Open Letter November 2009

Fortnightly Newsletter of the Indira Gandhi National Open University Volume 1 | Issue 1 | November 15, 2009

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IGNOU launches graduate programme in Applied Sign Language in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire

President of India launches Silver Jubilee celebrations â– IGNOU climbs 477 places in Web visibility ranking â– IGNOU-CIAL MBA Programme in aviation sector

FROMthe vice chancellor

CONTENTS

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Signs of the Future 4

IN FOCUS: IGNOU’s graduate programme in Applied Sign Language, the first of its kind in the world, is preparing the hearing-impaired students for higher education

Wings of Hope 9

n 19 November 2009, IGNOU enters its 25th year, a significant milestone in its illustrious growth.

Established in 1985, the university’s founding principles were clear: Social inclusion and democratisation of education. It was to provide a powerful alternative to the conventional system of education for the underprivileged.

IGNOU today has gone beyond this and is fast emerging as a “University of Choice”. It makes knowledge and skills “available to anybody, anytime, anywhere”.

Today, IGNOU has a formidable profile. With 2.5 million students, 21 Schools of Study and a global presence in 34 countries and 52 Partner Institutions therein, it has emerged as the largest university in the world. The Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, has recognised IGNOU as a “Centre of Excellence in Distance Education Training”. A slew of novel initiatives are in the pipeline this year. IGNOU has also been chosen to host the Pan-Commonwealth Forum 6 (PCF6) in the Silver Jubilee Year, with the theme ‘Access and Success in Learning: Global Development Perspectives’.

In its endeavour to make knowledge and skills accessible to all sections of society, IGNOU continues to pioneer trend-setting initiatives. Our unique collaboration with the Indian Army is an example. This collaboration seeks to facilitate certification of the knowledge, skills and training received by soldiers within the educational framework stipulated by IGNOU. Another example is the tie-up with CIAL (Cochin International Airport Authority) Academy to offer exclusive management courses in aviation and airport infrastructure technology and management.

In another first, and especially in light of the large number of socially and academically relevant programmes our university offers, 30 hearing-impaired students are pursuing a novel Graduate Programme in Applied Sign Language Studies. We launched the programme in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire of Britain. The course is widely believed to be the first of its kind in the world. Special teachers are in short supply in India and IGNOU plans to create sign language teachers and professionals to support the hearing-impaired community.

The IGNOU community would be delighted to note that our University has been ranked 18th in South Asia in terms of its visibility on the Internet and scholarly papers on the World Wide Web. Globally, we have jumped 477 places over the past year in the distance education segment in a ranking among 15,000 universities. In India, we are No. 15, a covetable position.

We have come a long way indeed and nothing could be a more eloquent tribute to the University than its standing and prestige in the global educational community.

SPOTLIGHT: IGNOU and CIAL launch an academy for aviation management in Cochin, offering MBA and courses in aviation and airport infrastructure technology

IN CONVERSATION............05

REGIONAL ROUNDUP ........14

NEW PROGRAMMES.........06

PASSING BY .....................15

FOREIGN TIE-UPS .............07

PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS ..15

NEWS UPDATE .................09

MILESTONES ....................16

STUDENTS’ CORNER.........07

GYAN DARSHAN ...............16

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2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai

President launches silver jubilee celebrations er Excellency Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the President of India, launched the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Indira Gandhi National Open University on November 19. The President is also the Visitor of the University. The event was held at the Convention Centre in the main IGNOU campus at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.

The function was presided over by Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal. Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari and Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission, were the Guests of Honour.

Dr. Jadhav also delivered the 24th Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Sustainability, Innovation and Inclusion in the Education

H

Sector’.

The event marks the launch of year-long Silver Jubilee celebrations that will culminate on November 19, 2010.

Some of the highlights of the celebra-

tions will be the launch of new programmes, organisation of workshops and lectures as well as national and international seminars across the country.

The construction of the Regional Centres at Patna, Bhopal, Bangalore and Shillong, among others, will commence during the year. The university also plans to set up a Student Satisfaction Index Survey during the same period.

The University will also institute an annual award — Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Education and Technology Development — which will be decided by an international jury. The Prize comprises a cash component of Rs 5 lakh and a citation. The award ceremony will be held on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi

IGNOU climbs 477 places in global web visibility ranking The ranking is based on the number of pages recovered from four search engines — Google, Yahoo, Live Search and Exalead

he Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which enters its silver jubilee year in November, has been ranked 15th in India in terms of its visibility on the Internet and scholarly papers on the World Wide Web. Globally, the ranking for the premier distance education institution has jumped 477 places over the past year, says Cybermetric Lab, the largest public research institution in Spain that conducts the ranking among 15,000 universities.

The objective of the ranking is to promote Web publication, with the primary purpose of supporting open access initiatives of these institutions as also to encourage electronic availability of scientific and other academic material, the Spanish institute said.

“If the web performance of an

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ignou logs in ◆ The university has been ranked 18th in South Asia in terms of its Web visibility ◆ Globally, the ranking for IGNOU has jumped 477 places over the past year ◆ The ranking is based on the number of pages recovered from four search engines — Google, Yahoo, Live Search and Exalead

institution is below expected positions according to their academic excellence, university authorities should reconsider their Web policy, promoting substantial increases in the

volume and quality of their electronic publications.”

The ranking is based on the number of pages recovered from four search engines — Google, Yahoo, Live Search and Exalead — the number of unique external links received, and the number of papers and citations for each academic domain.

“As a university in the open and distance learning space, it is important for an institution like IGNOU to harness technology and use the latest communication tools to reach out to students,” said Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

“At IGNOU, our web presence is very important to us,” Prof. Pillai added.

IGNOU offers state-of-the-art education not only through faceto-face classes, but also via webcasts, telecasts and video conferencing.■

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 3

Signs of the Future INFOCUS IGNOU’s Bachelor of Arts programme in Applied Sign Langauge, the first of its kind in the world, is preparing hearingimpaired students for higher education

wenty-year-old Sheena Kaul sits in the first row of her undergraduate class, a notebook in hand with ‘Jammu and Kashmir’ written over it. Animated and ever-smiling, Kaul, who hails from Kashmir, dreams of becoming a filmmaker after graduation. But with a difference: She wants to make films for people who have hearing and speech impairment — the community she belongs to and feels for.

Wearing a printed, yellow kurta, she gestures with her hands and tries to say something, unsuccessfully though, as one of her instructors explains something to her in sign language. Some of her classmates try to speak without uttering a word — to tell the stories of how they have come from distant homes in search of education and success.

This is the scene in a classroom where 30 hearing-impaired students are pursuing

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4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

a novel Bachelor of Arts programme in Applied Sign Language at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Launched in collaboration with University of Central Lancashire (UcLAN) of Britain, the programme, experts believe, is the first of its kind in the world.

Launching the programme, Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said, “IGNOU is aiming to create through the programme sign language teachers and professionals to support the hearing-impaired. Teaching assistants and interpreter trainers in the field are in short supply in India.

“According to an estimate, only 5 percent of hearing-impaired children attend schools in India. Even where special schools for the hearing-impaired exist, they do not have adequate technical and teaching staff. We must create qualified professionals in the field.”

Faculty member Sibaji Panda teaching hearingimpaired students Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE).

“The larger impact, however, will be their contribution to hundreds of schools for the hearing-impaired across the country which are suffering for want of qualified and trained teachers,” said Sibaji Panda, course leader and a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire.

Panda, who himself is hearing-impaired, not only helped design the course after toiling for nearly two years but also arranged scholarships for 10 of the students from a Netherlands-based voluntary organisation.

“Why only India, all Third World countries will benefit from this course,” Panda said.

Agreed Mohammad Kakuja, a student from Uganda. “The education scenario for hearing-impaired students in my country is not good and here in India it is great. I came to know about Kaul’s classmate is 22-year-old Renu this course while surfing the internet and Ahuja from Mumbai. She wants to teach am indebted to IGNOU for it.” in a school for the hearing-impaired after “After completing four years of study completing her higher education. She has here, I will go back to my country and one demand, though. “No one has ever instart teaching in a school for the hearingterviewed us. You are the first one — do impaired. What I am learning must go publish it in a newspaper and we will back to people like me who have been show it to our parents who were not very suffering,” added the supportive and caring,” 26-year-old Kakuja. she said, as an Guan Xeunsong, a student interpreter translated from the Henan province of that into English.

China, was enthusiastic “My dream is to study about his arrival in India. “I more, graduate from here want to learn about the culand then get a Master’s ture of the hearing-impaired. and a Ph.D. After that, About Indian sign language I shall teach in a school and many other aspects of for the hearing-impaired and help improve their “The programme such a unique course,” he condition,” she said in an will not only help said. He used to teach in a school for the hearing-imemotional tone, while hearing impaired paired and plans to resume ‘speaking’ to one of her teaching after completing his teachers. “It’s really students get education here in Delhi. great to ‘graduate’ in our higher education But for Babloo Kumar, a own language,” she said, but also help student from Moradabad in almost jumping for joy. them better Uttar Pradesh, the aim is “The programme will slightly different. “People help the hearing-impaired their lives.” and governments have better their life, both —Prof. P.R. Ramanujam neglected us. They humiliate socially and financially,” Director, STRIDE, & us in a restaurant, at bus said Prof. P.R. RamanuProgramme Coordinator, BA Sign Language Studies stations, in a ration shop or jam, Director of IGNOU’s

COURSEdetailS

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Programme The course has a duration of 1+3 years. The first year constitutes the foundation course, which culminates in the 4-year degree programme in Sign Language. The preparatory certificate course is a one-year full-time programme. Students pursue six modules, focusing on english literacy and various skills (IT, personal development planning, etc). all modules are taught and assessed through sign language and are specifically designed to meet the needs of hearing-impaired learners.

UnIqUe feaTUre Launched by STrIDe, the course has been developed in collaboration with the International Centre for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) at the University of Central Lancashire (UcLan) in Britain. The modules have been developed by iSLanDS Centre to be taught in India, beginning 2009. UcLan and IgnoU teachers will jointly conduct these courses.

fee The course fee is rs. 10,000 per year.

aDmISSIon admission to this programme starts alongside the University’s general admissions session. There are 30 students this year for the first-year foundation course. five of them are from China, nepal, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 5

(Above) Sign language students discussing a point. (Left) Ulrike Zeshan, right, programme co-ordinator from UcLAN at the inaugural session.

“The larger impact will be the students’ contribution to deaf schools across the country which are suffering largely because of not-soqualified teachers.”

—Sibaji Panda, faculty member

while travelling in train. After we become well-educated, we can confront them with confidence and ask the government to listen to our demands — for equal opportunity in both education and employment.”

“Please treat us as equals. We can do everything other people can do. This education will empower us to be where we belong,” said the spirited 18-year-old who also wants to become a teacher. Added

Rabindra Nath Sarkar: “Both my parents are deaf. One of their siblings is deaf too.

Only my sister is normal. By getting educated, I want to improve the condition of my community back home in Kolkata.”

Prof. Panda said the course would make every student a bilingual expert — both in sign language and in English.

“It will teach them both the languages.

Besides theory classes, they will do

practicals, both at the university and at schools for the hearing-impaired. They will also learn computers, which will assist them in learning and teaching. The course is unique and I can say this with confidence,” he added.

Gitanjali Nair, who translates for both Prof. Panda and his students, is equally optimistic. “Forgetting ever y problem, these students want to study hard, make friends and know each other’s cultures.

When they pass out from this university, they will be assets for their communities,” Nair said, smiling and encouraging students in a language understood by her pupils.

The signs are eloquent!n

factoids The National Centre for Disability Studies, which announced a special B.Ed. programme for teachers focused on students with disabilities, received over 3,500 applications!

6 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

INCONVeRSatiON

‘Universities must again become hubs of research’ am Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, and Technology Advisor to the Prime Minister, was associated with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in the 1980s. In an exclusive interview with Open Letter, he spoke about how the university can harness new education tools and adopt new models of learning, while imparting education to millions.

reference to our needs in higher education.

We need to create many more, appropriately scaled, universities. And 1,500 is an approxiCollaborations mate figure we have used to indicate the can help in magnitude of the expansion required in the amalgamating higher education system.

This is necessary to raise our enrolment the best of two to levels comparable with most developing institutions countries. We have also recommended 50 — Sam Pitroda national universities that can provide education of the highest standard.

Chairman, National Knowledge Q: As the head of the National Knowledge Then we have suggested a portal on Commission (NKC), you have advocated the higher education and research to increase Commission use of information and communications interaction and accessibility. A knowledge technology in education. As you know, network will connect all universities and the Indira Gandhi National Open University colleges for online open resources. We have has been using it for years to impart learning to millions. also said universities should revise or restructure the What is your view on the university? curricula at least once in three years. The recommendations A: I was associated with the Indira Gandhi National Open are many and in the public domain.

University in the 1980s. It has done some very good work and offers some very good course modules. When it comes Q: Of late, IGNOU has been tying up with many private to use of information and communications technology in institutions — some of them are of repute and others are education, I would not like to comment on individual universi- small brands. How do you view this development? What kind ties or institutions. But I would like to say that there are of courses would you like to see IGNOU providing, which you several layers of using technology to impart education. think will be contemporary and job-oriented?

This is an age of information. This is an age of Wikipedia.

A: I again cannot comment on individual university or This is an age of online libraries. So, there has to be mobility. institution. But I certainly believe in autonomy — but You cannot replicate a static classroom on-line. There has autonomy with accountability. Therefore, I would say it is to be interactivity. Satellite broadcasting has shown that for their respective decision-making bodies to ascertain there are different levels and layers of disseminating inforwhat is best and go ahead with that. mation and education. As information and communication Collaborations can help in amalgamating the best of two technology changes, the available tools and applications institutions. But if it is not handled properly, it may also not also change. yield the desired results. So there cannot be a one-size-fitsSo we need to harness these tools and look at new all policy in this regard. models of learning as well. Organisations like IGNOU have tended to impart education in the traditional format. I have Q: You have always emphasised on the importance of already said the university is doing good work with some research at the university level. How do you rate IGNOU’s good courses on offer. But there is a need for a lot more of performance in this aspect? such good work. There should be some romance in education A: I am not well versed about this aspect of IGNOU, so at all levels. it would not be proper for me to comment on a specific university.

Q: As the head of NKC, who is looking at new ways to But we have maintained that universities must become improve higher education, what would your suggestions be the hub of research once again to capture the synergies that to improve IGNOU as an educational institution? exist between teaching and research. This goes on to enrich A: We have not made any specific recommendation on an the two areas beautifully. Also, there has to be proper individual university or institution. But we have made a orientation of policy. There has to be appropriate changes in series of recommendations. We have said India has around resource allocation. The reward systems, and most 350 universities and this number is simply not enough with importantly, mindsets of people, must change.n

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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 7

Dream Flights INFOCUS IGNOU and CIAL launch international academy for aviation management

ndira Gandhi National Open University has added yet another top-end course to its bouquet of pioneering frontline academic programmes. Tying up with CIAL (Cochin International Airport Ltd) Academy, IGNOU now offers MBA and other courses in aviation and airport infrastructure technology and management.

It was on September 25 that Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan dedicated the CIAL Academy to the nation. The first batch of classes has also just begun. Built at a cost of around Rs. 6 crore, CIAL Academy is situated close to the airport, opposite the state of the art Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility which is fast nearing completion.

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PROGRAMMES The programmes that are being offered include a two-year MBA programme, and a one-year Advanced Diploma Courses in: (a) Airport Operations Management, and, (b) Air Cargo Management; and six-month Certificate Courses in: (a) Airport Ramp Handling, (b) Rescue and Fire Fighting, and (c) Security and Intelligence.

Besides imparting knowledge in aviation management and aviation technology, CIAL Academy aims to become a

8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

centre of excellence and help promote professional and industry-oriented education by collaborating with specialised institutions.

Bubbling with enthusiasm was Jaya Paul, a graduate in Geography and a student of the first batch of the MBA programme, who aspires to be “the best manager in the aviation industry”. Says Paul: “I am delighted that I have made the right decision and joined the best place in the country to help transform my dreams into reality.”

At least 500 professionals in the field of aviation management and technology would be required once 35 new airports in non-Metro cities are completed

iGNOU USP The academy is unique in more ways than one because the teaching faculty includes professionals purely from the aviation industry. Over 90 percent of the faculty come from within CIAL, experts who handle various departments of the airport.

T.S. Gopi, the Academy’s Director, says, “There may be other institutes offering such courses, but they can only give theoretical exposure. The students here will, from Day One, have on-the-job classroom training and get the feel of working out of an airport.”

CIAL Academy considered various options and felt that IGNOU was the best bet for more reasons than one. The most important — as it aimed to offer top-line management programmes, it felt IGNOU had the requisite expertise.

Dr. K.S. Divakaran Nair, regional director of IGNOU in Kerala, said the

university’s role is crucial to the success of the courses.

“We monitor everything from the conduct of the entrance examination, to the interview and then the actual classes.

Academic delivery is another area we monitor and we interact with students to find out about the quality of the lectures,” said Nair, adding that IGNOU sets the question papers and also evaluates them.

Gopi is also excited about opportunities on offer for students. “A placement cell is being set up and we have already made contact with potential employers, including airports and airlines, even though hiring would happen only two years from now,” he says.

All major Indian airports are evaluating capacity building. “Over 35 new airports in non-metro cities have been given the green signal. By the time they are complete, no less than 500 professionals would be required to operate them. And this is where our students would win hands down because they will already be exposed to all facets of an airport’s functions,” says Gopi.

A.C.K. Nair, Airport Director, CIAL, who has close to two decades experience of working in various airports in the country, says that trained and qualified manpower is a lacunae when it comes to airport operations and that the new academy will produce quality professionals. “The structure of the academy has been well The first batch of CIAL Academy students with IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai in Kochi on September 25

THEPROGRAMME

Fasten Your Seat Belt

PROGRAMMES The courses include a two-year MBA programme; a one-year Advanced Diploma Course in: (a) airport operations management and (b) air cargo management; and a six-month certificate course in (a) airport ramp handling, (b) rescue and fire fighting, (c) security and intelligence. The topics include airport operations management, airport support services and facilities, airport financial management, air traffic management and control systems and international airports, airlines and carrier operations management.

SPEciAlty The beauty of this programme is that from Semester III onwards those opting to specialise in aviation business management will get to study in depth the entire range of an airport’s functions.

SEAtS The number of seats for the MBA programme is 60. For the Diploma course it is limited to 30 seats each while for the Certificate course there are 30 seats each.

FEE The four-semester MBA programme will cost Rs. 2.40 lakh while the two-semester Diploma course will cost Rs. 1 lakh and the six-month Certificate course Rs. 20,000.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 9

The students in the first batch sit in smart class rooms that have facilities that are of international standards

defined and we have a seven-member academic council consisting of IGNOU officials, CIAL officials and experts. Besides, we have a Board of Studies for each and every course that we offer. The examinations will be conducted by IGNOU,” says CIAL’s Nair.

“There is no doubt that the quality of teaching would be the best anyone can offer because we have selected the cream from the airpor t here. Only 10 per cent of the faculty would be drawn from outside the aviation industr y and they would handle non-aviation subjects,” the CIAL official adds.

Hands-on, real-time Another major advantage that CIAL Academy offers is that the entire project work would be carried out within the airport itself. This was one factor which attracted 34-year-old Joemon Varghese, a chemical engineer by profession, who quit his job in the U.S. to enrol in the first batch of the MBA programme at the academy.

“It was way back in 2000 when I

factoids

written and other tests,” Varghese adds.

The students sit in smart classrooms with facilities that match those of any international educational institute. In view of the academy’s potential, the Kerala Government — Dr. K.S. Divakaran Nair, has recently allotted an Regional Director, additional five acres of land IGNOU Regional Centre, Kochi on the highway even as more infrastructure plans are being worked out for the academy. reached the crowded Paris airport that I “We know quite well that we cannot felt that the aviation industry certainly relax just yet though we do not have any lacks top professionals.” competition at the moment. We know “I thought, why not look for a managevery well that other airports will build on ment career in the aviation industry. In our idea. But by then we would like to the United States, I lived near Miami reach a position few can match in terms airport, something which fuelled my of the quality of the courses we would passion for airports. Acquiring a offer,” says Nair. management degree in aviation thus In 1999, CIAL created history when it became my dream,” says Varghese.

“While in the United States, I looked at became the first greenfield airport in India formed under the public-private partnervarious options for a professional career ship mode. It is India’s fourth-busiest in aviation. Soon I heard that this airport and hosts 10 domestic and 16 inacademy, located close to my hometown, was being launched and I decided that my ternational airlines. Last fiscal, a record 3.5 million passenger used the airport. n wait was over. I lost no time in taking the

“We monitor the conduct of entrance examination, the interview... we interact with students to find out about the quality of lectures.”

In February 1989, the first IGNOU Convocation was held in New Delhi and over 1,000 students were awarded diplomas. In 2009, the number has risen to 1.37 lakh.

10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

PASSINGBY SHEilA dixit, dElHi cM

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elhi chief Minister Sheila dixit visited the iGNOU campus in New delhi to launch an MA course in Gender Studies. the face-toface, on-campus programme will be run by the School of Gender development Studies. Hailing the School for its initiatives, dixit referred to government schemes like the ‘ladli Scheme’ that focused on gender development. the scheme has helped improve the male-female birth ratio, she said. thirteen students, including 11 female students, have been enrolled for the first year.

PAPERS&PRESEntAtiOnS

Cause of meltdown in financial market Prof. Vijay Kapur, Advisor (Special Projects) to the Vice Chancellor, IGNOU his presentation is a distilled account of what caused the meltdown in the financial markets and real estate.

While the West is badly bruised, the author outlines the reasons why India survived. He believes the real estate sector, the second-largest employer next to agriculture in India, can aid infrastructure development. The government can also create demand via monetary and fiscal policies. The presentation offers a comprehensive view on how India can come out of a difficult situation.

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—The presentation was made at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, on Oct 9

BRiNdA kARAt, cPM lEAdER

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eteran cPM leader and Politburo member Brinda karat inaugurated a seminar, titled ‘Women in Power’, organised by iGNOU’s School of Gender development Studies on its New delhi campus. Addressing a gathering, karat hailed the efforts of women that have brought about changes in society’s mindset on gender equality. She lamented the fact that the biggest democracy in the world treated its women as a weaker sex. citing an example, she said out of 620 High court Judges in our country, there were only 45 women judges.

Changing contours of domesticity in India Prof. Savita Singh, Director of School of Gender Development Studies (SOGDS) ndian modernity, an expression of the country’s encounter with the Enlightened Modernity of the West, remains a unique achievement of hermeneutics. Indian modernity became an interpretation of Western modernity.

In a similar way, the household, that perfect realm of domesticity, began to change. The household wall began to be rebuilt with more shining bricks of patriarchy. In this space, women remained unpaid for household work and were expected to serve a new patriarchal structure with a sense of nation-building.

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—Lecture delivered at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, on Sept 24.

dR. JAiPAl REddy, UNiON URBAN dEvElOPMENt MiNiStER

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nion Urban development Minister dr. Jaipal Reddy visited the campus to launch two programmes — a Master’s in Journalism and Mass communication (MJMc) and a Master’s in Electronic Media Production and Management (MEPM). “in india, we think media is free to report but journalists should abide by facts before anything else,” observed dr. Reddy, who had a stint as a journalist before he joined politics. He also advised students to shun “‘churnalism’ and repetition in news dissemination”, like television channels do, and asked them to “follow idealism in journalism”.

MUkUl WASNik, MiNiStER FOR SOciAl JUSticE ANd EMPOWERMENt

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ukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, was in iGNOU to launch two National centre for disability Studies (NcdS) programmes — ‘a B.Ed Special Education and Foundation course for in-Service teachers’ and a ‘Foundation course on Education of children with disabilities for in-service teachers’. the programmes were developed in collaboration with Rehabilitation council of india. “the government is formulating fresh schemes to help disabled children,” Wasnik said.

Voluntary amalgamations in banking sector Sony Kuriakose, Research and Training Assistant, IGNOU onsolidation through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is an important change taking place in the Indian banking sector. This is driven by the objective of leveraging the synergies arising from M&As. As banking is a key component of the financial system, these structural changes have public policy implications. Accordingly, valuation of banks and fixation of swap ratio are critical to shareholders.

The paper investigated the valuation procedure and the role of industry-level factors in determining the swap ratio of voluntary amalgamations. —Published

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in Indian Journal of Commerce (ISSN: 0019-512X), Vol.62, No.3, July-Sept 2009

Reaching the unreached via study centres Dr. Kanan Sharma Deputy Director, Regional Services Division, IGNOU he setting up of IGNOU was a significant milestone in universalising education. Even jail inmates, who could not have imagined contributing constructively towards self-development, are now pursuing IGNOU courses. The benefits derived by extending higher education to jail inmates have few parallels, a fact brought out in a study done in Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

When they were empowered educationally, it helped them to rehabilitate themselves and contribute effectively to society following their release from prison.

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—Dr. Sharma presented this paper at the ICDE World Conference on Open and Distance Learning 2009 at Maastricht, The Netherlands

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 11

NEWprogrammes

‘Bhojpuri not just a course’ raising Bhojpuri language and its rich vocabulary, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar launched IGNOU’s Foundation Course in Bhojpuri at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on September 25.

Addressing the gathering, Kumar said nearly 20 crore people, spread across the country and abroad in Trinidad & Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius and Surinam, understand or speak this language.

“Bhojpuri is not only a language but also a lifestyle. Sanskrit and Latin have most precise grammar and vocabulary.

Bhojpuri also has a very precise grammar, rich vocabulary and literature,” the Lok Sabha Speaker added.

IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said a Centre for Bhojpuri Language, Literature and Culture will soon be set up at IGNOU’s New Delhi campus. “Social mobility is what IGNOU creates,” he said, adding: “IGNOU will also set up a New School of Indian Languages and Bhojpuri will be one of them for further studies, from certificate to Ph.D level”.

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fter making headlines for communal disharmony for years, Orissa’s Kandhamal district is set to smile. Beginning January, IGNOU will provide vocational education and placement to youths from poor families of this tribal district.

“IGNOU will offer vocational and training programmes to educate and train youths from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families,” the university said. The vocational courses include certificate courses in advanced computing, job training and interview etiquette, and a diploma in advanced computing.

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Speaker Meira Kumar launching the course in New Delhi. Also seen are VC Rajasekharan Pillai and Pro-VC O.P. Mishra.

Students from streams like BA, B.Com, etc., will have the option to choose a course in Bhojpuri.

“The university will soon begin certificate, diploma, degree, MA and Ph.D programmes in Bhojpuri,” said Prof.

Shatrughan Kumar, coordinator of the course. “There will be many more opportunities to learn the language in depth and nurture its literature,” he added.■

IGNOU on fashion ramp GNOU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) on October 12 for industryspecific training programmes.

“The MoU aims at starting educational programmes in the skill-based

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AEPC Chairman Rakesh Vaid and AEPC Director General Dr. Darlie O. Koshi after signing the MoU with IGNOU in New Delhi.

Vocational course for Kandhamal youths

domains of apparel, garments and fashion designing, which will ensure employment to a large section of the society,” said AEPC Chairman Rakesh Vaid.

To begin with, the university will offer certificate, diploma and degree programmes at the undergraduate level.

The programmes are expected to start from January 2010. “Big institutions in our country teach about textiles but do not give emphasis on garmenting. The MoU with IGNOU would provide that.

Our curriculum would also improve with the varsity’s help,” Vaid added.

IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai lauded AEPC for its initiative to educate and empower thousands of youth who want to join the apparel industry for gainful careers. The MoU includes exploration of possibilities of setting up an activity centre to help create avenues for gainful employment in textiles, appares, and lifestyle and retail sectors.■

12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

SOE begins sessions on new-age tools

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n a shift from the conventional mode of teaching, IGNOU’s School of Education (SOE) has started a post-graduate diploma in educational technology (PGDET) that will train young teachers in using new-age technologies effectively in classrooms. Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. K.R. Srivathsan, who supervises the implementation of SOE programmes, said: “Teachers must be supported by online course content and collaborative facilities to engage students in a better way.” Dr. Sutapa Bose, coordinator of the programme, said teachers should be able to handle new-age technology for perfect delivery of education.

Teachers’ training for disabled kids

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GNOU’s National Centre for Disability Studies has begun admission procedures for its flagship Foundation Programme on Education for Disabled Children, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). This programme, only for serving teachers, will be offered through distance learning and online modes. The duration is three months and the fee is Rs. 1,500. The prospectus can be obtained from IGNOU’s main campus at Maidan Garhi or from IGNOU’s Regional Centres.

Online PG course in E-Learning

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GNOU’s Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) has begun a new Post-Graduate Diploma in ELearning (PGDEL). This programme will be available from the January 2010 session. The programme, open to teachers and trainers, aims to build their capacity to plan, design and deliver online learning courses and programmes for the learners. The last date of submission of application forms for this programme is November 13.

FOREIGNCollaborations

IGNOU, Oz varsity in tie-up iving a boost to bilateral ties in the field of primary education, IGNOU and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have come together to kick-start “path-breaking programmes” in the primary education sector.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched three academic programmes under the Indo-Australian initiative at the IGNOU convention centre in New Delhi on September 1.

The programmes are: Diploma in Primary Education (DPE), Dual Doctoral Programme for Research and Teaching Assistantships (RTAs) and an online programme in Master of Intellectual Property Law(MIPL).

Gillard said the collaboration between the two institutes provided an “excellent opportunity for both Australia and India to demonstrate what we can achieve working together”.

She reiterated Australia’s commitment to support India in the field of education and training and lauded the new Right to Education Act which provides for free and compulsory education to children in the 6-14 age group.

“This collaboration between IGNOU and QUT will help India attain its goal of universal primary education. It will transform the primary school classroom across the country, as the focus will

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shift from teaching to learning,” she added.

IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said, “This collaboration between IGNOU’s School of Education and QUT will go a long way to boost India’s low gross enrolment ratio of 10 percent, as opposed to 27 percent in the world, and make it healthier.”

The unique part of the other programme — — the master’s programme in intellectual property rights —— is that graduates will get dual degrees from Queensland and IGNOU.■

World Bank to fund SOA project

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Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard with VC Prof. Pillai in New Delhi on September 1.

Papua New Guinea U. inks pact Several IGNOU programmes are GNOU signed an agreement with likely to start from July 2010, the Papua New Guinea UniverDr. Nanda said, adding it would take sity of Technology on October 9 three to four months to develop the for a number of educational and modalities involved in the process. training programmes.

IGNOU will offer degree, diploma “The Memorandum of Underand certificate programmes at the standing (MoU) envisages developundergraduate and postgraduate levment of cultural, educational and Dr. Silima Nanda. els. It will also “stress on research scientific ties between the two and development, application of inforuniversities. It will also encourage mation and communication technologies (ICTs) academic exchanges and collaboration to education and interactive multimedia and advance education and training in the two interactive education deliveries”. There will be institutions,” said Dr. Silima Nanda, Director faculty exchange time to time, she said.■ (In-charge) of IGNOU’s International Division.

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factoids

Prof. B.S. Hansra (left) with Dr. P.K. Jain, Director, School of Agriculture.

he Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has bagged a World Bank project worth over Rs. 1 crore to train agricultural researchers to boost eco-friendly farm productivity.

“IGNOU’s School of Agriculture (SOA) has got a research grant of Rs. 1.04 crore to undertake the prestigious project on ‘Innovations in Technology Mediated Learning’, the university announced.

According to Prof. B.S. Hansra, Professor at SOA, the vision of the project is to create a community of National Agricultural Educators and Researchers who will teach and add the latest learning material, contributing to sustainable agriculture and poverty reduction.

“This collaborative approach to education offers the chance to link research and learning into a coherent framework which focuses on problems of small farmers and generate more agricultural entrepreneurs,” IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said.

This project will be implemented in Tripura and cover 500 learners.

IGNOU will develop three modules on Integrated Pest Management, Integrated Nutrient Management and Post-harvest Value Addition.■

According to a recent study, IGNOU draws over 3,000 foreign students every year, more than any other university in India. The No. 2 slot goes to Pune University.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 200913

NEWSupdate

STUDENTS’corner

Workshop on distance learners’ skills day-long ‘Joint Induction-cumWorkshop on Developing Study Skills of Distance Learners’ was conducted by the Regional Centre, Aizawl, at its Chanmari YMA Hall on September 19. Pro-VC Prof. O.P. Mishra addressing the Pu Lalthanhawla, gathering at Aizawl Regional Centre.

Chief Minister, MizoRegional Director ram, was the chief guest Dr. S.R. Zonunthara spoke at the event. Pro-Vice about the growth of the Chancellor Prof. O.P. University during the past Mishra inducted fresh nine years of its operation learners and in Mizoram. “The Regional addressed the students.

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Centre now offers 65 programmes through 32 study centres located in various parts of the state,” | he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mishra reiterated that the Aizawl Regional Centre was the “best regional centre” in the country.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor urged the state government and local NGOs to help IGNOU provide accessible and quality education.■

Soon, IGNOU kiosks at Railway stations GNOU plans to open kiosks at various railway stations in order to enable students to download course and study materials without any hassles.

Announcing this at a press conference in Varanasi recently, IGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof.

K.R. Srivathsan said the university was tapping all the latest mediums of communication to help students. Talks were on with railway officials on the project, he said.

“We’re also making

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An IGNOU martyr n an attempt to foil an infiltration bid, Army Major Akash Singh of 5 Maratha Light Infantry lost his life in Mankote area of Mendhar Tehsil, Poonch Sector, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 8.

An alumnus of the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, he was a proud learner at IGNOU’s Regional Centre, Jammu, pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business Organisation (PGDIBO) programme.

Prior to this, Major Singh had enrolled himself with IGNOU for a Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management, a Certificate Course in Human Rights and a Master’s in English.

A condolence meeting was organised at the regional centre to pay tribute to Singh.

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A student at 73! esh Raj Singh Parmar, 73, who joined IGNOU’s Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP) in January 2009 and completed it in June, has submitted his application for the Bachelor Degree Programme (BDP) from the January 2010 session.

Parmar joined the BDP programme to realise his unfulfilled dream of earning a graduate degree.

Parmar always ensured that all work related to his study was finished in time. Having served the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1955 to 1970, Parmar worked with the Instrument Research & Development Establishment, and with Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun, from 1970 to 1996. He retired from IRDE as a technical officer in 1996.

D Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. K.R. Srivathsan with IGNOU Regional Director Manorama Singh during a press conference in Varanasi.

efforts to get our study lectures aired on cable channels,” he added.

Srivathsan said IGNOU may develop courses

based on local needs with the support of various open universities like the Rajarshi Tandon Open University in Uttar Pradesh.■

Book on fundamentals of physics launched r. C.K. Ghosh, Director, Students Service Division, IGNOU, Dr. Suresh Garg and Dr. Sanjay Gupta — both teachers at IGNOU’s School of Sciences — have authored a book on the fundamentals of physics, titled ‘Oscillations and Waves’.

Primarily targeting the undergraduates, the book, divided into two parts, presents a systematic exposure on oscillations and waves. The treatment of the subject is interactive and student-friendly. The mathematical steps have been worked out and alternative approaches have been dis-

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From left, Sanjay Gupta, C.K. Ghosh and Suresh Garg. (LEFT) the cover of the book ‘Oscillations and Waves’.

cussed, wherever possible, to equip students with additional skills.

Over 100 problems, both numerical and reason-based questions, have been included as ‘Practice Exercises and Review Exercises’ in each chapter.■

14 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

REGIONALroundup ODL Software awards

New norms for colleges

The IGNOU Regional Centre, Vijaywada, recently felicitated its staff members who were actively involved in the execution of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) software. ODL Soft is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) product that has been selected for the back-office automation in IGNOU. The Steering Committee, chaired by IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, recommended IGNOU personnel involved with ODL Soft for the awards.

For institutions that are registered with IGNOU and plan to start Community Colleges, the university released guidelines during a workshop in New Delhi on September 29. IGNOU will issue all such colleges standard norms governing credits requirement for securing certificates, the university said in a statement.

Dr. M. Boominathan, Principal, Bishop Heber College, launching the SMS service. At right is Dr. M. Shanmugham and at left, Dr. Godwin Prem Singh.

SMS service in Madurai

VC Prof. Pillai handing over the awards.

The IGNOU Regional Centre, Madurai, has launched an SMS service that will provide information on important university announcements to the students. Dr. M. Shanmugham, Regional Director of the Madurai Regional Centre, and Dr. Godwin Prem Singh, Coordinator, IGNOU Tiruchi Study Centre, inaugurated the SMS service in Tiruchi recently. Dr. M. Marcus Diepen Boominathan, Principal, Bishop Heber College, was also present.

Seminar on ODL System Regional Centre, Vijayawada, recently conducted a Regional Seminar on Open and Distance Learning System at its premises. Dr. T.R. Srinivasan, Joint Director, Regional Services Division, IGNOU, was the chief guest.

Community Colleges

Regional Centre, Vijayawada, recently inaugurated a warehouse of about 1,100 sq ft on its premises. Prof. Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi, was the chief guest at the event.

factoids

Translation training event IGNOU’s School of Translation Studies and Training (SOTST), in collaboration with North East Centre for Research and Development, Guwahati, organised its first National Translation Training Programme at Gauhati University from September 14-17.

Nagpur gets Regional Centre

Gandhigram on IGNOU radar New warehouse opened

IGNOU Regional Centre, Kolkata, organised a national seminar titled ‘IGNOU’s Community Colleges: An Innovative Approach to Inclusive Education in India’ at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan, Salt Lake, on September 9. IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof.

V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Prof. Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Sujit K. Ghosh, Regional Director, Kolkata Centre, attended the event.

New Centres

Pro-VC Latha Pillai speaking at the launch of Dr. Soundaram Community College in Gandhigram.

Pro-VC Latha Pillai inaugurating the warehouse.

Meet on inclusive education

Dr. Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, recently inaugurated the Dr. Soundaram Community College in Gandhigram near Dindigul, Madurai. Prof. S.M. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, Gandhigram Rural University, and Dr. M. Shanmugham, Regional Director, IGNOU’s Madurai Centre, were also present at the event.

IGNOU recently inaugurated its Nagpur Regional Centre. Dr. V.V. Reddy, Director, Research Cell, IGNOU, inaugurated the Centre while Dr. T.R. Srinivasan, Joint Director, RSD, launched its website.

Study centre at Shopian IGNOU’s Regional Centre, Srinagar, inaugurated a new study centre at the Govt Degree College, Shopian, on October 1.

Model centre in Madurai In a first of its kind, the Madurai Regional Centre has established a Model Study Centre at its campus. The centre will take care of programmes that have low enrolments.

IGNOU is the only university offering a course in bee-keeping in South Asia. The duration of the course is from six months to two years.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 15

ONCAmpus

IGNOU launches campus bus service VC Prof.

Prof. V.N. V.N. Rajasekharan Rajasekharan VC Pillai Pillai flagging flagging off off the the bus bus from from the the IGNOU IGNOU campus in New New Delhi Delhi campus in

MILESTONES The Beginning Concept mooted 1970: The Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the UGC and the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, organised a seminar on ‘Open University’. The seminar recommended the establishment of an open university in India on an experimental basis.

First working group formed

now looking at providing a hostel for n order to provide transport our students soon to make IGNOU facilities to its students and staff, campus more vibrant and IGNOU has launched a ‘Students’ community-oriented.”

Special’ bus service on September The service will initially begin with 17. The buses will ply between Saket a two 45–seater buses. Students will and the campus at Maidan Garhi be required to in the morning and SCHEDULE carry their evening.

From Saket (Khoka Market) identity cards Vice Chancellor Bus No. I : 08:30 09:15 10:00 10:45 11:30 on board. The V.N. Rajasekharan Bus No. II : 08:45 09:30 10:15 11:00 11:45 From IGNOU service will Pillai flagged off Bus No. I : 14:00 14:45 15:30 16:15 17:00 be useful for the inaugural Bus No. II : 14:30 15:15 16:00 16:45 18:00 students service from the Bus stops inside IGNOU campus attending campus. Speaking lParking place near main gate lT-Junction near Block-7 classes on on the occasion, lEMPC junction lConvention centre lAcademic complex (guest house side) campus.■ he said, “We are

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HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY November 15 11:30: North East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment: OS-85/C KOK Broke Language 13:30: IGNOU-Urdu: Taleem-e- Balighan Taraq Pasand Shairi 17:00: Windows to the World: 1986, Modern Management, Cut-3 1947 Expedition to the Animal Kingdom, Cut-3, 1923 Adventures In Archeology, Cut-3

TUESDAY November 17 09:30: UGC/CEC: Cat on the Edge: Tiger, Getting Ready for Magnification – 1 11:30: North East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment:IG/BS3 /3351, Music of Life 21:30: IGNOU: Threads of Life Documentary on the Handloom Culture & Women Empowerment of Manipur

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THURSDAY November 19 11:00: UGC/CEC: Teacher Education: A Point of View, Mulya Vishleshan Pratiman-IV 20:00: UGC/CEC: Heat – XV, Simple Harmonic Motion - III SATURDAY November 21 11:00: UGC/CEC: Introduction to Anthropology–2, Tribals of India-Siddis-From Slavery to Self Reliance-1

16 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009

MONDAY November 23 08:00: NITTTR: CHD142, In service of technical education, button & Oyster Mushroom 20:00: UGC/CEC: Jewel in the Crown, Kerein — Milman Theorem

1974: The government appointed an eightmember working group on Open University in 1974. G. Parthasarathi, then Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, led the group.

The working group recommended establishment of an Open University by an Act of Parliament. “The university should have jurisdiction over the entire country so that, when it is fully developed, any student, even in the remotest corner of the country, can have access to its instruction and degrees,” said its report in 1974.

National Open University Act 1985: A committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education to chalk out the plan of action for an Open University. On the basis of its report, the government introduced a Bill in Parliament. In August 1985, both Houses of Parliament passed the Bill. Subsequently, the National Open University came into existence on September 20, 1985. It was named after the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Not to be

Missed

W

]

atch ‘Lion Tailed Macaque: An Endangered Primate of The Western Ghats, Getting Ready for Magnification-2’ (Tuesday, November 24). Found only in southwest India, the lion-tailed macaque is the most threatened of macaque species..

THURSDAY November 26 06:O0: IGNOU: Regulating Cyberspace: A Medium Technology or a Space 11:30: North-East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment: State and Women

MONDAY November 30 08:00: NITTTR: Introduction to Total Quality Management 20:00: Perils of Age: The Indian Experience, Scaling Techniques, Introduction to Calculus, Chemical Clock Reaction