres. And the examination process itself is being computerised. Clearly, harnessing technology to our purposes is the only way in which we will be able to deliver the kind of quality education and skills development that are the need of the hour for India. We are on our way, but a lot more remains to be done.
Advisory Council: Prof P.R. Ramanujam, Prof Latha Pillai Design and Production: IANS Publishing www.ianspublishing.com
2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai
NEWINSTITUTE
RIVET set to train underprivilaged
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ith the aim of taking vocational education and training to people living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in six backward states in eastern India, IGNOU has formally launched the Regional Institute of Vocational Education and Training (RIVET). It was inaugurated by Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge on May 27. RIVET is a joint collaboration between IGNOU and Council for Integrated Tribal Research and Awareness Programme (CITRAP), an NGO working for the welfare of SC/STs in Phulbani in Orissa’s Kandhamal district. RIVET was created in April 2009 and is being coordinated by Prof Pandav Naik of IGNOU. It provides vocational programmes in both online and offline mode, with judicious use of technology, to the most backward in the country. As part of the initiative, 16 IGNOU programmes have been identified for offer to students. These will be vocational courses, which will supplement the nine programmes in computers and IT, which are already being jointly run by IGNOU and SAHAJ, an NGO. According to Prof Naik, RIVET is mandated to take employability-focused education to the people living in the most backward regions of the country. The programmes range from computers and IT, Master's in Tourism Management and Hospital Administration, Bachelor’s
Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge inaugurating the RIVET in New Delhi.
Degree Programmes in Nursing, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Retailing, etc. It also offers PG Diploma and Diploma Programmes in Community Radio, IT, NGO Management and Business-Process Outsourcing, among others. “The joint endeavour between IGNOU and CITRAP is in line with the National Agenda of Skills Development,” Kharge said. Srikant Jena, Minister of State for Fertiliser and Chemicals, said, “Skills development is
the first step out of the poverty grind... We need to train more trainers.” “In this decade of Innovation, IGNOU targets to provide skill–based education to 50 crore youth by 2020. Vocational education is very important for improving the economic condition of the country’s backward community. IGNOU has been looking at skill development in a holistic manner,” said Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.!
Olympiad to motivate children’s sci-math learning
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Pakistan and Sri Lanka — have GNOU and UNESCO’s South an opportunity to win IGNOUAsia Regional Office in New UNESCO accredited merit Delhi are going to organise a certificates, prizes and awards,” Science Olympiad to test the said Vice Chancellor Prof VN scholastic aptitude of the Rajasekharan Pillai. students in the SAARC region. “Students who have scored a Those enrolled in class XI or minimum of an average of 70 equivalent in other SAARC percent in Mathematics, countries can apply. Dr PT Manoharan Physics, Chemistry and Biology “Higher Secondary students in the 10th standard or enrolled in Indian Boards of equivalent are eligible to participate,” Education or equivalent in the Boards in announced Dr PT Manoharan, Sir CV South Asian countries — Afghanistan, Raman Chair Professor in IGNOU and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal,
former VC of Madras University and faculty of IIT-M and IIT-K. School principals/authorities are requested to forward the applications to the students along with a demand draft/credit card authorisation of Rs 50. The successful participants will receive Certificates of Merit, medals, cash prizes and awards. Top 1,000 participants will be given IGNOU-UNESCO accredited merit certificates. For details, visit: http://www.ignou.ac.in /ramanchair and www.unesco.org /newdelhi/science olympiad.■
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 3
Knitting A Future INFOCUS The IGNOU-IAM Fashion and Design Management Centre and ATDC-IGNOU Community College Schemes are set to create an industryready managerial cadre for the growing apparel industry
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or Jayetta Rohilla, a student at the Indian Apparel Management (IAM), the experience means a lot, as it has sharpened her thinking abilities and taught her innovative ways to develop new ideas. Dishank Chibber, another student at the IAM, promoted by the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Society for Human Resource Development, feels that the cutting-edge training sessions at the institute have given him direction, helping him to explore new horizons in the burgeoning Indian fashion and apparel industry. The premier institute of apparel management has made its mark as an industry-driven institution that offers
4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
professional programmes with promising careers in the apparel industry. It has been conceptualised to provide cuttingedge education needed for managing the apparel industry in new, competitive era. What is the role of IGNOU, the world’s largest university, in all this? “IGNOU recognises the need to have multiple models of delivery that can respond to different situations and in different contexts. The challenge is to merge right and relevant skills with academia in as many sectors as possible and the textile and apparel sector holds out great promise in this regard,” says Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.
“The idea is to form a bond between the world’s largest university with the IAM — the multi-varsity of apparel industry — to create a new genre of merchandisers, apparel production managers and retail managers.” — Dr Darlie Koshy, Director General and CEO, IAM/ATDC
degrees offered by the IAM. Not only this, the University and the AEPC have initiated the ‘ATDC-IGNOU Community College’, where Certificates, Diplomas and Associate Degrees will be awarded by IGNOU at AEPC’s Apparel Training Design Centres. “The AEPC, that has 58 ATDCs across the country, has already started 12 Community Colleges and plans to add 13 more by January 2011,” informs Dr Darlie Koshy, Director General and CEO, IAM/ATDC. “Firstly, the idea is to form a bond between the world’s largest university with the IAM — the multi-varsity of industry — to create a new genre of merchandisers, apparel production managers and retail managers, etc.” “Secondly, people associated with the various verticals in the $47-billion textile industry, like logistics, shipping, etc., would be able to upgrade their skills through IGNOU-IAM programmes.” “Lastly, the aim is to converge IAMs and ATDCs — people like shop-floor workers, supervisors, quality/sample checkers, etc., who are being trained at various ATDCs with IGNOU’s help, get enrolled with the IGNOU-IAM Fashion and Design Management Centre and receive the most contemporary training in the apparel and clothing sector. The idea is to make them understand the business of fashion, not the design of fashion,” adds Dr Koshy, former Director of the National
YEARNING FOR YARN: A student doing preparatory work on a garment (above); an aspirant keenly eyeing a future in the fashion and apparel industry (right).
With this vision of inclusive growth in mind, wherein learners in remote areas too can take shelter under the umbrella of higher education with comfort, IGNOU has joined hands with the IAM to offer a range of vocationally-relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes that will provide employment avenues in the rapidly growing export and domestic apparel sectors to a large number of youth.
Birth of an idea This hand-shaking process gave birth to the IGNOU-IAM Fashion and Design Management Centre to prepare next generation professionals who would redefine the scope of fashion, apparel, lifestyle, retail and other allied sectors. From the July/August academic session, IGNOU will award the B.A./M.A.
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 5
THEPROGRAMMES B.A. in Apparel Design & Merchandising (at IAM)
M.A. in Apparel Production Management (at IAM)
MBA in Textile Management (at SVPITM)
Duration: 3 yrs Eligibility: 10+2 from a recognised board in any discipline. Career Opportunities: Graduates from this programme are professionally prepared to seek careers in specialised areas and become Textile Designers, Fashion Buyers, Selectors, Forecasters, CAD/CAM designers or Apparel Merchandisers.
Duration: 2 yrs Eligibility: Graduate Degree or equivalent from any recognised University/institution in any discipline. A working knowledge of English is desirable. Career Opportunities: On completion of the programme, students would work as Asst Production Managers/Production Executives/Assistant QA Managers/Assistant Managers PPC. They would be able to understand and work within established production systems according to the company’s product requirements and will be able to implement supply chain follow-up requirement for timely deliveries.
Duration: 2 yrs Eligibility: Graduate and above with a minimum 50 percent from a UGC-recognised University. Those who have appeared for the final-year examination can also apply. Admission Procedure: Candidates who have already appeared for the entrance exam of CAT/CET/MAT/ATMA/XAT/OPENMAT last year need not to appear in the exam. For further details, contact Prof P.R.R. Nair, OSD, CCETC, Block-11, IGNOU, New Delhi. Tel: 011-29536975 Email: prrnair@ignou.ac.in or visit www.svpitm.co.in
B.A. in Fashion Communication (at IAM) Duration: 3 yrs Eligibility: 10+2 from a recognised board in any discipline. Career Opportunities: This programme enables creative individuals to flourish in the media and cultural industries that deal with the promotion and communication of fashion. It includes product launches, store events, catwalk shows, TV magazine programmes and exhibitions and relates to visual imagery, text, information and experimental. It encompasses areas such as graphic design, display and exhibit design, advertising and branding specific to the fashion and lifestyle industry.
“The IGNOU-IAM Fashion and Design Management Centre will emerge as a Knowledge Hub focusing on new areas of higher education.”
M.A in Fashion Retail Management (at IAM) Duration: 2 yrs Eligibility: Graduate Degree or equivalent from any recognised University/institution. Career Opportunities: The students will work as Asst Store/Retail Managers, Management Trainees in Brand or Supply Chain, Management/ Assistant Buyers.
Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. “The Community College Scheme is indeed a significant step in making available proper certification system through IGNOU’s validation process,” adds Prof Pillai. Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran is happy that IGNOU-IAM-ATDC trinity is working towards creating skilled human resources for the rapidly-growing
Huge potential An export order of Rs 1 crore generates 85 jobs and Rs 1 crore of investment in apparel manufacturing has the potential to generate 500 direct jobs and 200
IGNOU, FUTURE GROUP
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—Somesh Singh, Joint Director, IAM
There is assured placement for the successful candidates at Big Bazaar, Pantaloons and Central.
6 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
domestic and export sectors to bridge the gap between the garment industry’s growing needs and the large pool of unemployed youth in India.
ndustry often complains of lack of trained manpower, and educational institutions claim that their passouts are not finding suitable employment. It’s clear that the problem is not lack of jobs, it is the mismatch between what industry requires and what educational institutions supply. It makes sense then, that industry actually joins the educational arena to give a direction to educational and training. This is what Future Human Development Limited (FHDL), the training arm of Kishore Biyani’s Future Group, is doing. Since its inception in 2008, it has been focusing on training manpower for retail, hospitality, telecom and other service sector branches. FHDL has now launched four new programmes
benchmark for quality indirect jobs. The projected value education in the country,” of the Indian textile industry is says Prof C.G. Naidu, currently pegged at $47 billion and Director, SOVET. is estimated to touch $115 billion According to Premal by 2015 (domestic share: $60 H. Udani, Chairman, billion; and export market share: AEPC/ATDC, “The flagship $55 billion). and core courses of ATDC“With ATDC-IGNOU Community IGNOU, with full College Scheme, we are “IGNOU wants backing of both the looking at filling the gap export and domestic between the vocational and vocational industries assuring mainstream education,” education to be 100 percent jobs to says Dr Koshy. redefined as learners, will be a According to Somesh major service to Singh, Joint Director, IAM, professional different the new partnership will not education and this communities and only bring in a new initiative will apparel clusters. This paradigm to the skills is the right time to development mission of the set up a new join ATDC to obtain Government of India, “but benchmark for the right skills and also begin a new chapter quality education.” qualifications to not for skills training in fashion, —Prof C.G. Naidu, only have gainful apparel and textiles at Director, SOVET employment but also affordable costs, maximum to advance the geographical reach and careers and lives.” providing education and training for all levels of managerial cadre.” Career opportunities “The IGNOU-IAM Fashion and Design Management Centre will emerge as a There are many career opportunities in knowledge hub, focusing on new areas of the apparel sector, across various higher education, applied research and functions. After completing the course, new knowledge creation with imparting one can opt to become a textile designer, value education to create professionals a fashion buyer, a forecaster, a CAD/CAM with a holistic approach,” he adds. designer, a merchandiser, a production “Having witnessed the surge in the manager, a QA manager, a store manager Indian textile and fashion industry, which or a retail manager, among others. is the second-largest employment sector Rebecca Arora, an IAMite, understood after agriculture, the School of Vocational this fact early in her career. “IAM has Education and Training (SOVET), in helped me grow my creative, design and collaboration with the IAM, is offering full- management skills to become a true time Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree fashion professional.” For Sahil Jain, the Programmes (see box).” apparel course has helped his design and ‘We want vocational education to be management skills come to the fore. They redefined as professional education and are knitting a future that will make them this initiative will set up a new trailblazers. It’s bell to join the force.!
APPAREL INDUSTRY 3.5 crore people employed in textile
"
and apparel sector in India.
$29 billion is the size of the domestic
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apparel market in India.
9 percent is the growth rate at which do-
"
mestic retail market is growing per year.
" Apparel export is expected to increase
from the current 3 percent to 9-10 percent and beyond.
" The export of apparel is expected to
reach $15 billion by 2015.
" IAM has created programmes in Fashion
Communication, Fashion Retail Management, Apparel Design and Merchandising and Apparel Production Management to meet the need for over 20 lakh managers and merchandisers in the next five years or so.
FUTUREWEAVERS
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he Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management (SVPITM) in Coimbatore and IGNOU are offering a two year full-time MBA Programme in Textile Management. The MBA degree is awarded by IGNOU and Certificate of Field Training is awarded by SVPITM. As part of the collaboration, the following courses are planned to be offered: " MBA (Textile Management) " "
"
PGDM (Textiles and Apparel) M.Phil and Ph.D Programmes in Management with specialisation in Textile and Apparel management Short-term Skill Development Courses
LAUNCH COURSES IN RETAIL, ENTREPRENEURSHIP in association with the Centre for Corporate Education Training and Consultancy (CCETC), IGNOU, which again is working with the objective of developing programmes in corporate education consistent with the requirements of corporate sector/industry. The programmes are MBA Retail, BBA Retail Services, MBA Entrepreneurship and BBA Entrepreneurship. The programmes will run from Future Group’s campuses at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, New Delhi and Kolkata in case of Master’s Programmes, and Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata campuses in case of Bachelor’s programmes. There will be great emphasis on practical
training through projects, internship and on-thejob training. As part of the collaboration, IGNOU will provide the MBA degree, and Future Group will provide Certificate in Field Training. There’s assured placement for successful candidates at Big Bazaar, Pantaloons and Central. The advantage that students of these programmes will have is access to Future Group’s infrastructure, and exposure to various functions in retail, like sales and customer service and will get to interact with, and learn from, professionals associated with the Group. There’s adequate theory component in each course, and to facilitate the teaching process,
classrooms have LCD TV for presentations. There’s a computer lab with wi-fi. And there’s also video conferencing facility for interaction between the campuses and FHDL corporate office. MBA Retail and MBA entrepreneurship require CAT/MAT/XAT/ATMA/CET/Open MAT score. In the absence of any of these scores, the candidate has to appear for an entrance exam. Admission is based on performance in group discussion and personal interview. The fee is Rs 2 lakh in MBA Retail and Rs 240,000 in case of MBA entrepreneurship. In case of BBA Retail Service, the fee is Rs 120,000. In case of BBA entrepreneurship, the fee is Rs 180,000.
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 7
The Green Campus NATUREZONE The University takes steps to green its campus, reiterating its commitment to biodiversity conservation
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n the midst of the urban chaos of South Delhi is the sprawling Maidan Garhi campus of IGNOU — a place remarkable for its manicured lawns fringed by seasonal flowers on the one hand, and raw stretches of wilderness on the other, each complementing the other. The campus also springs surprises like farmland dedicated to organic vegetables. There’s not just cultivation, but also sale of these products on campus. The greening of the campus received a new thrust on World Environment Day (June 5, 2009) when Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai announced a unique Green Campus Programme. Following this, 2010-2011 is being
8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
commemorated as the ‘Year of Biodiversity Conservation’ at IGNOU. Taking the lead on greening the campus is IGNOU’s Horticulture Cell, with a series of initiatives. This nodal division for greening of campus has, through its numerous drives, striven to maintain the essence of biodiversity. Here are some of its key projects: Gardens and lawns: The University maintains around 30 acres of gardens located in different pockets on the campus, including the roadside. These gardens have a large variety of flora such as trees, bushes and flowering plants. During 2010-11, more than 80 percent of
52 acres of forest cover
30 acres of gardens
1.5 acres of the campus area has been landscaped
2.5 acres of land for vegetables
750 sq mts of cover crop
FLORA FUNDAMENTALS: (Clockwise from top), the manicured lawn at the Conference Centre; untamed nature; vegetable produce and IGNOU’s greening activity.
the University campus will be made green. Since last year, 1.5 acres of the campus area has been landscaped, grassed and developed into beautiful lawns, including two terrace gardens. These lawns and gardens have been developed using locally-available resources and without any chemicals. In all these lawns, Selection-1 grass variety has been planted. In addition to that, saplings of shady trees and fruit trees have been planted on several stretches of the campus. Seasonal plants: The University grows seasonal flowering plants such as Phlox, Dahlia, Antirrhinum, Pansy, Petunia, Chrysanthemum, Candytuft and Brachycome in different seasons. Around four acres of land is used to cultivate these seasonal plants. These plants cover the ground surface and also add to the greenery of the campus. Seasonal vegetables: The Cell cultivates different vegetable crops throughout the year on 2.5 acres of land on the campus. The vegetables are grown as intercrop in
the orchards during all the three seasons, without the use of any chemicals. The vegetables are sold at the vegetable outlet of the university campus. Cover crops: Cover crops have been planted on the undulating rocky land. Currently, two cover crops — Ipomoea and Wadelia — have been planted on 750 sq mt. Moreover, these cover crops are also grown along the roadside so that the land stretch is covered with live plants. The vegetation has enhanced the greenery of the campus and is also preventing soil loss. Natural forest cover: There are natural forest patches on the campus. Collectively, these patches account for about 52 acres of land. The university is maintaining the natural forest through gap filling and regular irrigation. There is an effort to ensure minimum disturbance in these areas, which are being maintained as a natural habitat. Such a green area is important for natural biodiversity conservation, as it harbours many species of flora and fauna.!
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 9
From left, Dr Renu Bhardwaj, Director, School of Humanities; Eberhard Weller, Director (Language Department), Goethe Institut; VC Prof Pillai; Sabine Hartert, project coordinator and Prof Dr Hans-Jürgen Krumm, University of Vienna, launching the German course.
The German Edge SPOTLIGHT In a first-of-its-kind teachers’ training programme, IGNOU, the Goethe Institut and the University of Vienna, Austria, launch Diploma in Teaching German (DTG) as a Foreign Language in distance mode to bridge the demand-supply gap
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early 250,000 foreign students are currently studying in Germany, of which about 4,200 are from India. Back home, the number of potential young Indians opting for the German language as their main area of study is roughly estimated at between 20 and 40 lakhs. This underlines the fact that that learning German — or any other foreign language — is not just a hobby among the youth any more. It is mainstream and is helping improve the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in a significant way. Now, to some important questions: Which institute should one turn to for quality education in learning German, especially if you live in a city that doesn't offer you opportunities in foreign languages? Would you like to teach German in a school, college or a professional-language institute but don't have the right qualification? Are you already employed as a German teacher
10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
but feel lacking somewhere? Come July and you will have answers to all these questions. In a first-of-its-kind teachers' training programme, IGNOU, the Goethe Institut (commonly known as Max Müller Bhavan) and the University of Vienna, Austria, have collaboratively launched a Diploma in Teaching German (DTG) as a Foreign Language via Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode to overcome the dearth of qualified teachers in the country. The one-year programme starts from the July 2010 academic session. According to Dr Renu Bhardwaj, Director, School of Humanities, and a key person behind this unique programme, “India needs many professional teachers to cater to the growing demand in the German language sector. The lack of demand occurs because we don’t have a programme at the B.Ed. level in German language. To meet this challenge, IGNOU has collaborated with the globally-
instance, you may be surprised at how recognised institutes like Goethe Institut many young and highly-motivated people and University of Vienna for teaching are coming for the courses — in an German at a more intense level. The atmosphere that one could almost launch of this unique distance learning describe as jovial,” says Dr Dreyer. programme is a milestone in the Year of “Now, students in remote areas too International Cooperation, during which can master German with this advanced IGNOU has signed almost 100 MoUs with course and increase their chances of international institutes in diverse fields.” landing good jobs in the future,” he adds. “There is a steep increase in demand Ranjan, a 34-year-old who works for an for the German language. It has also been insurance company, has been learning introduced as a subject in schools, owing German for the past three years — for to which more teachers are needed,” purely pragmatic reasons. says Michael Flucht, Director of the “I thought if I combine a foreign Goethe Institut in Pune. language with my insurance skills then I Adds Dr Bhardwaj: “The Central Board would have better chances to prove of Secondary Education and Kendriya myself and work for a German company Vidyalayas have introduced German here in India,” he told Deutsche Welle language as a second language in some recently. states and a third language in others. It Kirti, a 21-year-old student at Max shows the kind of attention German has Mueller, says she has now abandoned her received in India as a job-oriented tool.” idea of becoming an English The one-year, distancelanguage teacher and would learning programme consists of now like to teach German four courses with 24 credits, instead at the Goethe Institut. each amounting to a practical “Germany is a new country for component of 60 hours of real India, German is a new classroom activities at language. That just improves designated schools. The our career chances,” she adds. counselling sessions with A tailor-made syllabus and trained tutors will take teaching material as per the place once every 15 days. European standards is being At the end of the practical “The Front prepared by a team of training, the students will Office Operation experienced teachers of show two demonstration Certificate Goethe Institut in India and lessons of 90 minutes each course has the University of Vienna, in the final examination. In its pilot stage, the instilled in me informs Dr Bhardwaj. On successful completion programme will commence a much-needed of the Diploma course, the simultaneously across six confidence. Now, participants will be eligible cities, where the Goethe Instituts are located — I find myself at to teach German at secondary schools and New Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, par with other colleges. Mumbai, Bangalore and professionals.” IGNOU’s first foreign Chennai. — Dr Stefan Dreyer, language programme in ODL “Later, we plan to introduce the programme all Director, Goethe Institut system was launched in Chennai in 2007 — a over India, including small beginners-level Certificate in German towns and villages,” says Shatabdi Language (CGL) course. The CertificateGhosh, faculty member and coordinator level course was launched in six cities of for corporate courses, Goethe Institut, Tamil Nadu, which has now been New Delhi. extended to learners in Kerala. Dr Stefan Dreyer, Director, Goethe The multimedia course material Institut, feels that the motivation to learn prepared by the Goethe Institut for this German has increased over the past six-month course is based on the years in India. “Till 7-10 years ago, ‘Common European Framework of Indians would choose to learn German to Reference for Language’ formulated by be able to read Kant, Brecht, Grass or the Council of Europe for all European Goethe in the original. Today, things are languages and leads to the globally totally different. We have many young accepted certificate ‘Start Deutsch 1’. people who want to learn German The distance learning course module is because they want to use it to boost based on a radio language course and is their chances of success in their supplemented by CD-ROMs, video professions,” Dreyer says. material and traditional books. Students “If you observe the crowd in front of can learn in the classrooms and also take the Goethe-Institut in New Delhi, for
THEPROGRAMME
! Course starts in July 2010 at the six Goethe-Instituts — Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. ! Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in any subject. Knowledge of German (B1 Level or higher) from Goethe-Institut or an equivalent recognised certification required. ! No teaching experience required. ! Application deadline: June 30, 2010 ! Programme Fee: Rs 1,600 ! Job opportunities: Interpreters, translators, teachers across the spectrum ! For details, go to www.ignou.ac.in or visit www.goethe.de/ins/in/ned/ enindex.htm
THECOURSES Course 1: How to work with words and texts, teaching methodology, multilingualism, learning methodology (methods of learning), internal differentiation, working with large groups, culture and civilisation, intercultural learning, analysis of a German language class and of teaching materials. Course 2: Teaching vocabulary, reading, listening, speaking, writing and phonetics. Course 3: Teaching grammar, different types of exercises, games in the classroom, projects in the classroom, classroom observation and assessment, types of communication, visual aids, errors and error correction. Course 4: Lesson planning, teaching, practicum, testing, evaluation and student counselling.
the advantage of online coaching. According to M. Shanmugham, Regional Director, Madurai, the CGL course received good response at the Madurai Regional Centre. Since then, the University has forayed into teaching several foreign languages like French, Spanish, Japanese and Arabic. Starting a career in the German language has never been as easy before. Karriere Chance!■
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 11
NEWSUPDATES
DW insight into new media tools
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ournalists working in print or broadcast media, making a transition to online multimedia journalism, are getting an opportunity to learn multimedia journalism skills from the best trainers in the world at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). IGNOU’s School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS) organised a 10day workshop ‘Beyond Web 2.0: Multimedia Journalism and Social Media’, in collaboration with Deutsche Welle (DW) Akademie, Germany. The training programme was designed for online journalists seeking to broaden their multimedia and social media skills. Its primary aim was to acquaint the participants with the technologies and concepts that will be tomorrow’s web. It focused on providing the participants with the necessary skills to produce multimedia content and use social media platforms for research, newsgathering, networking and distribution. The training aimed at teaching the participants ways to produce and present a
Eminent journalist and Chairperson, Prasar Bharti, Mrinal Pande inaugurating the DW training programme in multimedia. Others, from left, are VC Prof Pillai, Guy Degen and Marcus Bösch.
multimedia project for the web, how to effectively use social media during their whole working processes, new ways of using tools such as digital cameras and mobile phones for producing multimedia
journalism and about new online and social media tools that can be practically applied to journalism. The programme was conducted by Guy Degen and Marcus Bösch.!
Recycling in learning, agricultural way
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eading agricultural scientists and academics of the country met recently at IGNOU to share their innovations in agricultural teaching-learning, at a Workshop titled ‘Innovations in Technology-Mediated Learning: An Institutional Capacity Building in Re-Usable Learning Objects in AgroHorticulture’. The focus of discussions was ‘Re-Usable Learning Objects’ (RLO). RLO technology, as a brochure released on the occasion described, is based on the philosophy of ‘Open Educational Resources (OER). “The term OER was first adapted by UNESCO in 2002 as educational resources available freely and openly to anyone who can use, re-use, remix, recycle, redistribute under restricted or unrestricted manner. RLO is the smallest standalone and independent unit of learning designed for reuse in multiple instructional context,” it added. This innovative approach is part of a project of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP)-Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), which has brought together leading partners in agricultural education. The School of Agriculture, IGNOU, is the consortium leader, the other partners being the School of Agricultural Sciences, Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nashik; Directorate of Open and Distance Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore; and Division of Knowledge Management and Sharing, International Crops
12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
Agricultural scientists and IGNOU faculty at the workshop on RLO.
Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad. The project period is from April 2010 to March 2012, and the funding partners are NAIP and ICAR. Prof B.S. Hansra, Director, SOA, described the objectives and outcomes of the project. Dr Surya Gunjal, Director, School of Agricultural Sciences, YCMOU; Dr Valluva Paridasan, Director, ODL, TNAU; Dr N.T. Yaduraju, National Coordinator, NAIP; and Dr Krishnakumar, Vice Chancellor of YCMOU, were among those who shared their perspective. The event was presided over by Pro-VC Dr Latha Pillai.!
NEWSUPDATES
IGNOU’s date with wisdom behind veil
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he School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS) recently organised a formal interaction programme of a delegation of women leaders from Afghanistan with the Vice Chancellor Prof Rajasekharan Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Latha Pillai, Directors of different Schools, Professors and research students of the University. The delegation was in India to attend a Leadership Development Workshop, organised by the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance, Government of India, in New Delhi. The delegates had expressed desire to visit IGNOU. Dr Pillai welcomed the gathering and briefly gave an introduction about IGNOU. The Vice Chancellor described how technology, and especially e-learning, was facilitating distance education in the country. Prof Pillai also discussed IGNOU’s focus on Inclusive Education and Inclusive Growth. The Director of SOGDS, Prof Savita Singh, gave an introduction about the School and its activities, stating how the school was committed to the promotion of gender equality in this country through its curricula and advocacy campaigns. Looking at the SOGDS priorities and
SOGDS Director Prof Savita Singh with the Afghan delegation.
vision, the Afghan delegates showed their interest in initiating collaboration with SOGDS and IGNOU. The Afghan delegates interacted with the Directors of the School of Health
Sciences, School of Agriculture, School of Law and Research Unit. The delegates also visited Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), where a short film on IGNOU was screened.!
NEWSSCAN Course in water harvesting New Psychology courses
Vacancies for consultants
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o handle the acute problem of water crisis in India, IGNOU is now offering a Certificate Programme in Water Harvesting, starting July. The six-month Certificate Programme will impart necessary skills and expertise to understand water-harvesting techniques. The common prospectus can be obtained from the Registrar, SRD, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068. For details, please visit www.ignou.ac.in!
factoids
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n an effort to bring Psychology at par with mainstream subjects of study, IGNOU has launched Psychology Programmes at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels from the July 2010 session, announced Prof Vimala Veeraraghavan, Emeritus Professor, Psychology, School of Social Sciences (SOS). For details, please contact Prof Veeraraghavan at (0)9810132735, or log in to www.ignou.ac.in!
GNOU’s Centre for Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy (CCETC) is starting several new skill–based programmes from the July 2010 session. The CCETC requires three full-time consultants to look after various academic programmes at the Centre. Interested candidates may visit www.ignou.ac.in. The applications can be sent to: The OSD, CCETC, Block 11, Room No. 6, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.!
IGNOU and UNESCO are developing a unique programme on ‘Grassroots Innovation Management.’ The first course has already been completed. IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 13
REGIONALROUNDUP
Mumbai RC celebrates first Convocation
M
umbai Regional Centre (RC) organised the 21st Convocation of the University at the auditorium of VG Vaze College in Mulund on March 15. It was the first time that the Mumbai RC organised the Convocation Ceremony. Nearly 205 students were handed over Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates at the function. Dr M. Rajesh, Regional Director, informed the gathering that the Convocation was held in close conjunction with the programme held at the IGNOU Headquarters with the live telecast of the speech delivered by the
Dr M.R. Kurup (right) at the Mumbai RC Convocation Ceremony on March 15.
Chief Guest Prof Shri Krishna Joshi, former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Dr M.R. Kurup, an eminent educationist, was the Guest of Honour at Mumbai RC event. He highlighted the significance of the emerging trends in the education system of the country. He stated that the new era operates on the notions of flexibility and multi-tasking, which can be best honed by taking up the versatile programmes offered by institutions like IGNOU. A book exhibition showcasing the study materials and other publications of IGNOU was organised at the event.■
Achieving educational heights Meet the jewels
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early 274 students received Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees at the 21st Convocation Day celebrated at IGNOU’s Shimla Regional Centre at Excellence College, Sanjauli, on March 16. Ashwini Kumar, Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was the Chief Guest at the event. Naresh Chand from Paunta Sahib area set an example when he received Prof Grover Cash Award despite being physically challenged. Kullu RC and Special Study Centre
Talyana (Bilaspur) were honoured with the Best Study Centre Award. Isaan Akhtar, a student of Master’s in Tourism Management (MTM), and Director, IGNOU Learners’ Welfare Association in Bilaspur, was felicitated with a Letter of Appreciation for his contribution towards Open and Distance Learning (ODL) among the masses. The CBI director, himself an IGNOU student in the past, emphasised the importance of ODL for the learners in the remote areas of the country.■
from Jaipur RC
Dr M.M. Salunkhe and Dr S.N. Ambedkar congratulating a medallist.
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CBI Director Ashwini Kumar felicitating a meritorious student at the Shimla Convocation.
14 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
GNOU’s Jaipur Regional Centre organised the 21st Convocation on March 15. Dr M.M. Salunkhe, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Rajasthan, was the Guest of Honour. About 399 Degrees and Diplomas were awarded to the students. Dr Salunkhe talked in details about the problem of inadequacy of educational facilities and inequity in educational opportunities. He stressed that the solutions lay outside the conventional education system. He also emphasised the need of an economically-viable alternative channel for providing education on a large scale. Dr S.N. Ambedkar, Regional Director, reiterated IGNOU’s commitment to reach out to the remotest possible learner in the state and strengthening the ODL system for making Rajasthan educationally advanced.■
STUDENTS’CORNER
REGIONALROUNDUP
SOTHSM faculty and experts at the meeting at IIVET, Shillong.
‘Destination N-E India’
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he IGNOU Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong, held an expert committee meeting to develop modules on “Destination North East India” recently. Dr Harkirat Bains, Director, School of Tourism and Hospitality Services Management (SOTHSM), Dr Paramita Suklabaidya, Programme Cordinator, BAIHA, and experts from all across the country participated in the meeting. The modules are aimed at developing three hospitality-related programmes — Certificate in Front Office Management, Certificate in Housekeeping and Certificate in Food and Beverages. Initially, these programmes will be implemented in Meghalaya, Assam and Sikkim.
he IGNOU Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong, in collaboration with the National Academy of Construction (NAC), Hyderabad, held a three-month training programme in Masonry from November 2009 till March 2010. A batch of 20 trainees participated in the programme. “This training has enriched us with technical and practical skills in Masonry which can be adapted to the modern world. We can now effectively implement what we have learnt. We also received Certificates on Mason, Assistant Mason from NCVT, NAC and IGNOU,” says Wantribook Kharnaior, a 51-year-old participant.■
‘Treatment’ over
MBA alliance
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hree passouts of B.Sc. (Nursing) Programme have made IGNOU proud by completing M.Sc. (Nursing) Programme under West Bengal University of Health Sciences. Sampa Gupta stood 1st and has joined as a lecturer at Asia Foundation, Kolkata. Nirupama Nayak came second and is now a lecturer at K.P.C. Medical College. Ruby Giri has joined Midnapore Medical College.■
factoids
Building blocks of society
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GNOU has entered into a partnership with Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA). Under this arrangement, IGNOU has recognised the Post-Graduate Programme in International Business Management (PGPIBM) run by AMA for its MBA Degree. The first batch of 19 students completed the two-year course during 2007-09.■
Prof Shatrughan Kumar, co-ordinator of the Foundation Course in Bhojpuri Language at IGNOU, has been honoured with the ‘Bihari Asmita Samman’ award 2009.
Following his dreams M
Vijayan, 42, was in the final year of chemistry when he changed track to join the health service sector. The natural corollary was joining a course in social work, which he did from IGNOU. The bonanza for Vijayan came when he was awarded the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award for Social Work. This health inspector in the Kerala State Health Services Department now wants to do a Ph.D. “It’s my deep passion in social work that helped me in my studies. If you are passionate, everything falls in place,” he says.
Banking upon IGNOU! A
ijaz Ahmad Shalla, 40, a banker with J&K Bank, joined IGNOU’s MBA in Banking (Finance) programme for “career excellence”. Shalla, who has a B.E. in Electronics from REC Jaipur, is today a member of the Indian Institute of Bankers. He is all praise for the use of informationcommunication-technology (ICT) by IGNOU, particularly the Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani programmes. “I made full use of IGNOU’s Internet presence — for filling forms and downloading assignments,” he says. IGNOU happened at the right time for him. “A big boom has come in banking so the course will be helpful,” he adds.
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010 15
ONCAMPUS
MILESTONES
The School of Humanities recently organised an Orientation Programme for Urdu Counsellors. Prof Naseer Ahmad Khan (extreme left), Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, (second from left), and Prof Renu Bhardwaj, Director, SOH (third from left), addressed the gathering.
CCIP Director Dr Carol Brown visits IGNOU
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r Carol Stax Brown, National Director of Community College Initiative Programmes (CCIP) of the United States, visited IGNOU last month. During her visit, she interacted with the Principles/Incharges of the Community Colleges in Delhi and NCR. She briefed the gathering about the initiatives in her country.!
New responsibility
First edu-channel
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The International Conference on Disaster Management
r Pankaj Khare is the new Registrar, Student Registration Division, IGNOU. His responsibilities include overseeing student registration in 348 academic programmes by creating, maintaining and implementing admission processes; data-warehousing and its maintenance for registration and re-registration of students, and design, development and marketing of IGNOU programmes. A Doctor of Philosophy in Multimedia Education from Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, Dr Khare is a recipient of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Research Fellowship (1982). Admission date extended Dr Khare has announced extension of last date to July 30, 2010 for the following graduation programmes: " Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) " Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) " Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) " Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA). For details, visit www.ignou.ac.in!
HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY June 18 06:00: Cyber Crime and Law 09:30: Education: Teacher Education: A Point of View 13:00: Science/ Environment/Health: Physics of Dance 20:00: UGC/CEC: Psychology: Youth Suicide Prevention: A Discussion; Understanding Dreams; States of Mind
SUNDAY June 20 05:30: UGC/CEC: Music, Arts and Culture: Teejan Bai; Khatamband 13:30: IGNOU-Urdu Programme: Phir Laut Aaye Faiz; Jilani Bano Ki Afsana Nigari 20:00: UGC/CEC: Technology: Boat Building: A Tradition Marginalised; Screen Printing; Computers in Distance Education
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TUESDAY June 22 05:30: UGC/CEC: History: Urban Economy in Mughal India 13:00: Science/ Environment/Health: Parmanu Ki Sanrachna — Aitihasik Paridrishti 17:00: United Nations: An Experiment To Save The World 21:00: IGNOU-SOS: Chilka Our National Heritage
16 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JUNE 15, 2010
THURSDAY June 24 06:00: Role of Information and Communication Technology in LifeLong Learning 10:30: NCERT/CIET: Sec and Sr. Sec: Conservation of Water for Irrigation
November, 1999: The Faculty of Public Administration, School of Social Sciences, organises an International Conference on Disaster Management: Cooperative Networking in South Asia.
4th Annual Lecture by the Dalai Lama December, 1999: The Dalai Lama speaks on ‘Compassion: The Basis for Non- Violence’ at the 4th Annual Lecture, organised by the School of Social Sciences.
Workshop on parents’ awareness December, 1999: The Centre for Extension Education organises a Workshop on ‘Parents’ Awareness in Primary Schooling’.
Gyan Darshan launched January, 2000: Prof Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister of Human Resources Development, Government of India, launches India’s first Education Channel, Gyan Darshan.
IGNOU’s participation in World Book Fair February, 2000: IGNOU participates in the World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
IGNOU-AIR FORCE joint venture April, 2000: IGNOU-Air Force Educational Project is launched under a single window operation scheme.
Not to be
Missed
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Watch a special programme on ‘Women Empowerment: The Silent Revolution’ at 11:30 am on Monday, June 28. Women’s empowerment is the biggest social change of our times. The programme highlights how women are taking control of their life.
SATURDAY June 26 10:00: IGNOU: Hindi Ke Badhte Kadam 18:30: NIOS: Conservation of Nutrients 22:00: IGNOU/ Culture: Practical Music
MONDAY June 28 05:30: UGC/CEC: Fine Arts: Thangka: The Holy Art of Tibet 11.00: Air Pressure & Wind - I 13:00: Science/ Environment/Health: The Story of A River