Open Letter October 2010
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 20102
Universities 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 long-
term 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. Grassroot-
level 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.
4
CONTENTS
Fruitful Handshake
Honour For Former VCs
INFOCUS: IGNOU’s
various collaborations
with Government-run
institutions are
helping enhance
skills and knowledge
of learners, creating
vast opportunities for
India’s youth
EYEING EUROPE .......03
FELICITATION..............12
NEWS UPDATES..........14
REGIONAL UPDATES ...15
UPCOMING EVENTS....16
GYAN DARSHAN..........16
12 SPOTLIGHT: As part of its Silver Jubilee
celebrations, IGNOU felicitates former
Vice Chancellors and former Union
Minister K.C. Pant, who piloted the
IGNOU Bill in Parliament
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: [email protected]
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
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai
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The 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.
“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 e-
books within six months to increase the
popularity of its programmes among high-
tech 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.�
� 35 countries covered
� 56 overseas study centres
� 42,000 students enrolled
� 90 percent learners of Indian origin
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010 3
GLOBALEXPANSION
After UK, IGNOU eyes other European nationsGLOBAL PRESENCE
IGNOU’s move: Play chess, study it too
IGNOU 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,
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.�
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.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 20104
Fruitful Handshake
In 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 ‘In-
Service 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.�
IGNOU’scollaborations with and throughGovernment-runinstitutionsare helpingenhance skills and knowledge of learners,creating vastopportunities forIndia’s youth
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.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010 5
In the Healthcare Services Sector, IGNOU
has a fairly large presence. Its Post-
Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health
Management (PGDHHM), in collaboration
with Armed Force Medical Services,
Ministry of Defence, Government of India,
fulfills specified needs of middle-level
administrators in hospital and health care
departments.
PGDHHM is a multimedia package
which includes General Management,
Management of Human Resources,
Finance, Logistics and Equipment in
Hospitals; it also includes Organisation and
Management of Hospitals and Planning,
Organisation and Management of
all types of services provided in a
hospital; further, it includes
health system management,
including epidemiology and
biostatistics.
Another collaboration with the
Dental Council of India (DCI)
will bring to the fore Post-
Graduate Programmes in
endodontics and oral
implantology. According to
Dr Bimla Kapoor, Director,
School of Health Sciences
(SOHS), IGNOU: “These are
full-fledged programmes that
are meant to recognise the
common goals of Higher
Dental Education and training
needs of dental surgeons to
participate effectively in the
processess of national
development.”
“A lot of Bachelor of
Dental Surgery (BDS)
students are not able
to do Post Graduation
due to limited seats in
government colleges.
This initiative will help
them learn about new
technology in dental care. It is not just for
fresh pass-outs, but for experienced dental
surgeons as well,” says Dr Anil Kohli,
President, DCI.
According to Prof A.K. Agarwal, SOHS,
“IGNOU, Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Government of
India, have signed an MoU for
implementing the national
component of the Global
Environment Fund (GEF)-UNDP
Project, demonstrating and
promoting best techniques
and practices for reducing
health care waste to avoid
environmental releases of
dioxins and mercury under
the GEF/UNDP Project from
2009-2013.”
“IGNOU is running a six-
month Certificate Programme
in Health Care Waste
Management in collaboration
with the World Health
Organisation (WHO) for the
doctors, nurses, paramedics,
health managers and
professional workers in
South-East Asian
countries via a network
of Partner Institutions.
IGNOU will commence
this Programme at
Chhatrapati Shahuji
Maharaj Medical
University (formerly King
George Medical College), Lucknow, from
the January 2011 session,” informs Prof
Agarwal, Programme Co-coordinator.
IGNOU has also signed an MoU with the
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
for capacity building of health professionals.
According to Prof T.K. Jena, SOHS,
“IGNOU and National AIDS Control
Organisation (NACO) are developing a ‘PG
Diploma in HIV Medicine’ Programme. An
MoU was signed in this regard in February
2010. The government will sponsor half of
the enrolled learners once the Programme
commences.” Under the MoU, an HIV
Medicine Cell has been established in
IGNOU to monitor this activity and act as an
umbrella organisation for training on HIV
medicine throughout the country.
IGNOU also signed an MoU with the
Directorate General of Health Services,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in
February 2010 to develop and launch a
Post-Doctoral Certificate in Dialysis
Medicine for Medicine and Paediatric
specialists. The programme is expected
to be launched in 2011.�
Another 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.
Goal Medical Education Second Career
“The whole idea
is to ensure
skilling of
unskilled labour
and to create
a pool of
professionally-
trained people.”—Dr Latha Pillai,
Pro-VC, IGNOU
HEALTHCARE SERVICES
IGNOU’s collaborative ventures in the Healthcare Services Sector aim to recognise the
common goals of higher medical education.
Dr Anil Kohli, President, DCI (left)
and Prof T.K. Jena, SOHS.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 20106
Recognising 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 tele-
education 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.�
Enabling the Disabled
EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
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.
� Central Leather Research Institute
� Indian Air Force
� Army Project Renewal of IGNOU-ArmyEducational 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 InformationSystem 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 Reachingthe Unreached through the use of ICTs for Empowering the Rural and Marginalised People of the DevelopingWorld
� Navy Educational Project
� Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti (GS&DS)
� Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI)
� National Trust for the Welfare of Personswith 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 Territoryof Delhi
� Indian Institute of Banking & Finance(IIBF)
� National Institute of Rural Development(NIRD)
COLLABORATIONS WITH AND THROUGH GOVT AGENCIES
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Understanding 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/Sub-
Inspectors, Advance Course for middle-level police
officers and Trainer’s Training Course.
“The idea is to train police personnel who, owing to
their hectic schedules, don’t have time to re-skill
themselves. These programmes, supported by audio-video
presentations, will help them acquire legal knowledge while
working,” says Prof K. Elumalai, Director, SOL.
“These programmes are fully funded by the NHRC, right from
the counselling charges to preparing printed, audio or video
copies of the course material as per the requirements projected
by the NHRC,” he adds. Another forthcoming attraction is a
Certificate Programme in Anti-Human Trafficking, in
collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“With the assistance from Prof P.M. Nair (IPS), Additional
Director-General, CRPF Headquarters, New Delhi, IGNOU and
MHA have come forward to make this course compulsory for all
the trainers at the training institutions supported by MHA; all
NGOs going to be part of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit set up by
MHA; and officials working with the Ministry of Women and
Child Development. MHA has agreed to provide financial
assistance for developing this Certificate Programme into a
Diploma Programme,” informs Prof Elumalai.
IGNOU is also running a Diploma Programme in Environmental
Law with help from the World Wide Fund (WWF-India) and a
Programme in International Monetary Law in collaboration with
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).�
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010 7
IGNOU 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
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.
“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.�
VC Prof Rajasekharan Pillai exchanging an MoU with Ravi Singh, CEO,
WWF-India, on the PG Diploma Programme in Environmental Law.
Infusing Scientific Temper
LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Re-skilling Police Force
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
� Centre for Disaster Management, AndhraPradesh 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
for Renewal of Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) for NER States
� Telecommunications Consultants IndiaLtd. (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
� 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 ProductsExport Development Authority (APEDA)
� Department of Space, GOI, for JhabuaDevelopment 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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8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING
The importance of agriculture and
food processing industry in India
can be gauged by the fact that 65-
70 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
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
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.�
Food For Thought
� Ministry of Panchayati Raj – UNDP Capacity Building Project
� Institute of Public Auditors of India (IPAI)
� Institute of Hotel Management Cateringand 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)
� 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 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 & ResearchFoundation (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 forEdusat Supported Elementary Education.
� Goethe – Institut & Department of German Studies, University of Vienna, Austria
� Broadcast Engineering Consultants IndiaLtd. (BECIL)
� Commonwealth Media Centre for Asia
� Ministry of Rural Development, GOI
IGNOU, through its School of Agriculture, has entered into significant collaborations to
prepare agricultural entrepreneurs and managers.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010 9
Indian tourism and hospitality sector
has reached new heights today.
Combining unparalleled growth
prospects and unlimited business
potential, the industry is certainly 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 Services Management
(SOTHSM) has tied up with the National
Council for Hotel Management and
Catering Technology (NCHMCT),
Ministry 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).
Certificate programmes in House
Keeping Operation, Front Office
Operation, Food & Beverage Service
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
Service Management (DFSM), in
collaboration with the prestigious
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering
and Nutrition, Pusa, New Delhi, under
the Ministry 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 service managers,
etc.) for emerging employment-rich
sectors like hospitals/community
dietetics, food service management.”�
IGNOU’s various collaborations are helping
build a strong professional force for the
tourism and hospitality industry.
IGNOU 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.
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 &
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).�
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
Adding Fuel To Growth Engine
Serving The Future
BANKING AND FINANCE
� 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)
� 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
� 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 TeachersTraining & 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 SciencesUniversity
� 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 consortiumof Govt of India, Govt Tamil Nadu and CII)
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10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010
Following 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.
“Till date, 84 Gurus identified by the
NEZCC have been imparting knowledge
and training to 300 Shishyas in Indigenous
Art Practices in the North
East region. However, so far
there had been no monitoring,
evaluation and certification
for this knowledge. The
signing of the MoC and the
subsequent academic
certification would not only
help preserve and promote
the rich cultural heritage of
the country, but will also help
in finding livelihood options
for the certified Shishyas,”
says Prof Debjani Roy, OSD,
IIVET, Shillong.
IIVET has also partnered
with the Department of
AYUSH, Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare,
Government of India, and
initiated a mega pilot project
for the ‘Certification of the
Prior Learning and Knowledge
of the Gram Vaidyas (Traditional Village
Health Practitioners)’ in eight states
across the country. The bond for the
execution of the project was
signed between IGNOU and
Department of AYUSH, Ministry
of Family Welfare and Health, on
October 4, 2010.
“Such collaborations with the
government and public sector
widen the reach of the
programmes immensely, thus
creating a nationwide linkage
with students,” Dr Roy adds.
In tune with the trend,
IGNOU’s Madurai Regional
Centre has launched an
ambitious project in partnership
with the ICT Academy of Tamil
Nadu (ICTACT - A consortium of
Government of India,
Government of Tamil Nadu and
CII).
The training programme on
‘IT Skills for School Teachers,’
with Madurai RC as the nodal
A Giant Leap for RCs
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.
“Tie-ups with
government-run
institutions
widen the reach
of programmes
and creates a
nationwide
linkage with
students.” — Debjani Roy,
OSD, IIVET, Shillong
REGIONAL INITIATIVES
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 201011
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 re-
designed and contextualised based on the
feedback we receive from the participants
in the programme,” VC Prof Pillai says.
With an aim to benefit the farmers in
West Bengal, IGNOU’s
Kolkata RC and School of
Agriculture (SOA) have
collaborated with the
Department of Agriculture,
Govt of West Bengal, to
launch two new
programmes, Integrated
Pest Management
Technology in Potato
Cultivation and Short-term
Training programmes for
farmers of Betelvine.
The programmes were
launched by Narendra
Nath Dey, Minister for
Agriculture and Consumer
Affairs, Government of
West Bengal, at the
EMPC Studio in the
University Headquarters
on September 28.
The state government will sponsor
about 8,000 farmers for the programmes.
IGNOU has also joined hands with the
Bihar Government to set up 400 training
centres in the state and train
government officials. The IGNOU
training centres will be equipped
with computer labs to provide
distance education through
Information Technology to the
remotest parts of the state. The
state government has also signed
an agreement for implementation
of the state sponsored project
‘Samarth’ in collaboration with
IGNOU. The Varsity has been
selected as the ‘knowledge
partner’ for the state.
This confluence of the world’s
largest University and the
world’s largest democratic
federal government set up will
surely go a long way in
contributing professionals to the
country’s talent pool and
increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio in
this Decade of Innovation.�
(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.
“A major
advantage of
joining hands
with the govt
sector is the
extensive
marketing of the
programme.” — Dr M. Shanmugham,
RD, Madurai
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12
FELICITATIONCEREMONY
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010
The new academic initia-
tives launched at
IGNOU on October 1
will probably be etched
in the University’s memory for-
ever — not because these pro-
grammes are more relevant
than others, but because the
people who inaugurated the
initiatives are the most rele-
vant in the history of IGNOU.
As part of the Silver Jubilee
celebrations, the University or-
ganised a special felicitation
ceremony to honour its former
Vice Chancellors — late Prof
G. Ram Reddy, Prof V.C. Ku-
landaiswamy, Prof Ram G. Tak-
wale, Prof A.W. Khan and Prof
H.P. Dikshit. IGNOU also felici-
tated former Union Minister
and the Chief Guest at the
function Shri K.C. Pant, who
piloted the IGNOU Bill in Par-
liament in 1985.
Four new academic initia-
tives were launched at the
ceremony, held at the Con-
vention Centre in IGNOU
Headquarters.
Prof Kulandaiswamy
launched a programme in An-
thropology, while Prof Tak-
wale inaugurated B.A. and
M.A. programmes in Psychol-
ogy. The Academic Counsel-
lors’ Training-Online
(ACT-Online) programme was
launched by Prof Khan and
the academic activities in
Geology were launched by
Prof Dikshit.
While delivering the Silver
Jubilee lecture, Shri Pant
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.
“IGNOU now
needs to
consolidate its
diverse
operations and
look ahead to
provide
employable
skills to youth
in India.” — Shri K.C. Pant,
Former Union Minister
Honour For Former VCsAs part of its Silver Jubileecelebrations,IGNOU felicitatedformer ViceChancellors andformer UnionMinister, Shri K.C. Pant, whopiloted the IGNOUbill in Parliament
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 201013
HOW THEY CONTRIBUTED TO IGNOU’S JOURNEY
said, “Having served the country meritori-
ously 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 empha-
sised the various challenges that IGNOU
should take up in this period. These in-
clude strengthening its Study Centres,
providing quality services to learners, en-
hancing the Student Support Services,
harnessing contextualised modern tech-
nologies 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 digi-
tal age created the possibility of giving
shape to this concept and we drew upon
the experience of existing Open Universi-
ties. 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 ‘Educa-
tion 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 ini-
tiative, whether they had been forced to
drop out for economic or other reasons, or
those who were in jobs, but wished to im-
prove their professional skills, or those
who could not be regular full-time stu-
dents. 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 egalitarian-
ism and democratisation of education,”
Shri Pant added.
IGNOU’s present VC, Prof V.N. Ra-
jasekharan Pillai, said that the University
has remained true to its founders’ vision
and played a significant role in democratis-
ing higher education and providing access
to millions of students who cannot enroll in
formal higher education institutions.
“India’s conventional colleges and uni-
versities don’t have the capacity to cope
with the scale of the higher education chal-
lenge confronting the country. Thus, dis-
tance education, powered by new
Information Communication Technologies
(ICTs), has to be used to supplement con-
ventional 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 im-
portant partner for reaching the national
goal of 15 percent enrollment in higher edu-
cation by 2015,” Prof Pillai said.�
VC Prof Pillai felicitating former Union Minister Shri K.C. Pant, who piloted the IGNOU Bill in
Parliament in 1985.
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 Univer-
sity’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 R.G. Takwale
(1995-1998): Prof Takwale
took IGNOU into the digital
world, bridging the digital
divide between urban and
rural India. This was mani-
fested in the establishment
of the Sanchar Kendra, the
Electronic Media Production Centre and the proj-
ect for Mass education in computer - Open learn-
ing approach.
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.
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 V.C. Kulandaiswamy, second VC, addressing
the gathering at the felicitation ceremony.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 201014
NEWSUPDATES
The 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
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.�
‘India-Oz bilateral education council soon’
Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese delivering the lecture at IGNOU campus.
NEWSSCAN
The Staff Training and ResearchInstitute 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).�
GLAD@IGNOU inaugurated
IGNOU VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillaiinaugurated 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.�
Exhibit stalls at PCF6ACT-Online launched
An 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 sponsors-
cum-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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IGNOU Institute for Vocational Education andTraining (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.�
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 2010 15
NEWSUPDATES
factoidsIGNOU 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.
‘Build an integrated state’
India 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
Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. The
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.�
Eminent anthropologist Fr. Abraham Lotha delivering the
Silver Jubilee lecture at the Convention Centre in New Delhi.
Participants at the workshop.
Prof 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
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 Maha-
rashtra; and Shri H.K. Patil, President, National
Federation of Co-operative Urban Banks.
Prof Elumalai appointed
RBI Committee member
Student Business Centre set
up for logistical assistance
REGIONALROUNDUP
IIVET, SOTST organise translation workshop Bamboo house training
IIVET, in collaboration with KduplangOrganisation, 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.�
VC 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.
Prof Elumalai.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | OCTOBER 15, 201016
MILESTONESONCAMPUS
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.
MoU with NCHMCT
Upcoming Events
HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 2010
BPO (Business Process
Outsourcing) is one of
the mush-
rooming in-
dustries in
India. A BPO
career re-
volves 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 Mar-
garet Elizabeth Noble,
Sister Nivedita met
Vivekananda in 1895
in London.
Munshi Premchand is
recognised in India as the
foremost Hindi-
Urdu 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 la-
goon 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 bear-
ing on cocoon harvest.
Pioneers of Literacy: Savitiri Bai PhuleSavitiri 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.
IGNOU: Jean PiagetJean 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.”
IGNOU, 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
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.’�
German programme launched
Ambassadors of Germany, Switzerland and Austria launching the programme at IGNOU
Headquarters in New Delhi.
Pioneers of Literacy:
Sister Nivedita
IGNOU/Culture:
Premchand Ke Upanyas
IGNOU: Chilika-Our
Natural Heritage
IGNOU: Mulberry
Cultivation Practices
IGNOU: BPO-
Career Options
GYANDARSHAN
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 Pan-
Commonwealth 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.
For a complete schedule, log on to www.ignou.ac.in
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