Open Letter December 2010 by ians ians

FROMthe vice chancellor

CONTENTS ‘Seek the Tech Edge’ 6

“The real purpose of education is to enlarge intellectual horizons, emotional responsibilities and aesthetic sensibilities.” — Smt. Indira Gandhi GNOU not only bears her name, but is also an embodiment of her beliefs. As we enter the 25th year of spreading the light of Open and Distance Education all over the world, we also celebrate Smt. Gandhi’s spirit and vision in education. IGNOU today is the largest Open University in the world. We have striven to stay true to our mission and have set new standards in democratising higher education by taking it to the learners’ doorsteps. The University has provided seamless access to learner-centric quality education, skills upgrade, training and capacity-building across the country and abroad by making use of innovative technologies in distance education, open learning and online teaching-learning methodologies. We have also ensured convergence of the existing systems of teaching-learning to build the massive human resources required for promoting integrated national development and global understanding. With the availability of EduSat, IGNOU is poised to take giant steps in extending ICT, Web and satellite-based education across the globe, and pursue flexible and blended learning. Our effort has been to provide need-based academic programmes by giving a professional and vocational orientation to courses. It has been our endeavour to provide better learner-support services to the deprived, particularly in inaccessible regions. In the years to come, IGNOU looks forward to working on the Right to Education, strengthening its study centres and consolidating its existing programmes. The IGNOU system can be an effective model for education communities all over the world. For a developing country like India, the Open and Distance Learning system has to play a complementary skill-development role to the conventional system of education. Although the primary aim of the Open and Distance Learning system is to improve the Gross Enrollment Ratio, this cannot happen in isolation. The quality of teaching-learning processes needs to be improved. Technology-enabled distance education has not only helped us to improve the quality of distance education in classrooms but also enhance the reach of education. By recognising and acknowledging the nature of our clientele and their needs, we have to adapt to the nature and mode of delivery of education. Active participation in the National Skills Mission, through the newly introduced Community Colleges Scheme, would be a key priority in the coming years. As an Open University, IGNOU occupies a significant position globally. Based on the edifice of dedicated and empowering knowledge-dissemination, we envision the growth and expansion of the University into a dynamic, vibrant and inclusive system — which embraces all sections of the society, especially the unreached. We look forward to many productive and enriching years ahead, with a focus on both Access and Success in Learning.

25th YEAR: Leveraging the power of ODL through innovative use of technology is critical to take quality education to the unreached and create livelihoods, says Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

A Second Life FOCUS: Gyan Deep, a partnership between IGNOU 10 IN and the Indian Army, is designed for training and awarding degrees to soldiers and providing them a career option after their retirement.

EVENT OF THE YEAR ....03

NEWS UPDATE .............12

SILVER START ..............04

REGIONAL ROUNDUP ...15

FOCUS ON GER ............08

ON CAMPUS ................16

IGNOU OPEN Letter is Printed by Enthuse-Answers Communications Pvt. Ltd., Z-35, IInd Floor, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-II, New Delhi-110020 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 Editor: Surojit Mahalanobis Advisory Council: Prof P.R. Ramanujam, Prof Ramindar Singh Design and Production: IANS Publishing www.ianspublishing.com

Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai

2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

EVENTof the year

IGNOU’s tryst with destiny IGNOU has entered its 25th year. A young University’s own tryst with its destiny. A milestone to cherish and a moment to introspect and chart the future. Indeed the moment to usher in the year-long Silver Jubilee Celebrations. Appropriately, it was marked by ceremony. The University’s campus in New Delhi was bedecked, anticipation adding to the buzz in the air. The campus was festooned with flowers and banners. Faculty and students were dressed for the occasion — a mélange of colour and youthful exuberance. All this to welcome visitors from near and far — learners, teachers and thinkers... The Visitor also came — the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, to take stock and provide guidance.n

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 3

President Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil addressing the function marking the launch of IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee year.

A Silver Start 25thYEAR Launching IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations, the President of India called upon the ODL system to be at the forefront of ushering in a knowledge revolution by reaching value-added education to the masses

resident of India Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil called upon the Open Distance Learning (ODL) system in India to be the torchbearer of a knowledge revolution in India. Launching the Silver Jubilee celebrations of IGNOU on November 19, the birth anniversar y of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the President said that the primar y challenge facing India lay in enhancing the skill-sets of its workforce to ensure that they could earn a living. “Only 5 percent of the workforce in India has some kind of certification. This is in contrast to over 85 percent in developed countries. Encouragement of work-integrated learning followed by examination, certification and accreditation through distance education was critical,” the President said. Noting that opportunities in an increas-

4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

ingly flattening world were for the prepared, Smt Patil said, “Proper training, provisioning of skill-sets and capacitybuilding of our population are tools which would make our human resources competent and confident to face the new set of challenges of a fast-changing world.” The President exhor ted open universities, like IGNOU, which is also the largest distance education provider in the world with over 2.5 million students, to generate “a movement in rural areas that will impel people to acquire knowledge and skill”. In this context, President Patil underscored the important role that IGNOU’s regional centres could play. “IGNOU has 15 per cent of all learners enrolled in higher education in this country and offers a wide range of programmes and courses through its vast network of

A section of the audience, comprising students and academicians, listening to President Patil’s address at the event in New Delhi on November 19.

learning centres across the country. Its Regional Centres can play a very important role in reducing disparities in education by extending education opportunities to villages and remote areas.” Urging the education sector to make full use of IT, the President said that creation of high-quality human resources would place India in the elite list of frontranking nations of the world. Noting that the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in India in higher education was very low, as compared to the world average, Smt Patil exhorted those leading the education system in India to make “strenuous efforts” to attain the goal of enhancing GER in India to 20 percent by 2020. Technology had to be harnessed in a significant way to ensure that the chal-

“IGNOU has 15 per cent of all learners enrolled in higher education in this country and offers a wide range of programmes and courses through its vast network of learning centres across the country”

lenge of access could be overcome to take higher education to the unreached. “The National Mission on Education, launched in February this year, will create Internet connectivity for about 20,000 colleges and educational institutions. This initiative will, I am confident, bring in the use of modern technology in higher education in a more widespread manner,” the President predicted. It was important that higher education was made accessible to women, one of the marginalised sections of our society. “By spreading education among women, not only is an individual educated, but also the seeds of progress for the next generation are planted,” she observed. ODL is an enabling tool providing opportunities for the Indian workforce to upgrade and enhance their skills, leading

New Initiatives lThe President announced the institution of the Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Technology and Development by IGNOU. The Prize would be given to an individual, or an institution, who has made significant contribution to education technology in the developing world. lThe President dedicated Gyan Deep to the nation. Gyan Deep is a partnership between IGNOU and the Indian Army which seeks to impart, and certify, higher education to serving army personnel, enabling them to start an alternate career post their retirement. lThe President also launched IGNOU’s FlexiLearn scheme which will provide an opportunity for prospective learners to sample a course before enrolling for one; helping them to choose the most relevant and appropriate course and programme.

to higher productivity and better avenues for livelihood. In that context, the President said that she was “very happy” to dedicate Gyan Deep — a partnership between IGNOU and the Indian Army — to the nation. “Through this new collaboration they (army personnel) will get appropriate certification. This can be helpful in their current work and in starting a new professional life post their career in the Army,” she observed. Launching IGNOU’s FlexiLearn initiative, the President commended the innovation and said, “It will provide an opportunity for prospective learners to sample a course before enrolling in one, thereby helping them to choose appropriate courses and programmes.” She announced the institution of IGNOU’s Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Education and Technology Development. The Prize would be given to an individual, or an institution, who has made significant contributions to educational technology in the developing world. The Prize will consist of a citation and a prize money of Rs 5 lakh. The President also paid tribute to the Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “It is her deep commitment to development of the country and to the upliftment of the poor that one recalls as her hallmarks. She viewed education as a liberating force, which, while enabling individuals to earn a living, would also make them capable citizens. She, therefore, wanted that education should reach all people in the country,” President Patil said. Recalling the important contribution that IGNOU has made to ODL in India, the President congratulated the men and women behind the University’s rapid growth and called upon them “to play an ever-growing role in the mission of education.”n

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 5

25thYEAR In his address at the launch of IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations, Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said leveraging the power of ODL through innovative use of technology was critical to taking quality education to the unreached and creating opportunities for livelihood

‘Seek the Tech Edge’ aying tribute to IGNOU for being the harbinger of Open Distance Learning (ODL) in India, Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that leveraging the power of the ODL system through the innovative use of technology was “critical”. Speaking at the function to launch IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations, the minister commended the University for not only laying the foundation

factoid

of ODL in India, but also for “serving the educational aspirations of over two million students, especially from the disadvantaged and under-served population”. “IGNOU’s contributions towards national development and creating a global knowledge-based society is significant,” he said. The minister emphasised that all available technologies would have to be harnessed to provide innovative

solutions to increase and deepen access to distance education. “The cellphone can also be used both for dissemination as well as receipt of information, which helps learning with mobility. The use of airwaves, WiFi and new forms of technology... will help and diversify the process of distance learning,” he said. Sibal said that the optimum use of technologies would not only broaden the frontiers of knowledge, but also

In 2009, IGNOU enrolled over 74,000 learners from among SCs and STs — the largest number of disadvantaged to ever get enrolled in a single educational institution in a year

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‘Align Education to Society’s Needs’

Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal speaking at the launch of IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee year in New Delhi on November 19.

“Access to higher education is an important, but not the sole, objective. Expansion, inclusion and excellence are the three necessary pillars to impart quality education”

“ensure that the 220 million children who go to school and the 160 million who are out of school (in India) have access to those everwidening horizons”. Though the access to higher education was important, it was not the sole objective. “Expansion, inclusion and excellence are the three necessary pillars to impart quality education,” the minister said. Noting that by 2020 the average age of India would be 29 years, he said that ODL was a crucial tool in addressing the educational needs of these vast numbers. “We should be able to provide proactive and quality education for our young which may not be possible if we limit ourselves to formal peda-

gogical methodology,” he said. The minister added that there was an urgent need to “invest in technologies and develop methods that would enable access to complex education resources”. “In the absence of adequate teachers, interactive teaching is essential,” he said. If India was to achieve “over 90 per cent literacy”, from the current 64 per cent, then there was “a need to investigate, innovate and look for newer solutions”, the minister obser ved. Asserting that the ODL system had to look beyond mere certification, to enabling livelihood, Sibal said, “The linkage between learning and livelihood can be best provided through distance education”.n

alling for strengthening the Open and Distance Learning system, Smt D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development (HRD), emphasised the need for aligning higher education to the needs of the society. She also lauded IGNOU's role in making higher education acceesible to all segments of society. She was speaking on the ocassion of the launch of the Unioversity's Silver Jubilee Year on November 19. Excerpts follow: l IGNOU has emerged as one of the largest universities in the world in terms of student enrolment, field of operations and diversity of its courses and programmes. The University uses the latest technologies to impart knowledge and help achieve the objective of providing access to education for all. l The Open University system should identify the knowledge and skills required for improving the quality of life of the citizen and provide thse by using innovative and flexible means of delivery. l The courses and programmes of the open universities should cater to the disadvantaged groups, such as those living in remote and rural areas. This include working people, housewives and other adults who wish to acquire or upgrade knowledge. l An open university should also provide education and training in various arts, crafts and skills indigenous to different parts of the country. l Enhancing the number of certified workers in the country is the real challenge today. Of the total workforce in the country, from construction workers to high-level knowledge workers, only 5 per cent possess any certification. This is in contrast to over 80 per cent in developed countries. Through work-integrated learning, which uses the latest knowledge base in relevant fields, the workforce should be given opportunities for learning, examination and certification through the extension services of the open university system. This is necessary for ensuring vertical mobility and professional growth. l In view of the objectives enshrined in the National Skills Mission, IGNOU should strive to not only maximise the employment potential but to bring the large number of school and college drop-outs into the fold of vocational education and training. l With the historic Right to Education Bill introduced by the UPA Government, training of primary schoolteachers in large numbers is going to be a major challenge facing the education system. Appropriate and contextualised use of information and communication technology like the New Media, Internet and Satellite is the only way address this challenge of scaling up. l On the occasion of the beginning of the Silver Jubilee Year, I congratulate the entire academic and administrative staff of IGNOU, especially teachers and students.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 7

Dr Narendra Jadhav, Planning Commission Member, delivering IGNOU’s Foundation Day Lecture on November 19. Others on the dais are (from L to R) Pro-VC Prof Parvin Sinclair, VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai and Registrar U.S. Tolia

‘Focus on GER’ FOUNDATION DAY LECTURE Delivering the Foundation Day Lecture at IGNOU, Planning Commission Member Narendra Jadhav said the fusion of ODL and conventional learning systems was “critical” for increasing the GER in India

lending the conventional higher education system with the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) pedagogy was “critical” to enhancing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education. A growing GER is, in turn, crucial in achieving inclusive growth. This was the theme of the IGNOU Foundation Day Lecture delivered by Dr Narendra Jadhav, eminent economist and member of the Planning Commission, at the IGNOU campus on November 19. Dr Jadhav was speaking on ‘Sustainability, Innovation and Inclusion in the Education Sector’. While India had improved its GER since Independence, it was also a fact that all was not well with the education

8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

system. Teacher absenteeism in schools and colleges was rampant, quality of the delivery of education was below par and the drop-out rate in primary schools continues to worsen despite innovations and incentives like the mid-day meal’ scheme, he observed. “Convergence is the only way forward, if we were to arrest and reverse this trend and take education to the masses,” he asserted. Dr Jadhav laid down four ingredients that would help increase the GER: access, quality, affordability and employment. Noting that India ranked only third in the world behind the US and China in providing access to education, he lauded IGNOU’s contribution in helping the country attain this position, with a

PASSINGBY diGviJay sinGh, m.P.

ormer chief minister of madhya Pradesh digvijay singh, m.P., inaugurated the school of Journalism and new media studies’ (soJnms) two-week ‘train the trainer’ programme on october 26. singh emphasised sensitisation of media personnel to their social responsibilities. he said that anything less than reponsible reporting could disturb the social and communal balance in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society like india.

Judith irwin, Educationaist

udith irwin of the american association of community colleges visited the university campus on november 3. she shared the american experience in setting up community colleges with the iGnou faculty.

15 per cent share in the overall education delivery in India. Dr Jadhav said that taking higher education to the maximum number of learners and tailoring a livelihood oriented curriculum should be among the highest priorities of the education system. The skills taught should enable the learner to boost employability, he added. Only 2 per cent of the rural workforce in the country have undergone some form of formal training. “We are striving to improve this situation to get the figure of the formally trained in the workforce to about 18 per cent through flexi-education and vocational training,” Dr Jadhav affirmed. He said that it was equally important to ensure that education was inclusive. Hence, Dr Jadhav asserted that efforts have to be made to ensure that quality education was easily accessible to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and Muslims — the traditionally-backward communities in education. In 2020, the average Indian will be only 29 years old, compared with 37 in

China and the US, 45 in Western Europe and 48 in Japan. A population “bulge” in the working age groups, like in India, is seen as an advantage — a “demographic dividend”. However, Dr Jhadav cautioned, “if we do not upgrade our education system and rapidly improve our deliver y and take education to the masses, we will not be able to leverage this dividend.” In the context of delivering quality education, he expressed concern that only about one-third of India’s 417 universities has been able to reach the benchmark prescribed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). He also lamented the fact that only 44 per cent of teachers in the countr y have an M.Phil or a Ph.D. In a relatively poor country like India, where large numbers subsist below the poverty line, it was important that education should not only be of high quality, accessible and livelihood-oriented, but also affordable. This was important if we have to reach quality education to the last man, Dr Jadhav observed.n

oscar fErnandEs, m.P. saEEd naqvi, Journalist former union minister for labour and Employment oscar fernandes, m.P., and eminent Journalist saeed naqvi delivered the valedictory addresses to the participants of ‘train the trainer’ programme of the school of Journalism and new media studies on november 6. while fernandes stressed the need to keep pace with technological developments and creation of opportunities for skill enhancement, naqvi highlighted the lack of hands-on training facilities for media practitioners in india and hoped institutions like iGnou would fill the void.

Gail omvEdt, ProfEssor

ail omvedt, Professor, ambedkar chair for social change and development at the university, was felicitated by the school of Gender and development studies (sGds) on november 27, for her pioneering work among dalit women. the america-born scholar, sociologist and human rights activist, is an indian citizen.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | NOVEMBER 15, 2009 9

INFOCUS Gyan Deep, a partnership between IGNOU and the Indian Army, is designed to provide soldiers a career option after their retirement. Mechanised troops of the Indian Army. Photo Right: Lieutenant General Mukesh Sabharwal and IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai exchange documents after signing the MoU on Gyan Deep in New Delhi in the presence of Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor.

A Second Life will be trained and imparted learning in wenty-three-year old P.M. Babu their chosen vocations. from Kozhikode in Kerala, a Naik The project was dedicated to the nawith the Engineering Branch of the tion by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Indian Army, is a proud soldier. at the launch of IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee But till some time back, he was also an Celebrations on November 19. Earlier, anxious soldier. Anxious about his future IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof after he would retire from V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai the Army. and Chief of Staff of the InTypically, Indian Army dian Army General Deepak soldiers retire around 40, Kapoor inked a Memoranwith a productive span of dum of Understanding nearly 15-20 years ahead (MoU) for Gyan Deep on of them. September 4 this year. But Gyan Deep, a partBased on the U.S. sysnership between IGNOU tem of Community Colleges and the Indian Army, in defence cantonments, seems to have laid his worthe scheme will benefit a ries to rest. Gyan Deep is “About 50,000 an ambitious programme personnel retire majority of the 1.2 million soldiers in the Army. It will designed for training and every year. After enable Army jawans to not awarding degrees to solacquiring our only earn a degree but also diers during their service period — a step aimed at degrees, they will master livelihood-driven courses as well. They will providing the jawans with a be empowered to be awarded BA, BBA, BSc second career option after secure a second and BCom degrees dependtheir retirement. ing on their area of study. Under the scheme, career. A vast For Army personnel like IGNOU will register the Inhuman capital Naik Babu it has been a dian Army’s Regimental will be made godsend. “Not being a gradTraining Centres, Human uate, I used to worry a lot Resource Development available for Centres and Schools of Innation-building.” about my life once outside the Army. But now because structions as ‘Community —Dr Latha Pillai, Pro-VC of this new scheme, I can Colleges’, where soldiers

T “Through this new collaboration they (army personnel) will get appropriate certification. This can be helpful in their current work and in starting a new professional life post their career in the Army.” —President Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil, while dedicating the ‘Gyan Deep’ programme to the nation.

10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

Credit for Work Army officers and jawans will get 64 Credits for the work they do in the first 4 semesters, before earning academic credits for a Graduate Degree. Ist Semester: 2nd Semester: 3rd Semester: 4th Semester: IGNOU Course: Total Credits:

16 Credits 16 Credits 16 Credits 16 Credits 32 Credits 96 Credits

earn a degree and look forward to a reasonably good career in the private sector also,” says Babu. “It will be a boon for thousands of Army personnel who will retire at a relatively young age,” he says. “Soldiers give 20 to 25 of their best years to the Army and retire around 40. We need to make use of their training and discipline after their retirement. There is demand for ex-servicemen in enterprises, industries and security services. A formal degree from IGNOU will not only enhance their personality but will open up many more jobs to them,” says General Kapoor. IGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor and Incharge of Gyan Deep, Prof Latha Pillai, affirms, “We are very excited about this historic project. About 50,000 disciplined, hardworking, trained services personnel retire every year. After acquiring degrees through Community Colleges, they will be empowered to secure a second career in a chosen vocation. And a vast human capital will be made available for induction into nation-building.” Calling the scheme a “major revolution”, Vice Chancellor Pillai says, “Their (soldiers) entry into the Community College system will not only increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of the country in higher education, but will also enhance the Gross Graduation Ratio (GGR).” “It is a win-win situation for all parties involved. For IGNOU, it means a phenomenal increase in the strength of students and the campuses. For the Army, it would be a great welfare measure and gainful use of resources. And for all soldiers, this programme has the potential to transform the post-retirement life by equipping them with a formal qualification and preparing them for competitive job avenues,” the

“Gyan Deep will help me complete my graduation while in the Army and will enable me to embark on a reasonably good career after my retirement. It is a boon for thousands of army personnel like me who will retire at a relatively young age.” —Naik P. M. Babu of the Indian Army Vice Chancellor observed. The Indian Army has a robust educational and training infrastructure, including 38 Regimental Training Centres, 55 Human Resource Development Centres, 11 Central Training Centres and other established Schools of Instruction. These centres, under the MoU, are being registered as Community Colleges. A soldier, who desires to enhance his educational standards and qualifications, will take admission in a Community College in his training academy and will pursue the course according to his time and pace. After successful completion of two years, he will be awarded an Associate Degree. To pursue higher education after acquiring the Associate Degree, he will be given lateral entry to the third year of a three-year degree course for a graduate degree. The soldiers will need 96 credits for being awarded a graduate degree. A five-member Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) representing IGNOU and the Indian Army has been formed to formulate

a structured curriculum for the two-year Associate Degree as well as well-defined guidelines for in-service soldiers to enhance their education and upgrade skills. The training modules for the Associate Degree will be designed and provided by the Army in collaboration with IGNOU, while the certification will be carried out by the University. The joint development of the training modules for the degrees will be needbased and decided by the JCC, which will also oversee the award of credits and related matters. A liaison cell for the Army has been be set up at IGNOU campus. The first semester will be a certification course consisting of basic military training. This will earn a soldier 16 credits. For soldiers who have not completed Class XII, this will count as a bridge course. The second semester will impart advanced military training to the soldiers and earn them 16 credits. During the third semester, the soldiers will join application-oriented courses to earn 16 credits and in the fourth semester, undergo compulsory internship and project work to earn 16 more credits. These 64 credits will be for work within the Army. These will then be transferable to his credits when he earns a degree from IGNOU, where the soldier will earn the remaining 32 credits. Soldiers will have to complete their third year with IGNOU within five years of being granted an associate degree. “If need be, IGNOU will also introduce new subjects in the curriculum. The degrees awarded to the soldiers on completion of 96 credits will be similar to the one granted to other students,” Vice Chancellor Pillai explained.n

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 11

NEWSupdate

FlexiLearn: Learn it your way Accessing ‘FlexiLearn’ l Visit http://www.ignouflexilearn. ac.in and register for free l Login to access the open courses l Browse courses by title, topic or level l Search courses through keywords l Register for individual courses for certification by paying the course fees l Join course discussion groups for peer-to-peer interaction The President inaugurating IGNOU’s ‘FlexiLearn’ portal at the Silver Jubliee launch.

resident Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil launched IGNOU’s new education platform ‘FlexiLearn’ on November 19. ‘FlexiLearn’ is an innovation by IGNOU that will enable prospective learners to sample a course before enrolling for it. This will help them choose the most relevant and appropriate course and programme. The ‘FlexiLearn’ portal provides free access to IGNOU courses. It is designed as a personal learning space where free resources are integrated with the learning management system, whatever be the learner’s educational qualifications and needs. The Certification by IGNOU,

however, will be contingent on completion of all learning activities and the payment of the requisite fee. Any visitor to the ‘FlexiLearn’ website has an option to register for any particular course or a full-length academic programme. Once registered, there is also an option to combine course credits to obtain a diploma or degree of his or her choice. The platform provides a self-learning environment, with a list of academic advisers and course guides as mentors. The platform will enable recourse to interactive tools like discussion boards, blogs, Wikis, podcasting and RSS feeds.

Each programme will have the option for both online and offline assessment, based on the learner’s choice. The learner will also be able to submit himself to exams “on demand”. Additionally, the registered learner will have a complete track record of his online activities through his own e-portfolio. It will keep a record of all formal and informal studies carried out by the learner. The model provides a flexible framework for the University’s schools of studies to identify and combine different courses already available, and to offer new need-based programmes of study.n

Varsity gets modular chemistry lab M arking the IGNOU Foundation Day on November 19, the Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal inaugurated a state-ofthe-art modular laboratory at the University’s campus in New Delhi. Dr. Sunita Malhotra, Director of the School of Sciences (SOS), said “The new amenity has the latest facilities for the University’s post-graduate science students.” The laboratory, which can accommodate up to 40 students at a time, has been conceptualised and designed by Kewaunee Labway India, she added. The lab is fitted with vacuum, gas and electricity lines; and is designed to meet the highest safety standards.n

Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal inaugurating the new modular chemistry Lab at IGNOU’s School of Sciences (SOS). Also seen (from left) are Union Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari; Director of SOS Prof. Sunita Malhotra; Raman Chair Prof P.T. Manoharan; IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai; and SoS faculty member Prof B.S. Saraswat.

12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

NEWSupdate

Student Satisfaction Survey launched n another initiative to mark its Silver Jubilee year, the University has launched a ‘Student Satisfaction Survey’ in order to improve its services and evolve more student-friendly study programmes. The survey attempts to elicit feedback from students on the standard and quality of IGNOU’s learning material, academic counselling, communication, examination procedures and relevance of course material. It also seeks to measure the overall satisfaction levels of the students. In a message to the students of the University, Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai wrote, “As the largest distance education institution in the world, we have always tried to impart skills for imbibing knowledge and competencies. It’s our belief that you, as former or present students, are the best persons to judge how far we have succeeded in our efforts.” “Your inputs shall guide us towards improving our services and evolving more student-friendly study programmes,” Prof Pillai said. Students can send in their feedback by clicking on the link ‘Student Satisfaction Survey’ displayed prominently on the home page of the IGNOU website.n

‘Train the Trainer’

GNOU’s School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS), in collaboration with the DW-Akademie of Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, conducted a two-week ‘Train the Trainer’ (ToT) programme at its New Delhi campus on November 6. Twenty participants from various organisations — like the UN Development Programme and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration — were among the trainees, apart from journalists and academicians.

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Two new Chairs at IGNOU

wo new Chairs have been instituted at IGNOU. While eminent space scientist and Planning Commission Member Dr K. Kasturirangan is the new ISRO Chair for Satellite Communication Education, Prof P. T. Manoharan is the first Raman Chair for Mathematics and Science Education. Dr Kasturirangan directed the Indian Space proDr Kasturirangan gramme for over nine years and retired as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Dr Kasturirangan is a recipient of a number of awards from the Government of India, including the Padma Vibhushan in 2000. He has also been a Rajya Sabha MP. In 2002, France honoured him with its highest civilian award, 'Officer of the Légion d'honneur'. In his long and distinguished career, Dr Kasturirangan has either headed or has been associated with almost every institution of note related to science in India. He has been awarded with Honorary Causa by 16 Universities, including IGNOU. Prof Manoharan is a distinguished professor of chemistry and has held a bevy of prestigious positions in institutions related to science and technology in India. He has been a recipient of the Ramanna Fellowship, instituted by the Department of Science and Technology. He was a honorary professor at IIT Madras, before he accepted the Raman Chair. At IGNOU, Prof Manoharan will initiate, plan and coordinate academic activities, including creation of study programmes, research papers, books and multi-media material, for various levels of learning. Prof Manoharan

Unesco keen to jointly certify IGNOU courses he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has evinced keen interest in jointly certifying select programmes being offered by IGNOU. Armoogum Parsuramen, Director of Unesco’s South Asia office, said the UN agency would, to begin with, look at certifying IGNOU’s master’s course in journalism and communication. The course has been adapted by IGNOU from the model journalism curriculum formulated by

Armoogum Parsuramen, Unesco Director (S. Asia) Unesco in 2008. Parsuramen was speaking at a symposium on ‘Media Education: Challenges and Opportunities’ at the IGNOU campus in New Delhi on November 20. The symposium was organised by IGNOU’s School of

Journalism and New Media Studies, as part of its Silver Jubilee Celebrations. The Unesco Director said his organisation was keen to partner with institutions like IGNOU to widen the reach of education, train teachers and upgrade course material. He offered Unesco’s assistance in forging a wider partnership between the University and countries in Africa to expand the reach of the varsity’s satellite-enabled, direct-to-home educational programmes.n

In 2009, IGNOU started its community college initiative, launching 47 such colleges. The university has plans to set up 500 more by 2011. IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 13

NEWSupdate

Now, get IGNOU content on 3G phones n a first-of-its-kind partnership in India, IGNOU has signed an agreement with Swedish telecom giant Ericsson to enable students to access its course material using 3G mobile telephony. The agreement was initialled in New Delhi on October 9. Students of IGNOU can now look forward to downloading their course content and get SMS alerts, through their mobiles. “IGNOU is open to using the latest technologies that are available to reach the maximum number of students. We will specifically target rural students who cannot always have a one-to-one meeting with teachers,” Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said. “Each student may have to shell out an additional Rs 25

over and above what they are paying now. We will also request the government to give concessions to those who cannot afford it. The cost per head will gradually come down as more and more students access the service,” Prof Pillai added. Prof K.R. Srivathsan, ProVice Chancellor of IGNOU, said the 3G initiative will also help connect students in remote areas. “With this, students can access the web pages of the courses, download files and assignments, and also watch video clips.” “A certificate course in IT, covering 5,000 students, will be the pilot project using 3G services. Based on its success, we will then chart out other courses and content,” Prof Srivasthan added. Gowton Achaibar, president

Ericsson India Chief Gowton Achaibar in conversation with Prof K. R. Srivathsan, Pro-VC, IGNOU.

of Ericsson India, said that his company “will build a 3G environment for students to download course content. We will also provide other tools like SMS alerts etc”. IGNOU is talking to other

IGNOU to upgrade library system he IGNOU library network system is launching a slew of new initiatives in the coming weeks to mark the University’s Silver Jubilee year. To begin with, IGNOU would co-host the ‘International Conference on Digital Libraries’, ‘ICDL-2010’, in collaboration with The Energy and Research Institute (TERI), in New Delhi from February 2326, 2010. The theme of the conference will be ‘Digital Libraries: Shaping the Information Paradigm’. IGNOU will kick off another initiative, ‘NODLINET,’ to strengthen the process of setting up an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) library. Under this initiative, the library network system will provide accredited standards and guidelines for establishing distance learning libraries at various Regional and Study Centres. The central library network will guide the Regional Centres and Study Centres on infrastructure, manpower and other requirements for establishing a distance digital library. Another move by the University’s library system is to create the

First Sanskrit seminar

Students at IGNOU library in New Delhi.

‘CERODL–E-Resources Consortium’. Under this initiative, the University will tie up with other digital networks which subscribe to e-resources in various disciplines of study. Automation of digital libraries at the Regional Centres will be stabilised and an agreement with the National Informatics Centre executed for automation of libraries. Some other planned initiatives include a web portal with access management and authentication besides the creation of a web-based delivery mechanism.n

14 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

telecom operators like the state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., who have already rolled out 3G services, to enable more and more students to access this facility.n

GNOU held its first-ever Sanskrit seminar to mark the formal launch of its online certificate programme in the ancient language, at its New Delhi campus recently. The certificate programme is offered jointly by Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) and the University’s School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS). K.N. Shrivastava, Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India, and Acharya Bhadant Gayan Jagat, were the Chief Guests at the function. Several distinguished Sanskrit scholars participated in the seminar. Dr Vandita Arora of Indraprastha College, Delhi University, delivered a lecture on ‘Veda and Vedanta’. Dr Didhiti Chakraborti, Head, Department of Sanskrit, spoke on ‘The concept of education as reflected in ancient Sanskrit texts’. In his inaugural speech, IGNOU Vice Chancellor, Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said, “We plan to launch several advanced programmes in Indology and Vedanta, as well as certificate programmes in other Indian languages.” Shrivastava, in his address, said that ‘Sanskriti’ and Sanskrit were inter-linked. Without understanding Sanskrit, it would be difficult to understand Indian culture and Ayurveda.

REGIONALroundup

Plans on for new courses in North-East ecognising that a substantial number of its over 2 million students belong to the North-East, IGNOU is set to launch diploma and certificate programmes in agriculture, specially designed for the region. This was announced by Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Om Prakash Mishra while addressing the North-East India National Seminar in New Delhi on October 30. The Seminar was titled ‘Strengthening Development Processes in North-East India: Identifying Scope and Challenges in Development and Governance’. Prof Mishra said it was the first seminar IGNOU’s North-East Centre for Research and Development (NECRD) was organising in collaboration with the North

Pro-VC Prof Om Prakash Mishra. East Development Foundation (NEDF). The day-long discussions focused on strengthening the development processes in the North-East. U.K.

Sangma, Secretary, North Eastern Council, was the chief guest. IGNOU’s programmes in the pipeline for the North-East are PG diplomas in food safety and quality management, plantation management; diploma programmes in value-added products from fruits and vegetables; dairy and meat technology; value-added products from cereals, pulses and oilseeds; fish product technologies; and watershed management. Additionally, certificate programmes in organic farming, sericulture, water harvesting, beekeeping and poultry farming are also being planned. The University is also planning to offer a PG certificate programme in agriculture policy.n

Training for Naxal-hit women he IGNOU Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong, in collaboration with the North-East Girls’ Students Association (NEGSA) and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFL), organised a Multi-Skill and Leadership Programme in Guwahati. The programme, from September 10 to 30, was specifically designed for young women from families affected by Naxal violence. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated the event, which was attended by 70 participants. They were given intensive training in yoga and meditation, art of public speaking, communication skills, self-defence, law, RTI Act, entrepreneurship, leadership, time management, interview skills, disaster management and first-aid.n

T Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi (above) inaugurating the Multi-Skill and Leadership Programme in Guwahati. Participants at the programme (below).

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and VC Prof Pillai sign an MoU for ‘Samarth’ project. At left is Dy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.

IGNOU to set up 400 centres in Bihar

o improve educational facilities in Bihar, and launch market-driven vocational courses for its youth, IGNOU is setting up 400 training centres in the state. The centres will also train government officials. The IGNOU training centres “will be equipped with computer labs to provide distance education through information technology to the remotest parts of the state”, said an official of the University. In addition, “it is estimated that during the year 2009-10, over 25,000 government officials will also be trained.” “These programmes will not only enable them to become competitively skilled, on a par with the workforce of other states, but also help Bihar to significantly improve its position in the Human Development Index,” the official said. The state government has already signed an agreement for implementation of the state sponsored project ‘Samarth’ in collaboration with IGNOU. The Varsity has been selected as the ‘knowledge partner’ for the state.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009 15

ONCAmpus

MILESTONES

STRIDE’s distance learning workshop

The journey begins

developing research national level fiveproposals qualitatively day workshop for (using anthropological academicians on community-based informa‘Research in Distance and tion) and quantitatively Online Learning’ was held (data-based, statisticallyat IGNOU’s New Delhi camexperimented information) pus recently. in the field of distance and The workshop was online learning (DOL). organised by Staff Training The workshop also and Research Institute of worked on (a) Pre-mentoring Distance Education support, such as facilita(STRIDE). The workshop tion, literature support, was coordinated by personal guidance and Prof Santosh Panda, a critical analysis; (b) Postrenowned expert in workshop mentoring such distance education. as critical review of draft The workshop focused proposals; and (c) developon building the capacity ment of final proposals. of teachers in open univer“Research should be sities, and dual mode Pro-Vice Chancellor made a habit in one’s institutions in India, Prof Parvin Sinclair. educational activities, to undertake quality without it one cannot research. The workshop achieve quality,” Prof Parvin Sinclair, was a part of the activities organised to Pro-Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, observed. celebrate the Silver Jubilee Year of Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, Vice the University. The workshop saw Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai the participants producing original, said, “It is important to dispel the current empirical research proposals in a misperception that doctoral research is relatively short period. The workshop discussed techniques of not possible in distance mode.” n

HIGHLIGHTS TUESDAY December 15 09:30: UGC/CEC: Developmental Biology 16:00: IGNOU-SOCIS: BIT/ADIT-67VE: Staff Management 18:30: INIOS-Sec. (Hindi) 1. Self Employment 2. Animal Husbandry 21:30: IGNOU: Gateway to Japan Part — 1 & 2 22:00: IGNOU/ Culture: Music of Life

THURSDAY December 17 08:30: IGNOU-SOE: Organic Reaction Clinical Mechanism (A Romaticity And Reactivity of Aromatic Compounds) 11:30: North East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment: Music of Life 21:30: IGNOU: The Social Work Response to HIV in the U.S.

SUNDAY December 20 08:30: IGNOU-SOE: Biological Evolution And Speciation 11:00: UGC/CEC: Video Lecture Series: Political Communication in India TUESDAY December 22 08:30: IGNOU-SOCE (PGDJMC): Insects Pests/Management 21:30: IGNOU: Crop Protection

16 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | DECEMBER 15, 2009

[ FRIDAY December 25 08:30: IGNOU-SOS: PHE-13: Introduction to Crystal Structure 20:00: UGC/CEC: Hermeneutics and Deconstruction — IV, Understanding Human Design

First Convocation 1989: IGNOU was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 to introduce and promote Open and Distance Learning (ODL) at the university level. The University was also mandated to coordinate, determine and maintain standards in ODL systems across the country. IGNOU held its first Convocation in 1989. More than 1,000 graduate learners were awarded degrees and diplomas at the event. The then Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi was the Chief Guest at the ceremony. New VC takes charge May 1990: Prof. V.C. Kulandaiswamy takes over as the second Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. First international training programme is held. May 1990: IGNOU conducts its first joint COL-IGNOU training programme for learners from India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

IGNOU goes on air January 1991: All India Radio relays IGNOU’s courses from Mumbai and, Hyderabad. May 1991: Doordarshan beams IGNOU’s educational audio-visual programmes.

UGC upgrades IGNOU’s awards February 1992: IGNOU’s degrees, diplomas and certificates were decreed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as equivalent to those of other universities in the country.

Not to be

Missed

]

atch a special programme on ‘Archaeological Treasures of Assam’ (Part-1) on Thursday (December 31). There are currently more than 40 discovered ancient archaeological sites across Assam, with numerous sculptural and architectural remains.

MONDAY December 28 06:O0: IGNOU: In Focus 09:30: UGC/CEC: Colours of Minerals 09:30: IGNOU-Urdu Programme: Khwateen aur Unke Masaail/1980 ke Baad ki Urdu Ghazal

THURSDAY December 31 08:30: IGNOU-SOCE: Development of Scheduled Castes 11:30: North East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment 16:30: Techniques of Artificial Intelligence