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CONTENTS Flexi Management 4
INFOCUS: IGNOU provides a slew of management and corporate programmes to inject managerial skills into the top-end users as well as the distant learners across the country
A Silent Revolution 8
SPOTLIGHT: IGNOU is offering vocational education accessible to Urdu-medium students, especially from madrassas, through its Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes
UNESCO CHAIR..............03
STUDENTS’ CORNER.....15
NEWS UPDATES.............11
MILESTONES ................16
REGIONAL UPDATES......15
GYAN DARSHAN............16
IGNOU OPEN LETTER is Printed by Printek Grafix, 148-D, Pocket-F, GTB Enclave, Delhi-110093 and Published by Ravi Mohan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi. New Delhi 110068. Ph: +91-11-29535924-32; +91-11-29535062-65 Fax: +91-11-29535933; E-mail: openletter@ignou.ac.in Managing Editor: Ravi Mohan Photos: Rajesh Sharma/Amlan Paliwal
FROMTHE VICE CHANCELLOR
A
s part of the major educational reforms and initiatives undertaken in our country in the recent past, teacher training at all levels has been identified as an area that requires urgent systemic interventions. In this context, Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Mr. Kapil Sibal, has held a series of one-on-one meetings with school Education Ministers of all the states in the country to take stock of the requirements of additional teachers and also the number of untrained and undertrained teachers. A time-bound action plan is being formulated jointly by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE), IGNOU and State Education Departments to achieve targets, particularly in the context of the Right to Education Act. In order to ensure the active participation of all Universities in this massive process of training, re-training and continuous capacity-building of teachers, the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Human Resource Development has constituted a Core Committee of ViceChancellors to evolve effective and unconventional strategies for scaling up teacher training with high quality. IGNOU has set up five Institutes of Competency Advancement of Teachers (ICAT) in the five geographic regions of the country. Technology-enhanced distance learning and the flexible open university practices are the approaches being adopted in these institutes. Such approaches are extensively and successfully used all over the world, both in the developed and highly-populated developing countries. Delivery of programmes, wholly or partially, through the flexible, distance learning mode, can alleviate shortages by eliminating or reducing the time and expenses invested in conventional college-based courses and also by making teacher trainees available earlier for service in the classrooms. Innovative approaches in the distance learning mode such as high-quality, self-instructional multimedia and online materials and well-designed learner support systems for practicals and project work, can really reduce the deficit in training and retraining capacity of our country. Learner-friendliness and flexibility are the attractive features of the open university and distance education systems. Facilitation of teaching-integrated learning for working teachers, by way of self-help faculty improvement modules, can also be achieved by distance education strategies. Realisation of all these policy-level perspectives will happen only by unconventional and innovative collaborations and networking with educational institutions and establishments at all levels, public and private. Let us do that.
Advisory Council: Prof P.R. Ramanujam, Dr Latha Pillai Design and Production: IANS Publishing www.ianspublishing.com
2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai
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NODALCENTRE
UNESCO’s Chair for Media Studies at IGNOU
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GNOU’s School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS) has been declared the first Nodal Centre of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for Media Studies in South Asia. UNESCO has also decided to set up a Chair for Media Studies at the school. Based on a prior agreement, the school and UNESCO envisage dissemination of the former’s M.A. programmes throughout SAARC countries in distance and virtual mode, using the University’s experience and facilitating research in media education and literacy through the UNESCO Chair for Media Studies. The agreement was signed between Armoogum Parsuramen (UNESCO’s New Delhi Director) and Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajashekharan Pillai recently to seal common objectives, such as sensitising individuals towards the understanding and evaluation of media
VC Prof Pillai with UNESCO’s New Delhi Director A. Parsuramen.
content, media literacy, enhancing quality education in journalism and science, and empowering the marginalised by creating innovative communication systems. Prof Pillai said the agreement sets higher standards for both organisations and “presents a great challenge for both IGNOU and UNESCO to implement innovative projects and expand the network of their operations.”
Parsuramen added that “although the collaboration between UNESCO and IGNOU dates back many years, this fresh agreement will lead to better synergy for carrying out research, training and capacity-building activities not only in India but also in other South Asian countries.” The initiative also includes a Media Congress that will be organised annually to analyse media education and literacy in the SAARC region. UNESCO will jointly certify IGNOU’s M.A. Programme in Journalism and Communications and the two institutions will collaborate on implementing the UNESCO curriculum at the Master’s level. According to SOJNMS Director Prof Shambhu Nath Singh, as part of the multi-dimensional MoU, the school has already started organising cultural workshops in collaboration with Rhodes University in South Africa.■
11 lakh professionals in 25 years, courtesy IGNOU
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n its silver jubilee year, IGNOU has added another feather to its cap. The world’s largest university has contributed over 11 lakh professionals to the country’s talent pool so far since its inception in 1985 — thus working towards its twin goals in the Decade of Innovation — providing Inclusive Growth and enhancing Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER). “Of nearly 11 lakh students, 1,94,196 are post-graduates, 1,97,722 graduates, 3,09,255 vocational diploma holders and 4,07,298 certified professionals,” announced Vice Chancellor Prof VN Rajasekharan Pillai recently. As per the latest ‘World Largest Universities by Student Enrollment on Internet and Top Universities Ranking Guide,’ by Wikipedia, IGNOU tops the list of 61 Universities with the strength of over 30 lakh learners enrolled in 338 programmes. “The University has reached the top slot due to its high flexibility, number of courses in diverse fields, quality course
Tapping the Talent 1,94,196 post-graduates 1,97,722 graduates 3,09,255 vocational diploma holders 4,07,298 certified professionals material and holding exams semesterwise twice a year, uninterrupted for the past 25 years,” Prof Pillai added. The Wiki listings are based on total active enrollment across all campuses (including off campus study). Enrollment numbers listed are the sum of undergraduate and graduate students in active enrollment. Out of the 1.2 crore students enrolled in India’s higher education system, 15 percent (18 lakh) are enrolled in IGNOU itself.
The Central government has declared 2010-2020 as the Decade of Innovation, during which the country needs to attain comprehensive and sustainable growth, both in traditional and contemporary fields of education sector. IGNOU, with its countryside network of 61 Regional Centres and over 3,500 Study Centres, has the greatest potential to achieve this goal and address the issue of national skill deficiency, Prof Pillai added. ■
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Flexi Management INFOCUS IGNOU offers a slew of management programmes that are helping top-end users as well as students in the remote areas learn managerial skills and get placements in top-notch institutions
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4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
e has commanded ships, air squadrons and has been in various line and staff appointments, all the while experimenting with how to get the best out of people in difficult situations during an illustrious career with the Indian Navy. Today, he uses his experience in the defence services, corporate management and studies in behavioural sciences to facilitate change for individual and organisational growth, all thanks to the IGNOU-Navy Educational Project (INEP) that was envisaged to help naval personnel enhance their academic qualifications. For Commander Yashwant Prakash Sharma, 48, a proud MBA degree holder from IGNOU’s School of Management
Studies (SOMS), the programme has not only broadened his horizons about management issues but has also helped him groom individuals through his firm — Praxis Quest Solutions — that works for People Empowerment, Team Development and Organisational Development. “The most important aspect of SOMS’s MBA Programme was its flexibility. While working with the Indian Navy, I got an opportunity to get enrolled in the MBA programme in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The courseware was quite exhaustive in nature. Whenever I got stuck somewhere, the faculty promptly responded to clear my doubts,” says Commander Sharma. Starting its operations in 1987, with
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“IGNOU started SOMS with a vision to reach the unreached. The School has been fulfilling the University’s objective to provide professionbal education to the distant learners since 1987.” — Prof G. Subbayamma, Director, SOMS
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: Prof Anurag Saxena, SOMS, with Dr Silima Nanda, Director (I/c), International Division, during an interactive session with MBA learners of Pan-Africa e-Network.
live video feed from the Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), informs Prof B.B. Khanna. According to Prof G. Subbayamma, Director, SOMS, “In terms of spread and enrollment, our MBA Programme is one of the leading Management Programmes in the world. Nearly 35,000 students were enrolled in SOMS programmes in the last academic session.” Agrees Prof Madhulika Kaushik, senior professor at SOMS: “We provide pathways to the working professionals so that they carry on working while earning Diplomas and Degrees and get specialisation in their chosen fields. In a way, the flexibility that SOMS provides cannot be matched anywhere.” “The beauty of our programmes is single entry and multiple exits. Enter the diploma course and exit armed with an MBA degree. A learner is given a maximum of eight years to complete his Programme,” says Prof S. Srilatha. “We have specialised Programmes. For example, SOMS today offers PG Diploma in HRD, MBA (B&F), PG Diploma in Financial Markets Practice, Financial Management, Operations Management and Marketing Management. In order to qualify for a particular specialisation, a learner is required to complete five courses in all from that particular stream,” says Prof Kamal Yadava. SOMS runs a Certificate Programme in NGO Management, in collaboration with UNAIDS. “The idea is to provide basic managerial concepts to the workforce currently employed with the NGO sector. Once completed, the learner can open an NGO, become a consultant or work fulltime,” informs Dr Neeti Agrawal, Co-ordinator of the Programme.
the launch of a Diploma in Management as the pilot programme of the University, Commerce stream SOMS offers 10 programmes in Management and 14 According to Prof N.V. programmes in Commerce. Narasimham, the Commerce The Management Programmes programmes insist on practical offered by the School training for learners. “We currently consist of 50 believe that hands-on “We provide courses. In the Commerce training is a crucial phase pathways to discipline, the School offers in the learners’ lives. the working B.Com, M.Com, PGDIBO For example, in and BPP, consisting of 30 association with the professionals so courses. Retailers Association of that they earn As part of the India (RAI), we make sure Diplomas and prestigious Pan-African that a Diploma in Retailing e-network project, the student gets internship at Degrees and get School has its presence in retail outlets. This is specialisation in four African nations — evaluated and then the their chosen Egypt, Rawanda, Malawi certification process and Botswana — where begins.” fields.” an interaction with “Our Commerce —Prof Madhulika Kaushik Senior Professor, SOMS learners is organised via programmes give a thrust
THEPROGRAMMES
Management Programmes Doctor of Philosophy in Management Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance) Diploma in Management (DIM) Post-Graduate Diploma in Management Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management PG Diploma in Operations Management Post-Graduate Diploma in International Business Operation Post-Graduate Diploma in Financial Markets Practice (PGDFMP) PG Diploma in HR Management PG Diploma in Financial Management Certificate in NGO Management (CNM)
Commerce Programmes Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce Master of Commerce in Finance & Taxation (MCom, F&T) Master of Commerce in Business Policy and Corporate Governance Master of Commerce in Management Accounting & Financial Strategies (MCom MA & FS) Master of Commerce (MCom) Bachelor of Commerce with Major in Accountancy and Finance (BCom A&F) BCom with Major in Corporate Affairs and Administration (BCom, CA & A) BCom with Major in Financial and Cost Accounting (BCom, F&CA) Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Diploma in Retailing (DIR) Diploma in Finance, Budget and Accounting for Panchayati Raj Institutions (DFBA) Certificate in Business Skills (CBS)
to specialisation sector-wise and not area-wise like focus on international business markets, capital markets, retailing, etc., thus providing learners a better and complete picture when he goes to the job market,” he adds. Hear the story of Vishal Chandra, an MBA from IGNOU. “The Programme has helped me hone my skills. I had a PG Diploma in Plastic Processing and Textile Technology but after earning an MBA degree from the University, I’m receiving good offers now.” “I thank IGNOU for giving me an opportunity to upgrade my skills. I do keep referring to IGNOU courseware when needed as they are up-to-date,” he adds. For detailed information about SOMS and its Programmes, please visit: www.ignou.ac.in.!
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010 5
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Corporate Skills T
hey are among India’s biggest brands. The Future Group, which owns the Big Bazaar and Pantaloon retail chains; NIIT, India’s top IT education company; CIAL, which runs the country’s first airport built with public-private participation; Bharti Airtel, one of the leading telephone companies not only in India but also the world over; Department of Personnel and Training (Government of India) and, above all, Indian Railways, which manages the largest rail network in the world. And they, along with a host of others, have turned to IGNOU, the world’s largest university, for a unique initiative — to nurture corporate excellence at the workplace. The initiative is being led by the
6 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
University’s Centre for Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy (CCETC). Set up in 2008, CCETC has been quietly working to ensure that the country’s education system benefits from the expertise and experience available in the corporate sector so that fresh recruits are armed with skills appropriate to the sectors they join. As Prof P.R.R. Nair, OSD and Coordinator, CCETC, puts it: “There is a huge skills gap in India, and the IGNOU initiative hopes to help bridge the gap.” A recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report underscores his point. It states that only 5 percent of the workforce in India is skilled, compared with 80 percent in South Korea and 90 percent in much of Europe. “We have a long way to go,” says Prof Nair.
An autonomous centre at IGNOU, CCETC was set up with the aim of facilitating executive education, as well as undertaking corporate training, consultancy and research-related activities. And these aims are being achieved through collaboration with industry, a rarity in the Indian higher education space, notes Prof Nair. The programmes and courses conducted under the initiative focus on developing skills and knowledge in the service sector and on the shopfloors of manufacturing units. Even a cursory look at the programmes underlines this fact. In collaboration with the Future Group’s education arm — Future Learning & Development Ltd. — CCETC is running courses such as MBA in Retail
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Sanskar School of Etiquette and Career Development for several programmes for skills development in the rapidly growing tourism and hospitality sectors; with Tasmac Ltd. and Global Talent Track Ltd. for management and IT-related programmes; with Vikas Publishing House for programmes that prepare people to work in the world of publishing; and with P.N. Vijay Financial Services Pvt. Ltd., to train those interested in making a career in the stock markets. Two ambitious programmes are being conducted with Indian Railways’ Institute of Rail Transport for its employees. The first is a two-year MBA on Transport Management and the second a one-year Diploma in Rail Management. “Both these programmes are in the distance mode,” says Prof. Nair. “But many of our courses are also in the faceto-face mode.” Other key collaborations are with firms and institutions such as ICSI Knowledge Partner, the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International School of Textile Management, and Everonn Skill Development Ltd. The Centre also runs a one-year PG Diploma Programme in Corporate Governance with the ICSI as its Knowledge Partner. It is also proposed FLYING HIGH: Students of the CIAL to provide facilities for PhD work in Academy in Cochin attending a lecture. Corporate Management at the CCETC from January 2011. Apart from high-end management programmes, a bulk of these tie-ups are focused on training and skill development Management, MBA in Entrepreneurship, at the entry level. Among the 70-odd BBA in Retail Management and programmes and courses that are already BBA in Entrepreneurship. up and running or are on the cards, are With NIIT, it runs an Executive MBA those in areas such as garment finishing, programme, apart from Certificate courses cake making, bakery, customer in areas such as IT Professional sales, CAD designing, fashion Skills, BPO Skills, Personal design, apparel merchandising Leadership and English and garment quality control and Communication. industrial sewing machine CCETC’s collaboration with operations. CIAL has resulted in a slew of It falls on the Centre to unique programmes aimed at develop customised curriculum of churning out qualified global standards and the professionals to service study material required for India’s burgeoning aviation “There is a huge programmes. “This is sector. The programmes skills gap in India, the done by a committee of include: MBA in Aviation and the IGNOU experts from the Business Management, respective fields,” Diploma in Airport initiative hopes to Dr. Nayantara Operations Management, help bridge the gap explains Padhi, Senior Lecturer at Advanced Diploma in Air via collaboration CCETC. “We also Cargo Management and undertake the evaluation, other areas such as airport with industry, a ramp handling, airport fire rarity in the Indian and provide the multimedia approaches in and rescue operations, and higher education diverse flexible transairport security. disciplinary systems of Other key tie-ups (See space.” corporate education box for complete list) —Prof P.R.R. Nair OSD and Coordinator, CCETC delivery.” include those with the Sri
ASSOCIATEINSTITUTES " Future Learning & Development Limited, Mumbai: 4 courses " Centum Learning Ltd, Delhi: 1 course " CIAL Academy, Cochin: 6 courses " Global Talent Track, Pune: 4 courses " Sardar Vallabhai Patel International School of Textile Management, Coimbatore: 3 courses " Institute of Rail Transport (IRT), Delhi: 2 courses " NIIT Ltd: 9 courses " Sri Sanskar School of Etiquette and Career Development, Noida: 5 courses " ICSI-Knowledge Partner: 1 course " TASMAC Ltd. Pune: 1 course " P N Vijay Financial Services PLtd, Delhi: 1 course " Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, Delhi: 7 courses " Everonn Skill Development Ltd, Chennai: 28 courses
A need-based analysis of the corporate world helps the CCETC identify sectors where the skills gap is large. It then creates a methodology to develop a programme in training, puts together the curriculum, provides consultancy and research where needed and ensures the courses meet compliance standards. CCETC also ensures that the programmes are not priced beyond the reach of the underprivileged and the needy. “Profit is important,” says Prof Nair, “but not unreasonable profits. We make sure that the fees are not exhorbitant. For instance, our MBA fee is as low as Rs. 30,000 a semester, and students can pay semester by semester. So the fee is not a burden on them.” “What the CCETC is doing is truly pioneering,” says Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, IGNOU’s Vice Chancellor. “The need of the hour is innovative networking and collaborations in both the private and public sectors so as to ensure that the country meets the skills development goals set out in the National Skill Development Mission.”!
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STRIVING FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Muslim girls attending a class at the IGNOU Study Centre in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
A Silent Revolution SPOTLIGHT IGNOU is making vocational education accessible to thousands of Urdu-medium students from madrassas through its newly-launched Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes
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8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
anguage is not a barrier to education and Afreen Noorulul Hasan has understood this fact well after six months of her association with the world’s largest university. A 17-year-old girl from the small town of Mumbra in Thane district of Maharashtra, Afreen received her formal education at a madrassa near her home. The medium of instruction was Urdu, and after completing her madrassa education, she found herself totally at sea in the world of vocational education, owing to a lack of knowledge of English. Ironically, it was Urdu — which she considered her biggest obstacle in achieving the goal of higher education — that came to her rescue, courtesy
IGNOU. In January 2010, she got herself enrolled in a unique Programme at the University that allows people like her to get a vocational education in the language she knows best. “This has been a life-changing experience for me, a blessing in disguise. Despite being a meritorious student all my life, I have always feared that my language will stand as the biggest barrier in my career path. But these fears were put to rest after I enrolled in IGNOU’s course.” “Now, I feel more confident and prepared to face the challenges of the world,” says Afreen. IGNOU has just opened the doors of opportunities for her.
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Revival of Urdu time, highly innovative, need-based and application-oriented. Afreen is just one of the many Urdu-medium Apart from academic courses such as students who have completed their Women in Urdu Literature, Diasporic Urdu education and are now getting a first-of-itsLiterature, Elements of Urdu Structure, kind opportunity to continue Socio-Cultural Forms of Urdu and Oral their education through IGNOU’s distance Tradition of Urdu Literature, learning Certificate, Diploma there are various job-oriented and Degree Programmes with courses like Script Writing, Urdu courseware. Feature Writing, Publishing, What is IGNOU’s Editing, Proof Reading and objective behind launching Translation. (See Box). these courses? According to “The promotion of Urdu Professor Naseer Ahmad language is very important. Khan, Coordinator of the We are involving many Programmes, IGNOU eminent professors to teach acknowledges the need to our students,” says Vice revive and upgrade Urdu Chancellor Prof V.N. language as well as the “The fear of Rajasekharan Pillai. madrassas, and subsequently language being The USP of these secure a better future for the programmes is that they will Urdu-medium students. the biggest be delivered in Urdu. “This “Urdu enjoys the status of barrier in my will not only broaden the the second official language career path was reach of formal higher in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and put to rest after education in Urdu medium but will also prepare several districts of West I enrolled in students, especially in Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. IGNOU’s madrassas, for the current It is the first official language job market,” says Prof Renu in Jammu & Kashmir. Urdu is Certificate also a medium of instruction Programme. I feel Bhardwaj, Director, SOH. She adds that the programmes in the numerous madrassas more confident have been designed in simple all over the country.” and prepared Urdu language and grammar “But, unfortunately, we to ensure that candidates do not have any institution or now.” centre in the country which — Afreen Noorulul Hasan, whose mother tongue is Hindi can also apply. devotes to an advanced Student The success and research, teaching and popularity of the programmes can be seen training on Urdu language. There are no from the fact that nearly 200 students job-oriented courses in the entire syllabi of have enrolled in the Certificate any college or university where Urdu is programme, while 500 and 250 candidates being taught,” says Prof Khan. have taken admission in the Diploma and Talking about madrassas, he adds that B.A. programmes, respectively. As many “The madrassa system of education needs as 500 students got enrolled in the a drastic change. In the absence of Certificate Programme in Urdu this January modern knowledge, the graduates and appeared in exams this July. produced by madrassas are not fit for the According to Prof Bhardwaj, “Through job market in the contemporary world. these programmes, IGNOU not only aims to IGNOU’s main purpose is to make higher provide an opportunity to promote and and vocational education through Urdu regulate the standard of Urdu education, medium more accessible to such students but also extend support to the madrassa so as to bring them back to the mode of system of education, which is still stuck to formal education and subsequently a two-century-old syllabus.” incorporate them in the mainstream.” “IGNOU’s learner-centric instructional Keeping all these factors in mind, the system like Face-to-Face counselling, radio University’s School of Humanities (SOH) broadcasting, Internal-based delivery, telelaunched the Certificate Programme in conferencing, TV broadcasting and study Urdu Language in January this year, and is material can prove tremendously helpful to now all set to start Diploma and B.A. the madrassas spread all over India,” adds Electives Programmes. Apart from this, Prof Khan. M.Phil/Ph.D. Programmes are scheduled IGNOU has been organising orientation to be launched in January 2011. programmes for madrassa teachers across According to Prof Khan, the courses the country. Recently, the IGNOU Institute envisaged for Certificate, Diploma and of Professional Competency Advancement Degree Programmes are both language of Teachers (IIPCAT) organised a five-day and literature oriented and, at the same
WHAT IGNOU OFFERS Certificate in Urdu: 16 Credits 4.2.1.1 The Script and the pronunciation 4.2.1.2 Communication and Comprehension
Credit 8
Diploma in Urdu: 24 Credits A. Compulsory Courses 4.2.2.1. History of Urdu language and literature 4.2.2.2. Project
8 Credits 4 Credits
Credit 8
Eligibility: Candidates with Urdu or Hindi as the mother tongue. Duration: Min. 6 months and Max. 2 years, Age no bar
B. Candidate may opt for any one of the two groups: (Group I) 4.2.2.3. Contemporary Poetry 4 Credits 4.2.2.4. Contemporary Prose 4 Credits 4.2.2.5. Non-Functional Prose 4 Credits (Group - II) 4.2.2.6. Translation 4.2.2.7. Book Publishing & Printing 4.2.2.8. Writing for Media Or 4.2.2.9. Feature Writing
4 Credits 4 Credits 4 Credits 4 Credits
Eligibility: Candidates with 10 or its equivalent with Urdu as one of the subjects or Certificate in Urdu from IGNOU. Duration: Min. one year and Max. 3 years
B.A. (Major) in Urdu: 96 Credits FOUNDATION COURSES 4.2.3.1. Humanities and Social Science 4.2.3.2. Science and Technology 4.2.3.3. English–1 Or 4.2.3.4. Hindi–2
8 Credits 8 Credits 4 Credits 4 Credits
(Students have to opt for foundation course in any of the modern Indian languages. Choose 4 Credits only)
ELECTIVE COURSES A. Compulsory Courses: 4.2.3.5. History of Urdu Language 4.2.3.6. History of Urdu Literature 4.2.3.7. Element of Urdu Structure
8 Credits 8 Credits 8 Credits
B. Optional Courses: Choose any one of the following groups Group-I 4.2.3.8. Urdu Poetry 4.2.3.9. Urdu Fiction 4.2.3.10. Urdu Non–Fiction 4.2.3.11. Women in Urdu Literature
8 Credits 8 Credits 8 Credits 8 Credits
Group–II 4.2.3.12. Feature Writing 4.2.3.13. Socio–Cultural Forms in Urdu Literature 4.2.3.14. Urdu Non–Fiction 4.2.3.15. Daisporic Urdu Literature
8 Credits 8 Credits 8 Credits 8 Credits
APPLICATION-ORIENTED COURSES 4.2.3.16 Teaching of Primary School Mathametics 8 Credits 4.2.3.17 Writing for Radio 4 Credits 4. 2.3.18 Journalism 8 Credits 4.2.3.19 Organising Child Care Service 4 Credits 4.2.3.20. Nutrition for the Community 4 Credits 4.2.3.21. Secretarial Practice 4 Credits 4.2.3.22. Translation 4 Credits Eligibility: Candidates with 10+2 or its equivalent with Urdu as one of the subjects or Diploma in Urdu from IGNOU. Duration: 3 years to 6 years
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“IGNOU’s main objective is to make higher education through Urdu medium more accessible to madrassa students so as to incorporate them in the mainstream” MAINSTREAM CALLING: Lakhs of Muslims acquire their primary and perhaps only formal education in madrassas, which are still following a dated curriculum, says Prof Khan.
FACTFILE ! Syllabi of most of the madrassas are two-and-
a-half-centuries old ! Percentage of boys and girls in madrassas:
76 percent boys and 23 percent girls ! Pass out percentage is 90-91 percent ! 98 percent of madrassa teachers are untrained ! No fees charged, and books are provided free
of cost to students
CLASSIFICATION OF MADRASSAS ! Madrassas providing education upto five
years: These are mostly situated in mosques and primarily focus on how to recite the Quran. Subjects taught are Urdu, mathematics and social sciences. ! Madrassas which developed the concept
of Jamiat (University): Based on religious as well as modern education. Further divided into two types — Madrassas that impart teachings of Quran, Hadees (Prophet Mohammad's habits and sayings), Faqah and Aqaid (Faiths) and those teaching grammar, literature, philosophy, logic and mathematics. ! Madrassas that are entirely based on
religion and provide education up to VIII standard. (Courtesy: Hamdard Education Society)
10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
—Prof Naseer Ahmad Khan, Coordinator of Urdu Programmes
plot to the university for the orientation programme for same,” says Mufti Haroon. madrassa teachers in While appreciating Assam at Kampur College in IGNOU’s efforts to revive Nagaon. The basic objective Urdu language and impart of the training programmes modern knowledge to is to expose madrassa Muslim youth, Haroon says teachers to modern that people in Ganjdulwara methods of teaching. The University has also “IGNOU not only are really looking forward to set up Special Study aims to provide IGNOU’s entry into their area. “It will be a Centres in madrassas in an opportunity to revolutionary step if IGNOU some states to provide a promote and decides to set up a Study six-month bridge course, Centre here,” he adds. Bachelor of Preparatory regulate the Apart from making Programme (BPP), which standard of Urdu higher education accessible will make students eligible education, but to the unreached sections for pursuing graduation. of students in madrassas, Meet Mufti Haroon who also extend IGNOU’s Urdu programmes runs an NGO, Jamia support to the are also helping in the Darusallam Society, in Zila madrassa system empowerment of Muslim Ganjdulwara, some 200 km girls like Afreen from India’s from Aligarh in Uttar of education.” hinterland for whom Pradesh. He has voluntarily —Prof Renu Bhardwaj education remains a shortoffered 16 acres land to Director, SOH lived experience due to IGNOU with the hope of social taboos, gender biases and starting a centre for higher education in religious constraints. the area. “Education in Ganjdulwara, “This is like injecting fresh life into us. which has 12 villages and a nearly two I thank IGNOU for this unique step that will lakh population, is restricted to just two help us connect back to the mainstream,” madrassas and one primary school. says Riju Ganguly, a student of IGNOU’s Students are left aimless after high school.” Certificate in Urdu Language Programme “On behalf of the people of my district, I from Kolkata. have requested IGNOU to start a Special And as IGNOU’s programnmes gain Study Centre in Hindi and English so that popularity, he will soon be joined by many our children are not deprived of higher more such positive voices.■ education. I have also offered a 16-acre
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NEWSUPDATES
Make judiciary proactive, competent: Patil
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egal system should not only meet the requirements of individual justice but also fulfil the broader role of being an instrument of legal empowerment for society and the nation, says the President. Inaugurating a two-day conference on ‘Access to Justice and Socio-Economic Development of the North-Eastern States’ at Machkhowa in Guwahati recently, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil called for an effective and competent judiciary and said that a mechanism has to be evolved to make justice more fast and affordable. She further added that the courts need to uphold the provisions of the Constitution consistently and protect the legal and Constitutional rights of the people. The conference was jointly organised by IGNOU, North-Eastern Regional Committee for Access to Justice and Socio-Economic Development Programmes, National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) and Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region (DONER), Government of India. Drawing a connection between
President Pratibha Patil addressing the gathering at Machkhowa, Guwahati.
education and progressive and sustainable development, IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof VN Rajasekharan Pillai said that scarcity of education is the most serious crime of the present era and focus should be on the spread of education for creating consciousness in the society. Justice Mukundamkam Sharma, Judge,
Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the NER Committee, Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Apex Court and Executive Chairman of the NLSA, Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam and J.B. Patnaik, Governor of Assam were among the distinguished dignitaries who attended the event.■
Debate must for electoral reforms: Ansari
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n order to provide an accountable, stable and efficient electoral system, debates should focus on enhancing representativeness and incorporating constitutional and international safeguards to vulnerable groups, Vice President M. Hamid Ansari has said. Inaugurating a national seminar on electoral reforms organised by the C. Achutha Menon Study Centre and Library and IGNOU in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on July 8, Dr Ansari said the debate should give due importance in promoting societal accommodation and conciliation, enhancing legislative oversight and encouraging the evolution and development of effective and internally democratic political parties. “Electoral systems have an undue influence on the evolution of party systems, their role and cohesion. It encourages innerparty democracy and suppresses dissent and influences the nature of political mobilisation, alliance formation and societal accommodation. The systems can spark societal conflict or facilitate conflict management too,” he said. Dr. Ansari said electoral records of Lok Sabha elections showed that in the past five general elections, the number of winning candidates who secured 50 percent or more of the valid votes varied between 121 and 221; it was 121 in 2009. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan presided over the event.
Vice President Hamid Ansari addressing at the inauguration of the seminar on electoral reforms in Thiruvananthapuram.
Governor R.S. Gavai was the Guest of Honour. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy were felicitated at the event. Mayor C. Jayan Babu was also present. Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai presided over the concluding ceremony. Secretary of Achutha Menon Study Centre, Dr K. Raman Pillai, proposed a vote of thanks.■
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NEWSUPDATES
‘Set up a panel on medical education’
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here is an urgent need to set up an autonomous body by an Act of Parliament with the twin objectives of promoting and regulating medical education at all levels, feels Prof M.V.S. Valiathan, a reputed cardiac surgeon and a Padma Vibhushan awardee. “At the government level, discussions are in progress to set up the National Commission on Medical Education (NCME) that would preside over the promotive and regulatory aspects of medical education,” said Prof Valiathan while addressing a gathering at the 15th Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture at the Maidan Garhi campus in New Delhi on July 2. Prof. G. Ram Reddy was the founding Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. The Lecture, titled ‘Medical Education in the Melting Pot,’ was presided over by Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. “The NCME should be on the lines of the National Commission on Higher Education as proposed in a Bill being considered by the Parliament. Headed by an eminent medical educationist whose contributions as an academician, investigator and administrator enjoy national recognition, the NCME should have eight-10 active members who represent biological sciences, pre/para/
From left, Pro-VC Parvin Sinclair, VC Prof Pillai, Prof Valiathan and Prof A.K. Agarwal, senior professor, IGNOU School of Health Sciences, at the 15th Prof. G. Ram Reddy Lecture.
and clinical sciences of medicine, public health, sociology and technology,” added Prof Valiathan. He further stressed that for making the best possible nominations, the government should ask experts in these disciplines from the National Academies of Science, Medicine, Engineering and the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), who should be taken into confidence on the importance of the NCME, its role in shaping medical
education, and in due course, standards of health care and quality of medical research in India. “The NCME should have its performance evaluated by an independent committee appointed by the Parliament every 10 years. The NCME should be accomplished through two committees — the Committee for Promotion of Medical Education and the Committee for Regulation of Medical Education,” said the eminent Professor.■
Media out of touch with masses: Sainath
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oted journalist and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner P. Sainath believes that commercialisation has brought about a drastic change in the priorities of the Indian mass media, thus disconnecting it from the real interests of the masses. Sainath was at the IGNOU campus in New Delhi on June 30 to deliver the Silver Jubilee Lecture titled ‘Mass Media: But where are the masses?’ While underlining the massive gap that exists between the genuine interests of the people and the issues covered by the media, Sainath drew attention to the striking contrast in the recent price hike trend. “Convenience commodities have become cheaper for the upper middleclass, whereas essential commodities like rice, wheat, electricity, water, oil
12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010
Veteran journalist P Sainath delivering the Silver Jubilee Lecture in New Delhi.
and transport have become almost 500 percent more expensive for the poor. Why has this not been reflected appropriately in the media?” Sainath asked. Talking about marginalised sections, especially farmers and those who are under the poverty line, Sainath said,
“There is a kind of uniformity in the behaviour and character of media these days. Fuel prices have been hiked at a time when people are already reeling under high inflation rates and prices of essential commodities are at an all-time-high. The media, however, has failed to fully understand the implications this would have on the poor.” Taking the example of the Bhopal Gas tragedy, Sainath took a dig at newspapers and pointed out that their editorials are attacking the activist industry, rather than criticising the real culprits. However, the veteran journalist said that he did not lose hope. He believes that young, upcoming journalists, especially from the rural areas, will surely bring about the required changes in the industry.■
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NEWSSCAN
NEWSUPDATES
Last date extended
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Students of the CHAA programme at a training session.
Creating a health workers’ pool
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will be held at the Programme Study ith an aim to train the manpower Centres (PSCs) in the designated hospitals for administrative job of the Apollo Group at the following opportunities in hospitals and locations: New Delhi, Mysore, Chennai, create skilled healthcare workers, IGNOU’s Hyderabad, Bhilai, Bangalore, Ludhiana, School of Vocational Education and Kolkata, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur and Training (SOVET) has collaborated with the Madurai. Apollo Group to offer a Certificate The programme consists of two courses Programme in Hospital Administration — Personality and Skills Development and Assistantship (CHAA). Management of Health Insurance. Each The programme, which is part of a Course is subdivided into five Blocks, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that which are further subdivided into units or was signed between the health service lessons. The duration of the programme provider and IGNOU in September 2008, aims to prepare individuals for job positions would be six months, at the end of which the term-end examination will such as ward secretary, frontbe conducted. office staff, patient-care “While the Personality and executive and other supportive Skills Development course roles required in healthcare focusses on areas such as institutions. personal grooming, hygiene, According to Dr Rachna communication skills, Agarwal, a Lecturer at customer service standards SOVET, the need for such a and conflict resolution, the programme arises from the “The courses course on Management of nature of the sociowill focus on Health Insurance aims to psychological needs and areas like make students familiar with expectations that the admitted personal hospitals’ function and patients have from their grooming, medical terminology, attendants. Thus, a communication processes in ambulatory care, professional training is skills, medical processes in inpatient and necessary to effectively work terminology, outpatient care, health in such a sensitive and crucial and health insurance and third-party situation. insurance.” administration,” said A unique feature of this —Dr Rachna Agarwal Dr Agarwal.■ programme is that the classes Lecturer, SOVET
factoids
GNOU has extended the last date for submission of application forms for admission in various Master’s degree programmes to July 30, 2010. The university has reopened admissions in the following programmes: M.A. in Public Administration, Distance Education, English, Hindi, Economics, History, Education, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Rural Development, Tourism Management and Public Policy and Corporate Governance. For details, please visit www.ignou.ac.in■
Participatory Development
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GNOU has launched new programmes in Participatory Development (PD). These courses, the first-of-their-kind in the country, are being introduced in association with the Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA). The first batch commences from July 2010. For details, please visit www.ignou.ac.in.■
Full-time BA, MA on offer
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GNOU has launched its full-time, on campus Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. These are B.A. in Applied Sign Language Studies, Preparatory Programme for Deaf students, M.A. in Gandhi and Peace Studies, Extension and Development Studies, Translation Studies, Labour and Development, Social & Anthropology Historical Perspective, Gender and Development Studies, Women and Gender Studies. For details, please visit www.ignou.ac.in.■
Three new ODL programmes
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GNOU’s School of Extension and Development Studies has launched three modular Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes in Extension and Development Studies. The programmes, which are available from the current academic session, include PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MA in Extension and Development Studies.■
Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, is now IGNOU’s study centre for Paramedical courses. Bachelor and Diploma programmes are on offer for Paramedical professionals. IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JULY 15, 2010 13
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NEWSUPDATES
Vocational centres set up for students
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ith an aim to make underprivileged students selfreliant, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has joined hands with the Navjyoti Foundation, established by former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, to set up Centres for Vocational Studies across the city. Under the scheme, children will get a chance to learn various skills like retail management, animation, web designing and fashion designing at a centre near their homes. Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai inaugurated the first such centre at Sohna village in Gurgaon. Three more centres — one each in Karala, Bawana and Jahangirpuri in New Delhi — will be opened in a few days. “Even if a student devotes two hours per day, he/she will be able to finish the course. Certificates will be awarded once the student completes the total number of study hours required,” Bedi said. The fee of the courses, which begin on August 2, has been kept minimal. Students who cannot pay the fees can avail loans from banks which have a partnership with the NGO. The centres will be registered under IGNOU’s
Second leg of SMS Alerts Services on GNOU has announced the launch of its second leg of SMS Alerts Services across the country from July 7. SMS Alerts Services were first launched by the University on November 18, 2008 at its Headquarters in New Delhi and a few Regional Centres across the country. The service has enabled all its 48 regional centres, 21 schools, 15 centres, and 12 divisions to send SMSs to their respective students in their jurisdiction. The service allows all departments as well as the headquarters in New Delhi to communicate with their learners across the country. Moreover, it has significantly reduced the time to plan activities for students. The service is being used as a core communication tool by IGNOU’s Regional Centres in the North-East, Jammu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.!
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Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi with C.K. Ghosh, Director, Students Services Division.
Community College Scheme. Students can avail loans from banks at a mere four per cent interest rate. The foundation has tied up with Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India for loans. Students will not need any security, but can only show the admission slips to get loans. “The recovery of loans will start not before six months after a student has been employed,” Bedi said.
The centres will also offer programmes in English speaking and personality development. “There are so many centres for the rich but very few for the poor. Hence we came up with the scheme,” she added. Interested students can call 01125952250 or log on to www.navjyoti.org.on for admission guidelines.!
IGNOU to monitor pan-India projects
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he Ministr y of Rural Development has identified the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as one of the nodal agencies for monitoring five pan-India projects for placement linked skill development programme under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY). Nearly 45,000 rural youth will be trained in the areas of telecom, BPO and security guard under this scheme, and at least 75 percent will be employed suitably in the relevant sectors. Two agencies are involved in implementing the project across 20 states in India. The pan-India project will be carried out in several states including Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Orissa,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Har yana and West Bengal. Fifty percent of the total BPL enrollment has to be from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, while 15 percent of the BPL candidates have to be from minority communities. A total of 10,219 candidates from the rural areas of the above mentioned states have been enrolled, trained and awarded certification by IGNOU under this scheme. Out of these, almost 7,269 youth have been provided employment with guaranteed minimum wages, PF, ESI and other social security benefits. IGNOU is also looking for suitable candidates for a few positions under this project purely on a temporar y basis. Interested persons may visit IGNOU website (www.ignou.ac.in) for detailed information.!
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REGIONALROUNDUP
STUDENTS’CORNER
Indigenous music for livelihood
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he month-long residential training programme on ‘Indigenous Music for Livelihood’, organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University’s (IGNOU) Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), concluded at Tura in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya recently. IIVET organised the training in collaboration with the State Resource Centre (SRC), North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, the A-chik Literature Society (ALS), and the Meghalaya Science and Cultural Society (Meghalaya Gyan Vigyan Samiti). The workshops were held at ITI students’ hostel in Tura. At a recently-held valedictor y function, the participants were awarded certificates for best group, best allrounder, best player in each instrument and best maker of instruments by Thomas A. Sangma, MP (Rajya Sabha) and the chief guest at the function. The participants were taught the basics of playing different indigenous instruments like the dama (drum), sarenda and chigring (string instruments), different types of flutes, horns and gongs.!
Dinesh Singh (left) and Santosh Kumar Singh. A training session in progress at ITI students’ hostel in Tura. (Photo below) Participants playing various indigenous musical instruments.
Cycling her way to success
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accomplishment to the cycle she ravelling 10 km to and from received under the state school everyday might seem government’s Mukhya Mantri Cycle a daunting task for someone Yojna scheme, the brainchild of who lives in the hinterland. But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Khushboo Kumari, a teenaged girl “I simply pedalled five km from Bagaun village of Katihar Khushboo. everyday to the school, thanks to district in Bihar, has broken this the cycle provided by the notion by securing the second rank government,” she said. in the Bihar Class X Board exams. Shambhu Sharan Singh, director of Impressed by her success, IGNOU now IGNOU’s Darbhanga Regional Centre, said plans to make a documentary film on her Khushboo’s success is a rare example of struggle to inspire and encourage others how a government scheme can make a living in rural areas. difference.! Khushboo attributed her
factoids
IGNOU is set to open a Study Centre at the Central Jail in Varanasi. Ten courses, including Certificates, Bachelor’s Preparatory courses and B.Com are being offered by the University.
‘Life-changing’ experience’
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ife changes after such a course,” say Dinesh Singh and Santosh Kumar Singh, who took some time off from the Indian Army and enrolled themselves in IGNOU’s Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Diploma in Civil Engineering, respectively. The course modules were tailormade according to Army requirements. “There was no involvement in any Army activity during the course,” said Dinesh. Santosh said the Programme would prove very useful, particularly during promotions.!
IGNOU alumni clears IAS exam
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t is a proud moment for IGNOU yet again, as Neelu, an alumni of the university, has cleared the All- India Civil Services Examination, 2009. Neelu, whose subjects were Political Science and History, is the sixth IGNOU student to clear the prestigious exam. “I did M.A. in Political Science from IGNOU in December 2007. I depended largely on my IGNOU notes, which are very reliable and comprehensive,” Neelu said. Congratulating Neelu on her accomplishment, Vice Chancellor, Prof. V N Rajasekharan Pillai, said: “Your achievement will stimulate IGNOU students to put in more hard work and set goals for such attainments.”!
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ONCAMPUS ‘Bihari Asmita Award’
MILESTONES Health camp at IGNOU
National HRD Award 7th Annual Conference April 2000: IGNOU organised the 7th Annual Conference of the Indian Distance Education Association (IDEA) in the month of April at Delhi.
G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture July 2000: Prof. Chandrasekhar Rao delivered the G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture at the IGNOU Headquarters.
Maruti-IGNOU MoU July 2000: MoU with Maruti Udhyog for Prof Shatrughan Kumar (left), Co-ordinator of the Foundation Course in Bhojpuri, being felicitated by actor Manoj Tiwari with the ‘Bihari Asmita Samman’ award 2009.
IGNOU recently organised a health camp at its Maidan Garhi campus in New Delhi. Seen in the photo, health officials examining patients.
Graduation ceremony soon for MBA students
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GNOU will soon organise a graduation ceremony for 26 students from Addis Ababa University and Harmaya University, Ethiopia, who have successfully completed their MBA (HR and Marketing) Programme under the pilot project of Pan Africa e-Network Project, Vice Chancellor Professor VN
Rajasekharan Pillai announced recently. The project commenced in Januar y 2007 with the admission of 34 students in MBA (Human Resource and Marketing) Programme. With the completion of the Pilot Project, the University has now started the Main Project from Februar y 11, 2010.!
HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY July 18 07:30: NCERT/CIETTeachers Prog: Rail Ka Engine 11:30: North- East Kaleidoscope/Women Empowerment: Phir Ek Khamoshi 22:00: IGNOU/Culture: Premchand Ke Upanyas 18:30: NIOS: Chemical Equilibrium (Eng)
TUESDAY July 20 08:30: IGNOU-SOCE: Career Opportunities in Public Relations 10:30: NCERT/CIET: Sec. and Sr. Sec.: Chemical Reactions and their Types 13:00: Science/Environment/Health: Jeevan Sangeet 18:30: NIOS: Relations and Functions
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THURSDAY July 22 08:30: IGNOU-SOH : Commonwealth Literature Today 11:30: North- East Kaleidoscope/ Women Empowerment: When Water Breathes Again 17:00: United Nations: An Experiment to Save the world Trial and Error The Rise and fall of Gene Therapy
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SATURDAY July 24 11:30: North- East Kaleidoscope/ Women Empowerment: Smile Please 13:30: IGNOU-Urdu Programme: Ek Mulaqaat Iqbal Ahmad Khan Se
setting up ‘Vidyavahini’ – a Maruti-IGNOU education project.
Quota for physically-handicapped August 2000: IGNOU decided to provide reservation up to 3 percent for physically-handicapped people in recruitment/appointment to academic posts and non-academic posts.
National HRD Award August 2000: IGNOU was conferred with the National HRD Award for outstanding contribution in the field of Human Resource Development in the country by the National HRD Network.
Not to be
Missed Watch a special programme on renowned Hindi writer Vishnu Prabhakar, titled ‘Vishnu Prabhakar-Awara Masiha Ki Rachna Yatra’at 10 p.m. on July 28. Prabhakar was best known for his biography of legendary Bengali author Sarat Chandra, ‘Awara Masiha’.
MONDAY July 26 13:00: Science/Environment/Health: Chilika- Our National Heritage 17:00: United Nations: Is GM Safe? Quake of 89: The Final Warning
WEDNESDAY July 28 08:30: IGNOU-SOE: Educational Management Changing Dimension 22:00: IGNOU/Culture: Vishnu PrabhakarAwara Masiha Ki Rachna Yatra