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CONTENTS Fruitful Handshake 4
INFOCUS: IGNOU’s various collaborations with Government-run institutions are helping enhance skills and knowledge of learners, creating vast opportunities for India’s youth
Honour For Former VCs SPOTLIGHT: As part of its Silver Jubilee 12 celebrations, IGNOU felicitates former Vice Chancellors and former Union Minister K.C. Pant, who piloted the IGNOU Bill in Parliament
EYEING EUROPE .......03 REGIONAL UPDATES ...15 FELICITATION..............12 UPCOMING EVENTS....16 NEWS UPDATES..........14 GYAN DARSHAN..........16
IGNOU OPEN LETTER is Printed by Printek Grafix, 148-D, Pocket-F, GTB Enclave, Delhi-110093 and Published by Ravi Mohan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi. New Delhi 110068. Ph: +91-11-29571000 (30 lines); +91-11-29535924-29 Fax: +91-11-29535933; E-mail: openletter@ignou.ac.in Managing Editor: Ravi Mohan Photos: Rajesh Sharma/Amlan Paliwal Advisory Council: Prof P.R. Ramanujam, Dr Latha Pillai Design and Production: IANS Publishing www.ianspublishing.com
FROMTHE VICE CHANCELLOR
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niversities can play a decisive role in the implementation of various global, national and regional mission-mode governmental projects -- which may not be directly connected with education -- leading to the conferment of a degree or any other qualification. Participation in such projects will give academics and students an opportunity for contextual and ground-level understanding of various short-term and longterm developmental needs of the society. Whether it be the UN’s Millenium Development Goals, the Education For All and Training For All initiatives of the Government of India, the specific Plan targets of various State Governments, or the region-specific, neighbourhood community-oriented needs of grassroot-level local self-governments, the academia can complement and lend momentum to governmental activities. IGNOU, in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period (2007-2012), has embarked upon a large number of such partnerships with and through Central and State Governments, and other governmental agencies. Almost all the Schools of Studies, Institutes and a few Regional Centres of the University have effectively availed of these collaborations. Government departments have leveraged the nation-wide academic and infrastructural capabilities of IGNOU to conduct on-the-job training programmes and upgrade the qualifications of employees. In these partnerships, the projects are of the Ministries in the Central Government or State Governments; the implementation agencies are the different academic units or the Regional Centres of IGNOU. Grassrootlevel interactions and dissemination of the public-funded projects are facilitated by the ICT and satellite-enabled network of IGNOU, ably managed by its 61 Regional Centres and over 3,000 Study Centres. In addition to IGNOU’s participation in the nodal HRD Ministry’s various developmental projects — the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Literacy Mission, National Programme for Technology-Enabled Learning (NPTEL), and the National Mission of Education through ICT (NMEICT) -- IGNOU has undertaken major academic, capacity-building and skill-development interventions for other Ministries like Information Technology, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Health, Home Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, Labour, Defence, External Affairs, Commerce, Women and Child Development. The IGNOU-Indian Army Community Colleges under the Gyan Deep project; the Telecentre Academy, Village Knowledge Centres and the IT Mass Literacy Programme of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology; the Anti-human trafficking and the continuous training and quality-upgradation programmes sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Distance and e-Learning programmes for Government Employees (DELPGE) for the DoPT under the Ministry of Personnel & Training; IGNOU Certification of Indigenous Art Practices (CIAP) at the Zonal Cultural Centres sponsored by the Ministry of Culture; the Modular Skill Development Scheme of the Ministry of Labour; the Pan-African Tele-education programme supported by the Ministry of External Affairs; Disability programmes sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; Training and Capacity Development programmes in Watershed Management sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development; Health Ministry-sponsored programmes in Maternal and Child Health, AIDS Control and HIV Medicine; the Power Ministry-sponsored capacity-building activities in the area of Power Distribution Management; Organic farming training, Open and Distance Education Training in Agriculture, and the various State Government-sponsored programmes for in-service school teachers training are some of the recent flag-ship activities through Central and State Government collaborations. The participation of the IGNOU academics, researchers and external consultants in these developmental schemes of the Central and State Governments has also resulted in a vast variety of learning and training resources in the form of Self-Instructional Material, video and audio learning resources and other state-of-the-art multimedia material, almost doubling the educational and training modules repository of IGNOU in just three years. All this adds to the repository of knowledge – a vivid example of the creation of educational assets. This Special Issue of OpenLetter features this added dimension of the activities of IGNOU to complement the developmental schemes of the Government for achieving inclusive growth.
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai
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GLOBALEXPANSION
After UK, IGNOU eyes other European nations
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he Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will open Study Centres in six European countries, including Germany and France, to offer personalised courses, Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai has announced. “We will open our centre in Paris next month. Negotiation is going on with Germany. I hope we will start in Germany by the end of this year. Our target is to open five-six centres in Europe by July 2011,” Prof Pillai said. The Netherlands and Austria are other European countries where IGNOU is considering to open Study Centres. It already has a centre in London. Prof Pillai, who also heads the Union government’s Distance Education Council, said IGNOU would also offer personalised programmes in Gandhian Studies and some Indian languages such as Sanskrit through its new Study Centres in Europe, besides regular programmes.
GLOBAL PRESENCE 35 countries covered 56 overseas study centres 42,000 students enrolled 90 percent learners of Indian origin
“We are in discussions with several institutes in the US, Australia and Europe to develop personalised programmes. It will be done keeping in mind the needs of partner institutes,” he said, adding that IGNOU’s low course fee was a hindrance in forging accords overseas. “Our fee is quite low when you compare it with what is charged by universities in the developed countries. We are planning to restructure the fee for programmes offered outside India,” Prof Pillai said. Student enrollments at the University have almost trebled in the last four years. “We now have 3.2 million active
enrollments. It was 1.1 million in 2006. This indicates increasing popularity of distance education,” Prof Pillai remarked. The University targets to sustain over 25 percent annual growth in enrollments in the coming years. IGNOU programmes are also becoming increasingly popular in Africa and the Gulf region that have large numbers of India expatriates. “Many African universities have approached IGNOU for collaborations. We will help in designing courses and study materials for them,” Prof Pillai said, adding that the University will also introduce ebooks within six months to increase the popularity of its programmes among hightech students. “We will start with management and IT and gradually introduce it for all the programmes,” he said. The University also plans to introduce video-conferencing facilities for its overseas Study Centres within a few months.
IGNOU’s move: Play chess, study it too
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GNOU and NIIT have joined hands to launch a ‘Certificate Programme on Chess as Mind Booster’ to enable the development of young minds through chess. The programme, launched under the Distance Education Programme — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (DEP-SSA), was unveiled by World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand at IGNOU Headquarters on September 23. “NIIT has conducted research in schools, which shows that children who play chess have better life skills, are calmer, focused and better at academics. This led to the launch of MindChampions Academy (MCA) by NIIT. I am confident that the new programme will benefit several learners and will also go a long way in popularising the game amongst youngsters in India,” Anand said. IGNOU VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said, “The new Joint Certification Programme will encourage more and more people to play chess and will help in kindling the creative capability of children and teachers alike.” After the successful completion of the programme, to be delivered online,
From left, DEP-SSA Director Dr Anita Priyadarshini, World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Registrar Udai Singh Tolia, Pro-VC Prof K.R. Srivathsan and NIIT Ltd. COO P. Rajendran at the event in New Delhi.
students will be granted Joint Certification by NIIT and IGNOU. This will enable them to become members of the NIIT MindChampions Academy and contribute to the chess movement in India. The first-of-its-kind programme will also give students an opportunity to play with
Anand and participate in the annual ChessMaster event. Others present at the event included NIIT COO P. Rajendran, Pro-VC Prof K.R. Srivathsan, DEP-SSA Director Dr Anita Priyadarshini, Registrar Udai Singh Tolia, other staff and students of the University.
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IGNOU-GOVT COLLABORATIONS
Army personnel receiving Associate Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) headquarters in New Delhi. The educational certification is awarded under Gyan Deep, the IGNOU-Army Community College Scheme.
Fruitful Handshake IGNOU’s collaborations with and through Government-run institutions are helping enhance skills and knowledge of learners, creating vast opportunities for India’s youth
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n the era of corporate alliances in the burgeoning Indian higher education sector, IGNOU is charting a distinct course. Its Programmes, being run in collaboration with government institutions, are not only providing a booster shot to the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), but is also providing the University the kind of funding that is difficult to derive from the private sector. “In this Decade of Innovation, IGNOU strives to optimally utilise the educational and training infrastructure as well as the intellectual capabilities available in both the formal and informal sectors, to ensure that we achieve our national mission of increasing the GER,” says Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. “In the frontier areas of sciences, we have tie-ups with prominent institutions such as the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore (a Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, institution) for a residential M.Sc. Astrophysics Programme, and the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, New Delhi, (under the Ministry of Tourism) for a full-time M.Sc. Programme in Nutrition and Dietetics.” “With such smart collaborative ventures, IGNOU helps overcome the problems caused by a scarcity of seats in the higher educational sector,” adds Prof Pillai. Agrees Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Latha Pillai. “The whole idea is to ensure skilling of unskilled labour and create a pool of professionally-trained people. The ‘InService Programmes’ enhance skills and acquire certification.” Let’s take a look at IGNOU-Government tie-ups that have resulted in what can be described as fruitful handshakes.
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HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Goal Medical Education
Second Career
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IGNOU’s collaborative ventures in the Healthcare Services Sector aim to recognise the common goals of higher medical education.
nother top-end partnership of the University is with the the Indian Army for a joint venture called ‘Gyan Deep’, designed for training and awarding degrees to soldiers during their service period — a step aimed at providing the jawans with a second career option after their retirement. Under the scheme, IGNOU registers the Indian Army’s Regimental Training Centres, Human Resource Development Centres and Schools of Instructions as ‘Community Colleges’, where soldiers are trained and imparted learning in their chosen vocations. The project was dedicated to the nation by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at the launch of IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations on November 19, 2009. The MoU for Gyan Deep was signed between IGNOU and the Indian Army on September 4, 2009. The scheme enables Army jawans to not only earn a degree but also master livelihood-driven courses as well.
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health managers and processess of national n the Healthcare Services Sector, IGNOU professional workers in development.” has a fairly large presence. Its PostSouth-East Asian “A lot of Bachelor of Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health countries via a network Dental Surgery (BDS) Management (PGDHHM), in collaboration of Partner Institutions. students are not able with Armed Force Medical Services, IGNOU will commence to do Post Graduation Ministry of Defence, Government of India, this Programme at due to limited seats in fulfills specified needs of middle-level Chhatrapati Shahuji government colleges. administrators in hospital and health care Dr Anil Kohli, President, DCI (left) Maharaj Medical This initiative will help departments. and Prof T.K. Jena, SOHS. University (formerly King them learn about new PGDHHM is a multimedia package George Medical College), Lucknow, from technology in dental care. It is not just for which includes General Management, the January 2011 session,” informs Prof fresh pass-outs, but for experienced dental Management of Human Resources, Agarwal, Programme Co-coordinator. surgeons as well,” says Dr Anil Kohli, Finance, Logistics and Equipment in IGNOU has also signed an MoU with the President, DCI. Hospitals; it also includes Organisation and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) According to Prof A.K. Agarwal, SOHS, Management of Hospitals and Planning, “IGNOU, Ministry of Environment for capacity building of health professionals. Organisation and Management of According to Prof T.K. Jena, SOHS, and Forests, Government of all types of services provided in a “IGNOU and National AIDS Control India, have signed an MoU for hospital; further, it includes Organisation (NACO) are developing a ‘PG implementing the national health system management, Diploma in HIV Medicine’ Programme. An component of the Global including epidemiology and MoU was signed in this regard in February Environment Fund (GEF)-UNDP biostatistics. 2010. The government will sponsor half of Project, demonstrating and Another collaboration with the the enrolled learners once the Programme promoting best techniques Dental Council of India (DCI) commences.” Under the MoU, an HIV and practices for reducing will bring to the fore Post“The whole idea health care waste to avoid Medicine Cell has been established in Graduate Programmes in is to ensure IGNOU to monitor this activity and act as an environmental releases of endodontics and oral umbrella organisation for training on HIV dioxins and mercury under implantology. According to skilling of medicine throughout the country. the GEF/UNDP Project from Dr Bimla Kapoor, Director, unskilled labour 2009-2013.” IGNOU also signed an MoU with the School of Health Sciences and to create Directorate General of Health Services, “IGNOU is running a six(SOHS), IGNOU: “These are Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in month Certificate Programme full-fledged programmes that a pool of 2010 to develop and launch a in Health Care Waste are meant to recognise the professionally- Management in collaboration February Post-Doctoral Certificate in Dialysis common goals of Higher trained people.” with the World Health Medicine for Medicine and Paediatric Dental Education and training —Dr Latha Pillai, specialists. The programme is expected Organisation (WHO) for the needs of dental surgeons to Pro-VC, IGNOU to be launched in 2011. doctors, nurses, paramedics, participate effectively in the
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EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Enabling the Disabled
The collaboration between IGNOU and the Rehabilitation Council of India ensures that proper education and training is imparted to disabled learners. Seen in the photo, IGNOU learners with disabilities, along with their coordinators, attending a workshop.
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ecognising the importance of human resource development as the foundation for social and economic growth, IGNOU is proving to be the trendsetter in modernising the education sector and promoting skills development. The University has entered into collaborations with various government agencies to ensure that it contributes to meeting the targets of the National Skills Mission. According to Dr Arun Banik, Director, National Centre for Disability Studies (NCDS), “IGNOU and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) run several academic programmes through the ODL system. The RCI helps in finalising
infrastructure and suggests Study Centres. IGNOU funds these Study Centres, hires training co-coordinators and conducts orientation classes. The Certification is done by IGNOU.” “NCDS and the RCI will soon begin diploma exams in Face-to-Face Mode. Sixteen additional diploma exams recognised by the RCI are being conducted by IGNOU in the 2010 Academic Session. The idea is the welfare and betterment of people with disabilities and connect them to the mainstream,” adds Dr Banik. IGNOU, through its School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET), has joined hands with the
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to offer Certificate Programmes in Spoken English and Personality Development, Security Management, Air Ticketing, Airline In-Flight Services, Travel Agency Operations and Tour Guiding Skills. The School also offers Post-Graduate Diploma in Security Operations and Post-Graduate Certificate in Security Operations in collaboration with the Security Skills Council of India (SSCI). “Collaborating with the government helps us understand the actual requirements of the industry and thus aids us in modifying the curriculum and training accordingly. A major advantage of such tie-ups is that these government-run institutions take responsibility of placing the learners,” says Dr R.S.P. Singh, Reader, SOVET. Another feather in IGNOU’s cap is the MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development, which has identified the University 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). IGNOU has also partnered with the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd., a Government of India enterprise, for imparting quality education to 10,000 African students through its teleeducation programme. It has been able to reach students in Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Rwanda, Senegal, Egypt, Mauritius, Benin and Botswana. The project is funded by the Indian government with a budgeted cost of `5.43 billion.
COLLABORATIONS WITH AND THROUGH GOVT AGENCIES Central Leather Research Institute Indian Air Force Army Project Renewal of IGNOU-Army Educational Project (IAEP) UNESCO Chair Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) Dept. of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development Rehabilitation Council of India Prasar Bharati
Armed Force Medical Services (DGAFMS) Ministry of Defence National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT) Department for Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) and National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT) Assam Riffles Harish-Chandra Research Institute DAE, Allahabad KVIC Khadi and Village Industries Commission
Indian Navy UNESCO for projects entitled Reaching the Unreached through the use of ICTs for Empowering the Rural and Marginalised People of the Developing World Navy Educational Project Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti (GS&DS) Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental
Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India World Health Organisation Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Department of Information Technology, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD)
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LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Re-skilling Police Force
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nderstanding the need to train police personnel in legal issues related with human rights, IGNOU’s School of Law (SOL) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are jointly developing three programmes — Basic Course for Constables/SubInspectors, Advance Course for middle-level police VC Prof Rajasekharan Pillai exchanging an MoU with Ravi Singh, CEO, officers and Trainer’s Training Course. “The idea is to train police personnel who, owing to WWF-India, on the PG Diploma Programme in Environmental Law. their hectic schedules, don’t have time to re-skill MHA have come forward to make this course compulsory for all themselves. These programmes, supported by audio-video the trainers at the training institutions supported by MHA; all presentations, will help them acquire legal knowledge while NGOs going to be part of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit set up by working,” says Prof K. Elumalai, Director, SOL. MHA; and officials working with the Ministry of Women and “These programmes are fully funded by the NHRC, right from Child Development. MHA has agreed to provide financial the counselling charges to preparing printed, audio or video assistance for developing this Certificate Programme into a copies of the course material as per the requirements projected Diploma Programme,” informs Prof Elumalai. by the NHRC,” he adds. Another forthcoming attraction is a Certificate Programme in Anti-Human Trafficking, in IGNOU is also running a Diploma Programme in Environmental collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Law with help from the World Wide Fund (WWF-India) and a “With the assistance from Prof P.M. Nair (IPS), Additional Programme in International Monetary Law in collaboration with Director-General, CRPF Headquarters, New Delhi, IGNOU and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Infusing Scientific Temper
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GNOU has been making significant efforts for making science and technology a meaningful career for the new generation. To begin with, IGNOU created an ISRO Chair on the campus by signing an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to promote excellence in Research, Applications and Satellite Communications for Education. Dr K. Kasturirangan, eminent space scientist
Centre for Disaster Management, Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development (APARD), Hyderabad. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Yashita Sekkei Inc., Japan Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand Project Cooperation Agreement National Board of Examination, New Delhi Department of Information Technology
and member, Planning Commission, is the ISRO Chair for Satellite Communication Education in IGNOU. IGNOU’s another noteworthy tie-up is with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The signing of an MoC on April 25, 2008 resulted in the commencement of a unique Integrated M.Sc-Ph.D Programme (IPhD) in Physics and Astrophysics.
for Renewal of Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) for NER States Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) Dental Council of India Bihar Education Project Council, Govt. of Bihar Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) ACTS Ministries, Bangalore V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar
“By way of collaboration with IIA, the students are getting an excellent opportunity of doing M.Sc. in a research environment, which is acting as a highly motivating factor for them,” says Dr C.K. Ghosh, Director, National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education (NCIDE). The Advanced Certificate Programme in Power Distribution Management, under the School of Engineering and Technology (SOET), has been developed by IGNOU in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, USAID-India and the Power Finance Corporation.
Ministry of Power, Government of India Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) Yamashita Sekkei Inc., Japan Government of Uttarakhand Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) Insurance Institute of India (III) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Department of Space, GOI, for Jhabua Development Communications Project.
Open University, Tanzania Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India Kerala CBSE School Management Association. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) Development Commissioner (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) DC (MSME)
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AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING
IGNOU, through its School of Agriculture, has entered into significant collaborations to prepare agricultural entrepreneurs and managers.
Food For Thought
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he importance of agriculture and food processing industry in India can be gauged by the fact that 6570 per cent of the population in India is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. In this context, IGNOU is striving to play an important role in turning the rural
Ministry of Panchayati Raj – UNDP Capacity Building Project Institute of Public Auditors of India (IPAI) Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition (affiliated to National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
unemployed youth to agricultural entrepreneurs and agri-business managers. The University’s School of Agriculture (SOA) has developed the Diploma in Watershed Management programme with the financial support of Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural
Anna University, Chennai M/S National Projects Construction Corporation Ltd. Goldstone Technologies Ltd. IPTV Public Health Resource Network, an initiative of State Health Resource Centre Institute of Acupuncture & Natural Medicines (IANM) Indian Institute of Astrophysics, (IIA), Bangalore Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) Department of Women and Child
Development, Govt of India. The main objective of the programme is capacity building and human resource development in order to realise the desired objectives of watershed development projects by their effective and efficient planning and implementation. “There are about 1,500 learners enrolled in the programme. We receive a 100 percent funding from the government, which also provides a lot of incentives to the learners to encourage them for the programme,” says Prof B.S. Hansra, Professor, SOA. IGNOU, in collaboration with the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India, is running a Post-Graduate Diploma programme in Food Safety and Quality Management. The partnership has also resulted in a first-of-its-kind six-month Certificate programme in Organic Farming. Both the programmes have been developed with a 100 percent funding from APEDA. A Certificate programme in Sericulture has been developed, with 50 percent funding from the Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India. With a 100 percent funding from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India, SOA has launched programmes like Diploma in Dairy Technology, Diploma in Meat Technology, Diploma in Value-added Products from Cereals, Pulses and Oilseeds and Diploma in Fish Product Technology. Apart from this, the University also runs awareness programmes on a) Value Added Products from Fruits and Vegetables in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, GOI and b) Dairy Farming for Rural Farmers in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI.
Development, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) Deutche Welle Bonn, Germany (DW) Government of National Capital Territory, Delhi Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Apollo Hospitals Educational & Research Foundation (AHERF) Kerala State IT Mission CIDC & Engineer in Chiefs branch Integrated HQ of MOD (Indian Army)
IILM Institute for Higher Education, Gurgaon M.P. State Institute of Hospitality Training (MPIHT) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Rajiv Gandhi Project for Edusat Supported Elementary Education. Goethe – Institut & Department of German Studies, University of Vienna, Austria Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL) Commonwealth Media Centre for Asia Ministry of Rural Development, GOI
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TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
Serving The Future
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ndian tourism and hospitality sector has reached new heights today. Combining unparalleled growth prospects and unlimited business potential, the industr y is cer tainly on the foyer towards being a key player in the nation’s changing face. With this in mind, IGNOU has forged some unique collaborations. The University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Ser vices Management (SOTHSM) has tied up with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), Ministr y of Tourism, Government of India, to provide two special programmes - Bachelor of Science (Hospitality and Hotel Administration) (BHM) and Master of Science (Hospitality Administration) (MHA). Cer tificate programmes in House
IGNOU’s various collaborations are helping build a strong professional force for the tourism and hospitality industry.
Keeping Operation, Front Office Operation, Food & Beverage Ser vice Operation, etc. are offered in
collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC). Presently being run by IGNOU’s Bhopal Regional Centre, similar programmes have been accepted by Tourism Boards of Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir. IGNOU’s School of Continuing Education (SOCE) runs an M.Sc programme in Dietetics and Food Ser vice Management (DFSM), in collaboration with the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, New Delhi, under the Ministr y of Tourism, Government of India. According to Dr Deeksha Kapur, Programme Coordinator, M.Sc (DFSM), “the Programme addresses the needs of training workforce/developing manpower (dietitians, nutrition counsellors, food ser vice managers, etc.) for emerging employment-rich sectors like hospitals/community dietetics, food ser vice management.”
BANKING AND FINANCE
Adding Fuel To Growth Engine I GNOU is playing a major role in imparting quality education in areas such as banking, finance, insurance, taxation, etc. The University has tied up with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to conduct specialised programmes for Chartered Accountancy Final Stage students. The programmes, offered by the School of Management Studies (SOMS) are B.Com with Major in Accountancy and Finance and M.Com in Finance and Taxation.
Security Skills Council (India) Pvt. Ltd. (SSCI) National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics, Faridabad Cochin International Aviation Academy (CIAL) Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala Management Association (KMA) Cochin Madhya Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (MPCST) Future Learning & Development Ltd. (FLDL)
Other major tie-ups are with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for B.Com with Major in Corporate Affairs and Administration and M.Com in Business Policy and Corporate Governance, exclusively for the Company Secretaryship professional programme students; with the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) for B.Com with Major in Financial and Cost Accounting and Master of Commerce in Management Accounting &
Madras School of Economics (MSE) Institute of Rail Transport (IRT) Institute of Fire Safety & Disaster Management Studies The Indian Army Institute of Management & Development (IMD) Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) through Institute of Apparel Management (IAM) & Apparel Training & Design Centres (ATDC), Gurgaon Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India
Financial Strategies; and with the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF), Mumbai for the MBA (Banking & Finance) Programme, specifically designed for Bankers. The University has also signed an MoU with the Institute of Public Auditors of India (IPAI) for a Diploma programme in Finance, Budget and Accounting (DFBA), exclusively for the staff working in Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Centre for Environmental Law, WWF-India National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Pan African e-Network Project National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India
North East Zonal Cultural Centre, Dimapur (NEZCC) Council of Architecture Maharashtra Animal & Fisheries Sciences University Telecentre.org Foundation, Philippines Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Department of Agriculture, Govt of WB ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu (A consortium of Govt of India, Govt Tamil Nadu and CII)
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REGIONAL INITIATIVES
From left, Shri Narendra Nath Dey, Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Govt of West Bengal; VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai; Dr S.K. Yadav of School of Agriculture and Prof M.K. Salooja, Director, SOA, at the launch of the Certificate Programme in Integrated Pest Management Technology in Potato Cultivation and Short-term Training programme for farmers of Betelvine at the EMPC Studio in the University Headquarters. This collaboration between IGNOU and the Govt of West Bengal was initiated by the University’s Kolkata Regional Centre.
A Giant Leap for RCs F ollowing in the footsteps of the IGNOU Headquarters, the Regional Centres too are doing their bit to enhance the scope for a collective development in higher education through various tie-ups with the government and public sector. IGNOU Institute of Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong has been playing a key role in this regard, especially in the North East region. Under its mandate for Indigenous Knowledge and Technology (IKT), IIVET has initiated many long-term and short-term programmes, which have already made a good progress and created an overwhelming interest. The institute entered into a dialogue with the North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur, under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in May 2009, to develop an academic curriculum for the Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme launched by the Ministry in 2004 -2005. The Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to formally launch the Academic Certification was signed between IGNOU and NEZCC on March 19, 2010 in New Delhi.
of the Gram Vaidyas (Traditional Village “Till date, 84 Gurus identified by the Health Practitioners)’ in eight states NEZCC have been imparting knowledge across the country. The bond for the and training to 300 Shishyas in Indigenous execution of the project was Art Practices in the North signed between IGNOU and East region. However, so far Department of AYUSH, Ministry there had been no monitoring, of Family Welfare and Health, on evaluation and certification October 4, 2010. for this knowledge. The “Such collaborations with the signing of the MoC and the government and public sector subsequent academic widen the reach of the certification would not only programmes immensely, thus help preserve and promote creating a nationwide linkage the rich cultural heritage of “Tie-ups with with students,” Dr Roy adds. the country, but will also help government-run In tune with the trend, in finding livelihood options IGNOU’s Madurai Regional for the certified Shishyas,” institutions Centre has launched an says Prof Debjani Roy, OSD, widen the reach ambitious project in partnership IIVET, Shillong. of programmes with the ICT Academy of Tamil IIVET has also partnered with the Department of and creates a Nadu (ICTACT - A consortium of Government of India, AYUSH, Ministry of Health nationwide Government of Tamil Nadu and and Family Welfare, linkage with CII). Government of India, and The training programme on initiated a mega pilot project students.” ‘IT Skills for School Teachers,’ for the ‘Certification of the — Debjani Roy, with Madurai RC as the nodal Prior Learning and Knowledge OSD, IIVET, Shillong
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centre of IGNOU to co-ordinate the activity in the entire state of Tamil Nadu, has been launched keeping in view the need for technology integration in teaching-learning activities. The MoC to this effect was signed on July 14, 2010 in the presence of VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai and Dr Poongothai Aladi, Minister of State for Information Technology. The programme was inaugurated at the Madurai RC on September 5, 2010 by Prof. G. Pankajam, former Vice Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute. In his welcome address, Dr. M. Shanmugham, Regional Director, Madurai, informed that the first batch of training, consisting of 30 teachers, has already started. The programme, which will be extended to all the major cities in Tamil Nadu once the training centres are identified, will be conducted with the help of resource persons from ICTACT. The teachers will have to undergo 42 hours of hands-on training in IT skills during weekends. They will receive certificates jointly issued by IGNOU and ICTACT after the successful completion of the training. “One of the major advantages of collaborating with the government sector is the extensive marketing of the programme. The partner institution takes care of the marketing and advertisement aspect of the project. That is precisely the reason why we receive such positive response from the learners,” Dr Shanmugham remarks. Another major collaboration of RC Madurai is with the Madurai Corporation to provide Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) for the benefit of thousands of students studying in the Corporation Schools (Government Schools) to create self interest by developing skills and capabilities to make use of e-resources in their day-to-day learning. The University’s Cochin Regional Centre has joined hands with the Kerala State IT Mission to offer IGNOU programmes through the Akshaya e-Kendras located in around 3,000 Centres in the state. While IGNOU will provide the necessary academic inputs, the Akshaya kendras would provide the infrastructural facilities and arrange for adequate numbers of teachers as per IGNOU’s norms. “This joint venture is part of the University’s thrust in providing contextualised education for people, particularly those in remote areas of the country. We will offer our pre-designed programmes. These will later be redesigned and contextualised based on the
(Photo top) Dr Poongothai Aladi, MoS for IT, VC Prof Pillai and Dr M. Shanmugham, Regional Director, Madurai, after the signing of an MoC with ICTACT; (Photo below), the MOC signing ceremony between IGNOU and NEZCC, Dimapur, for the Academic Certification of the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme of the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India.
about 8,000 farmers for the programmes. feedback we receive from the participants IGNOU has also joined hands with the in the programme,” VC Prof Pillai says. Bihar Government to set up 400 training With an aim to benefit the farmers in centres in the state and train West Bengal, IGNOU’s government officials. The IGNOU Kolkata RC and School of training centres will be equipped Agriculture (SOA) have with computer labs to provide collaborated with the distance education through Department of Agriculture, Information Technology to the Govt of West Bengal, to remotest parts of the state. The launch two new state government has also signed programmes, Integrated “A major an agreement for implementation Pest Management Technology in Potato advantage of of the state sponsored project ‘Samarth’ in collaboration with Cultivation and Short-term joining hands IGNOU. The Varsity has been Training programmes for with the govt selected as the ‘knowledge farmers of Betelvine. partner’ for the state. The programmes were sector is the This confluence of the world’s launched by Narendra extensive largest University and the Nath Dey, Minister for Agriculture and Consumer marketing of the world’s largest democratic Affairs, Government of programme.” federal government set up will West Bengal, at the — Dr M. Shanmugham, surely go a long way in RD, Madurai contributing professionals to the EMPC Studio in the countr y’s talent pool and University Headquarters increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio in on September 28. this Decade of Innovation.■ The state government will sponsor
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FELICITATIONCEREMONY
From left, Prof H.P. Dikshit, Prof R.G. Takwale, Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Shri K.C. Pant, Prof V.C. Kulandaiswamy, Prof A.W. Khan and Registrar U.S. Tolia at the special felicitation ceremony of the former Vice Chancellors at the University’s Convention Centre in New Delhi on October 1.
Honour For Former VCs T As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, IGNOU felicitated former Vice Chancellors and former Union Minister, Shri K.C. Pant, who piloted the IGNOU bill in Parliament
he new academic initiatives launched at IGNOU on October 1 will probably be etched in the University’s memory forever — not because these programmes are more relevant than others, but because the people who inaugurated the initiatives are the most relevant in the history of IGNOU. As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, the University organised a special felicitation ceremony to honour its former Vice Chancellors — late Prof G. Ram Reddy, Prof V.C. Kulandaiswamy, Prof Ram G. Takwale, Prof A.W. Khan and Prof H.P. Dikshit. IGNOU also felicitated former Union Minister and the Chief Guest at the
function Shri K.C. Pant, who piloted the IGNOU Bill in Parliament in 1985. Four new academic initiatives were launched at the ceremony, held at the Convention Centre in IGNOU Headquarters. “IGNOU now Prof Kulandaiswamy needs to launched a programme in Anconsolidate its thropology, while Prof Takwale inaugurated B.A. and diverse M.A. programmes in Psycholoperations and ogy. The Academic Counsellook ahead to lors’ Training-Online (ACT-Online) programme was provide launched by Prof Khan and employable the academic activities in skills to youth Geology were launched by Prof Dikshit. in India.” While delivering the Silver — Shri K.C. Pant, Former Union Minister Jubilee lecture, Shri Pant
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HOW THEY CONTRIBUTED TO IGNOU’S JOURNEY Late Prof. G. Ram Reddy (1985-1989): Prof Reddy laid the groundwork for the establishment of IGNOU in 1985 and played a key role in the execution of several of the University’s initial developments such as the launch of its first two programmes, design and structure of the Maidan Garhi campus and preparing the statutes of the University.
Prof V.C. Kulandaiswamy (1990-1994): Prof Kulandaiswamy took IGNOU to the international platform with the first joint Commonwealth of Learning (COL)-IGNOU Training programme for distance educators, IGNOU’s designation as COL’s Centre for Excellence in distance education and MoU for IGNOU’s learners from Commonwealth countries.
Prof. H.P. Dikshit (2001-2006): Prof. Dikshit took keen interest in expanding the initiatives in the North-East, the introduction and expansion of Gyan Vani FM radio stations, launch of Gyan Darshan–III, the country’s first technology channel, and EDUSAT, the dedicated satellite for education.
Prof A.W. Khan (1998-2000): Prof Khan’s leadership saw IGNOU receiving several important awards like the ‘Award for Excellence for Distance Education Material’ and the ‘National HRD Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Human Resource Development.’ He oversaw the strategic planning, resource mobilisation and management of a knowledge network that comprised a consortium of 72 universities.
said, “Having served the country meritoriously in the process of democratisation of education and training for the last 25 years, IGNOU now needs to consolidate its diverse operations and look ahead in the area of providing employable skills to youth in India. By 2020, this country needs to provide education and globally acceptable skills to 500 million young people.” Drawing attention to the ongoing ‘Decade of Innovation’, Shri Pant emphasised the various challenges that IGNOU should take up in this period. These include strengthening its Study Centres, providing quality services to learners, enhancing the Student Support Services, harnessing contextualised modern technologies for education delivery, use of technology for enhancing the quality of the teaching-learning process, training quality teachers in large numbers, etc. Throwing light on the genesis of the University, he said, “The arrival of the digital age created the possibility of giving shape to this concept and we drew upon the experience of existing Open Universities. I would like to place on record the contributions of the UK Open University, the Japanese Educational Broadcasting setup and the first VC, late Prof G. Ram Reddy, in the establishment of IGNOU.” “Today, the country is committed to universalisation of education, or ‘Education for All’. As it is, the formal education system is not accessible to everyone. IGNOU was meant to provide education to all who had the necessary desire and initiative, whether they had been forced to drop out for economic or other reasons, or those who were in jobs, but wished to im-
Prof R.G. Takwale (1995-1998): Prof Takwale took IGNOU into the digital world, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural India. This was manifested in the establishment of the Sanchar Kendra, the Electronic Media Production Centre and the project for Mass education in computer - Open learning approach.
VC Prof Pillai felicitating former Union Minister Shri K.C. Pant, who piloted the IGNOU Bill in Parliament in 1985.
Prof V.C. Kulandaiswamy, second VC, addressing the gathering at the felicitation ceremony.
prove their professional skills, or those who could not be regular full-time students. It is only appropriate that IGNOU is named after Smt Indira Gandhi, who left an indelible mark on the history of India and rigorously worked towards egalitarianism and democratisation of education,” Shri Pant added.
IGNOU’s present VC, Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, said that the University has remained true to its founders’ vision and played a significant role in democratising higher education and providing access to millions of students who cannot enroll in formal higher education institutions. “India’s conventional colleges and universities don’t have the capacity to cope with the scale of the higher education challenge confronting the country. Thus, distance education, powered by new Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), has to be used to supplement conventional education. During the past 25 years, IGNOU has demonstrated that quality higher education can be delivered through flexible Open & Distance Learning (ODL) model, which we have greatly improved by harnessing the full power of ICTs. The Union government has identified IGNOU as an important partner for reaching the national goal of 15 percent enrollment in higher education by 2015,” Prof Pillai said.■
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NEWSUPDATES
‘India-Oz bilateral education council soon’
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he attacks on the Indian students in Australia were not due to racism but the ‘challenges of cultural spheres’, according to Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese. He was delivering a lecture on ‘Australia-India Relations and Australian Multiculturalism,’ organised by the School of Humanities (SOH), at the IGNOU Headquarters on September 23. “The student conflict in Australia happened not because of racism or globalisation, but due to challenges in the cultural spheres. We have been making changes in the migration programme from time to time. There was too much focus on student numbers earlier, fuelled by a tremendous growth in private vocational institutes. It has shifted from being supply driven to demand driven,” he said. Varghese also announced that a bilateral education council will be set up to bring together the Governments of India and Australia, the Vice Chancellors and the Business sector, including Chambers of Commerce. “This is part of our endeavour to re-build programmes in educational institutes at the Government level and to improve the design of vocational programmes for students,” he said. The lecture was chaired by IGNOU Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai and organised by
Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese delivering the lecture at IGNOU campus.
Dr Malati Mathur, Professor, SOH. Focussing on multiculturalism in Australian society, the lecture highlighted the Indo-Australian relationship, its history and where it is headed. Varghese also elucidated on how the commonalities of history between the two countries are of special relevance in a post-colonial world. “People to people contact is a very important component between India and Australia. India is the second largest source of students and professionals for Australia. There is a 250-300,000 diaspora in Australia,” he added. Speaking on the association between
IGNOU and Australia, Prof Pillai said: “We have a longstanding association with Australia. Our students have been going there on scholarships. The University is running a programme on Australian Studies in the School of Social Sciences (SOSS). We also have a joint Ph.D programme with the University of Queensland and a collaboration to make teachers more technology enabled.” “India was a living example of multiculturalism before anyone even thought of the term. It is a fertile area for conflict as well as development of cultures,” said Dr Mathur.
NEWSSCAN ACT-Online launched
GLAD@IGNOU inaugurated Exhibit stalls at PCF6
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he Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) at IGNOU has launched an Online Training Programme for Academic Counsellors (ACT-Online). The programme involves study of content and interaction at Discussion Forum in the following areas: ODL concepts, models and latest developments; organisation of student support services; tutoring and academic counselling in Face-to-Face mode; development of study skills in distance learners; support to the educationally disadvantaged students; and use of new technologies for student support. The duration of the programme, which commenced from October 15, is 45 days to 90 days (min to max).
GNOU VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai inaugurated the inaugural Talk of the ‘Group on Labour and Development’ (GLAD@IGNOU), an initiative of the University’s School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS). GLAD is a collective of faculty members and students of the University, who work on or are interested in discourses, research, education and training-related to the theme ‘labour and development’. “Inclusion is talked about by several groups. Nearly 93 percent of our workers are in the unorganised sector. They have to be brought at par with the so-called knowledge workers. Therefore, the topic of the lecture is very important,” Prof Pillai said.
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n international exhibition and 50 other exhibition stalls will be part of the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF6) on Open Learning, being held for the first time in India. The Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver-Canada (COL) and IGNOU are jointly organising the PCF6 at Kochi, Kerala, from November 24 to 28. The allotment of stalls to the sponsorscum-exhibitors will be done on first-come-first basis. However, those sponsoring two or more stalls will have their freedom to customise their stalls’ space as per their convenience. There are also big sponsorship opportunities such as Diamond Sponsor, Platinum Sponsor, Gold Sponsor and Silver Sponsor available for PCF6.
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NEWSUPDATES
‘Build an integrated state’
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ndia must build an integrated state with ethnic identities and the marginalised must be included in the process of nation building, said eminent anthropologist Fr. Abraham Lotha. He was delivering the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Silver Jubilee lecture, titled ‘Nations within Nations: Living Dialogues on Governance and Culture,’ at the University’s Convention Centre on September 27. The lecture was chaired by VC Eminent anthropologist Fr. Abraham Lotha delivering the Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. The Silver Jubilee lecture at the Convention Centre in New Delhi. discussant was Dr Shubhangi Vaidya from the School of Inter-disciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS). Fr. Lotha, through his lecture, looked at the challenges that multi-ethnic states face to retain national integrity. The lecture also stressed on how these challenges can be met by engaging in living dialogues with different ethnic groups in a partnership framework, which can lead to successful governance by including the excluded. “India is a multi-ethnic state, it’s a union of ethnic groups, which leads to tensions between ethnic groups and the Centre. The Bodos, Nagas and Kashmiris have strong ethnic identities. Problems between ethnic groups and the Centre offer opportunities for mutually responsible relationships.” “The challenge is to realise that there are different ways of being a nation, just like sovereignty. Ethnic-driven states can co-exist and still not displace the national sovereign model. India must build an integrated state, which consists of strong ethnic identities as well as a strong national identity,” he commented. While praising IGNOU for its forward-looking attitude, Fr. Lotha said, “Living dialogue is used by institutes like IGNOU. A forward-looking attitude is concretised by IGNOU’s mission,” he stressed.
Prof Elumalai appointed RBI Committee member
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rof K. Elumalai, Director, School of Law, IGNOU, has been appointed member of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Expert Committee on Licensing of Urban Co-operative Banks. The Committee, under the Chairmanship of Shri Y.H. Malegam, will study the advisability of granting new urban co-operative banking licences under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 [As Applicable to Co-operative Prof Elumalai. Societies (AACS)]. Some of the other members of the Committee are Shri U.C. Sarangi, Chairman, National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development; Dr. S.K. Goel, Principal Secretary-Co-operation, Government of Maharashtra; and Shri H.K. Patil, President, National Federation of Co-operative Urban Banks.
Student Business Centre set up for logistical assistance
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C Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai inaugurated a Student Business Centre at the IGNOU Maidan Garhi Campus on October 18. Located opposite the Student Services Centre (SSC), the Centre will provide logistical assistance to learners. It is a one-stop help point wherein a learner can avail services like photocopy, printing, binding and other student-related facilities.
REGIONALROUNDUP IIVET, SOTST organise translation workshop
Bamboo house training
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GNOU Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong, and School of Translation Studies and Training (SOTST), jointly organised a Translation Workshop in Shillong from September 27- 29. The theme of the workshop was translation from English to Khasi with emphasis on knowledge texts such as IGNOU course material. Forty-one participants attended the three-day workshop. Participants at the workshop.
factoids
IVET, in collaboration with Kduplang Organisation, an NGO, held a three-day training programme in low-cost bamboo housing for trainers at Nongstoin, Meghalaya. As part of the training, the participants constructed a security room in the District Collector’s office premises. This security room will now become a permanent feature of the DC office.
IGNOU has joined hands with Nokia to provide a Certificate Programme in Functional English (CFE) on Nokia devices supporting the Ovi Life Tools. The six-month programme will begin from January 2011 session.
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ONCAMPUS
MILESTONES
German programme launched
MoU with NCHMCT Forms go online September 2001: Submission of Examination Forms goes online. November 2001: IGNOU organises International Colloquium on ‘Emerging Scenario in Open and Distance Learning.’ December 2001: A UNESCO Regional Training Workshop on Use of Electronic Media in University Science Teaching is held. January 2002: The ‘Srinivasa Ramanujan Birth Centenary Award’ is conferred on IGNOU VC Prof H.P. Dikshit at the Indian Science Congress-2002. March 2002: IGNOU signs MoU with National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), Ministry of Tourism.
Ambassadors of Germany, Switzerland and Austria launching the programme at IGNOU Headquarters in New Delhi.
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GNOU, in collaboration with Max Mueller Bhavan, Goethe-Institut, New Delhi and University of Vienna, has launched a Diploma programme in Teaching German as a Foreign Language. The programme, under the School of Foreign Language (SOFL), was launched at the University’s Convention Centre on October 13. The key speakers at the event included VC Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Eberhard Weller, Regional Language Director, Goethe-Institut, Max Mueller
GYAN DARSHAN
Bhavan, South Asia; Heiko Sievers, Regional Director, Goethe-Institut, Max Mueller Bhavan, South Asia; Thomas Matussek, Ambassador of Germany to India; Dr. Ferdinand Maultaschl, Ambassador of Austria to India; and H.E. Philippe Welti, Ambassador of Switzerland to India. Prof Hans-Jürgen Krumm, University of Vienna, delivered a lecture titled ‘Heterogeneity, Multilingualism and Teacher Education: What Europe Can Learn From India.’■
HIGHLIGHTS
Upcoming Events Foundation Day — November 19: IGNOU will celebrate its 25th Foundation Day on November 19 and mark the culmination of the year-long Silver Jubilee celebrations. PCF6 — November 24-28: The Sixth PanCommonwealth Forum (PCF) on Open Learning, jointly organised by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and IGNOU, will be held at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi, Kerala, from November 24 to 28, 2010.
OCTOBER 2010
IGNOU: BPOCareer Options
Pioneers of Literacy: Sister Nivedita
IGNOU/Culture: Premchand Ke Upanyas
IGNOU: Chilika-Our Natural Heritage
IGNOU: Mulberry Cultivation Practices
BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) is one of the mushrooming industries in India. A BPO career revolves around the core activity of delivering business process outsourcing services.
Watch a special programme on Sister Nivedita, an Anglo-Irish social worker, author, teacher and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Born Margaret Elizabeth Noble, Sister Nivedita met Vivekananda in 1895 in London.
Munshi Premchand is recognised in India as the foremost HindiUrdu writer of the early 20th century. His novels describe the problems of the rural peasant classes. Godaan, his last novel, is considered one of the finest Hindi novels.
Chilika Lake in Orissa is the largest coastal lagoon in India. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.
Mulberry foliage is the only food for the silkworm. Mulberry leaf is a major economic component in sericulture since the quality and quantity of leaf produced per unit area have a direct bearing on cocoon harvest.
IGNOU: Jean Piaget
Pioneers of Literacy: Savitiri Bai Phule
Jean Piaget was a Swiss developmental psychologist known for his epistemological studies with children. His theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called “genetic epistemology.”
Savitiri Bai Phule, wife of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, was the first female teacher of the first women’s school in India. She is considered as the pioneer of modern Marathi poetry. In 1852 she opened a school for Untouchable girls.
For a complete schedule, log on to www.ignou.ac.in
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