IGNOU Degrees to be treated at par with those awarded by regular universities

 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in a recent notification has made it clear that the degrees or diplomas awarded via online modes or by Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions are to be treated equally as those awarded by regular institutions. The commission highlighted the Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes Regulations 2020 which specifies, "Equivalence of qualification acquired through Conventional or Open and Distance Learning and online modes."

Under this ordinance, it is mentioned that "Degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in conformity with UGC notification on Specification of Degrees, 2014 and post graduate diplomas awarded through Open and Distance training mode and/or Online mode by Higher Educational Institutions, recognized by the Commission under these regulations, shall be treated as equivalent to the corresponding awards of the Degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level and post graduate diplomas offered through conventional mode."
Earlier, UGC invited suggestions and comments from various stakeholders on draft amendments it prepared for ODL and online programmes. The initiative was taken to guarantee a simple ODL and online programme framework.

In a public notice, UGC announced, "Keeping in view National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendation to have Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 50 per cent by 2035 and to further promote ODL and online education, UGC constituted an expert committee to review existing ODL and online regulatory framework while ensuring quality, driven by simplified recognition system and processes."

"Earlier in 2021, IGNOU had become the first higher educational institute in the Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode to be accredited by NAAC and accorded A++ grade. This recognition of IGNOU Degrees at National and International level is a major achievement for the University and with this remarkable recognition and authentication of Open and Distance learning, IGNOU will play a pivotal role in carrying forward its mandate to take the quality higher education to all sections of society

IGNOU offers opportunity for simultaneous study of two courses

IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) has launched a scheme of pursuing an Undergraduate / Post-Graduate programme simultaneously. Any student who is studying in regular college can simultaneously register in ODL/OL mode of IGNOU for a UG or PG or Diploma or Certificate as per eligibility and choice. IGNOU offers 54 Masters, 14 Bachelors, 58 PG Diplomas, 25 Diplomas, 15 PG Certificates and 77 Certificate Programmes in ODL Mode and 40 Programmes through Online Mode, IGNOU

As per NEP guidelines, IGNOU also implemented Multiple Entry and Exit facility in some of its programmes. The IGNOU admission process is Online. The admission portal for Open Distance Learning (ODL) is https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/. The admission portal for online programme is https://iop.ignouonline.ac.in/. The Re-registration for the 2nd Year and 3rd Year programme students is https://onlinerr.ignou.ac.in/.

The last date for all admission for ODL Programme, Online Programme is September 22 and for Re-registration September 17.

IGNOU Launches Postgraduate Diploma In Electronic Media, Registration Open Till August 12

 

The School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS) of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a Postgraduate Diploma in Electronic Media through open and distance learning mode. This program has been introduced by the open university in order to incorporate National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 guidelines into its academic endeavour and deliver skill-based programmes.

Candidates can take admission and register through the official website of IGNOU – ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The last date to apply is August 12, 2022.

The PG Diploma in Electronic Media programme of IGNOU is for a minimum duration of one year and a maximum of three years. Candidates with a bachelors degree in any subject can apply for the programme. The medium of instruction will be in English. However, students have the option of writing their exams, homework, practicals, and projects in Hindi as well. The fee for IGNOU’s Post Graduate Diploma in Electronic Media is Rs 9,500.

IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Nageshwar Rao, Padma Shri Professor Pushpesh Pant and Professor Subhash Dhuliya, Former Vice Chancellor Uttarakhand Open University, were present at the launch event. The guests spoke about the importance of having more such skill-based programmes in the field of Mass Communication, as envisaged in the NEP 2020. They also highlighted the media landscape's shifting dynamics and the necessity for audio and audio-visual content production training in news and other genres.

Professor KS Arul Selvam, Director SOJNMS, delivered the welcoming address, Professor OP Deval, SOJNMS, gave the attendees a quick tour of the School, and Dr Amit Kumar, programme coordinator, explained the details of this programme.

The launch programme was moderated by Dr Shikha Rai and Dr Ramesh Yadav, SONJMS and Dr Padmini Jain, SONJMS proposed vote-of-thanks.

IGNOU Launches MA in Arabic from July 2022 Session

 

IGNOU TEE June 2022 Form Submission Deadline Extended

 Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the application window for June 2022 Term End Examination (TEE) Earlier the last date to submit the online form for the TEE was till June 5, but now it has been extended and is now till June 30. Candidates can submit their forms online at ignou.ac.in by paying the fee of Rs 200 per course.

The announcement was made on June 27 on the official Twitter handle of the IGNOU.

UGC-Approved Short Term Professional Development Programme Research in Distance and Online Learning

Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) is organizing a UGC-Approved Short Term Professional Development Programme: ‘Research in Distance and Online Learning’  (Through Online) for the faculty of IGNOU,  SOUs & DEIs from July 14-21, 2022 with the approval of the Competent Authority . The six-days programme will be held through online using Google Meet platform.

IGNOU launches new programmes for July 2022 Session

 

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched the following new programmes which will be on offer through the ODL mode in July 2022 academic session.

• Bachelor of Arts (Vocational  Studies),
• Certificate in Gender in Law (CGSL),
• Certificate in Vedic Ganit (CVG),
• Post Graduate Diploma in British Literature (PGDBLT),
• Post Graduate Diploma in American Literature (PGDAML),
• Post Graduate Diploma in the Novel (PGDNOV),
• Post Graduate Diploma in Writings from India (PGDWI),
• Post Graduate Diploma in writings from the Margins (PGDWM) and
• Post Graduate Diploma in New Literature in English (PGDNLEG).

Besides, the MCA & MBA programmes of IGNOU have been given recognition by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). All admissions to MCA & MBA programmes are direct without Entrance Test.

Degree to be granted by IGNOU, with recognition in India and abroad for employment and education

 The Union Cabinet on 14th June, 2022 approved an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces called AGNIPATH and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

AGNIPATH allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. The AGNIPATH scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.

In order to enhance the future career prospects of our Agniveers, and equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector, the Ministry of Education is to launch a special, three year skill based bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognize the skill training received by them during their tenure in the defence establishments.

Under this programme that has been designed by IGNOU and will also be executed by them, 50 % of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training – both technical and non-technical – received by the Agniveer, and the remaining 50 % will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Jyotish, as also Ability Enhancement Courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English.

This programme is aligned with UGC norms and with the National Credit Framework / National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) as mandated under the National Education Policy 2020.

It also has provision for multiple exit points – Undergraduate Certificate on successful completion of the first year courses, Undergraduate Diploma on successful completion of the first and second year courses, and Degree on completion of all the courses in three year time frame.

The framework of the programme has been duly recognized by the concerned regulatory bodies – All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and UGC. Degree will be awarded by IGNOU as per UGC nomenclature (BA; B. Com.; BA (vocational); BA (Tourism Management), and will be recognized both in India and abroad for employment and education.

Army, Navy and Air Force will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with IGNOU for implementation of the scheme.

Agniveers' in-service training to amount for 50% credit in 3-yr IGNOU degree programme

 

The Ministry of Education said on Wednesday that it will recognise in-service training received by Agniveers, or youth selected in the AGNIPATH recruitment scheme, as credits for a graduation programme designed by IGNOU. Under IGNOU’s specially-designed degree programme this in-service training will count for 50 per cent of credit. The programme will also allow for multiple entry-exit points with appropriate certification. This will enable Agniveers to follow civilian courses. 

The ministry will launch a special, three-year skill-based bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognise the skill training received by them during their tenure. 

The programme, designed by IGNOU, will be executed by them too. Both technical and non-technical skill training received by the Agniveer will amount to 50 per cent of the credits required for a graduate degree. The rest of the 50 per cent will come from a basket of courses including subjects like  languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture, Jyotish, ability enhancement courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English. 

The IGNOU programme will be aligned to UGC norms and National Credit Framework/National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). 

UGC, IGNOU to launch three-year skill-based BA programme for ‘Agniveers’ (Printed from The Times of India) 15th June 2022

 

To enhance the future career prospects of the recruits or ‘Agniveers’ under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, the Ministry of Education has announced the launch of a special three-year skill-based bachelor's degree programme that will recognise the skill training received by them during their tenure in the defence establishments. The Army, Navy and Air Force will sign a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for the implementation of the programme.

The programme has been designed by IGNOU and is aligned with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and with National Credit Framework, National Skill Qualification framework (NSQF), as mandated under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Under this programme, 50% of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training (technical and non-technical) while a remaining will come from a variety of courses across subjects including Languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, Public Administration, Maths, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Jyotish, along with ability enhancement courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English.

The programme will also have options for multiple exit points, which will provide ‘Agniveers’ with an undergraduate (UG) certificate on successful completion of the first year, a UG diploma on successful completion of first and second-year courses and a degree on completion of all courses in the three year time frame.


Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, chairman, UGC, says, “UGC and IGNOU are working together to provide recognition for the skills acquired by ‘Agniveers’. In addition, once the Digital University is established, ‘Agniveers’ will have the opportunity to do courses in emerging areas. This will make them future-ready.”

The framework of the programme has been recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and UGC. The final degrees will be awarded by IGNOU as per the UGC nomenclature of BA, BCom, BA (vocational), BA (Tourism management). The degrees will be recognised both in India and abroad for employment and education purposes by the ‘Agniveers’.

Kumar says that information about the skills that will be provided to ‘Agniveers’ during their four-year training is key, adds Kumar. “Based on this, mapping their skill training with NHEQF will be done. This will then give us an idea about what qualifications can be given to ‘Agniveers’,” he says.

He adds, “The bottom line is that UGC would like to work on this plan to see how ‘Agniveers’ skill training can be mapped into qualifications so that they can acquire additional higher qualifications or be ready for new job opportunities.”

Printed from

IGNOU to start four new MBA courses

 

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started four new MBA programmes from July 2022 session after getting approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The new programmes are human resource management, finance management, marketing management and operations management.

Aspirants of IGNOU MBA programme can now take direct admission without an entrance examination. The council has granted the approval of one lakh admissions to IGNOU for the July 2022 session. The candidate must have a three-year graduation degree with 50% marks (45% for reserved category) from any recognised university/institution. Link for online admission and other details is available on the IGNOU website and the last date for admission has been fixed as July 31, 2022, a spokesperson of the university said here today.

In addition to this, the university has also started the process of fresh admission to various master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, diploma, PG diploma and certificate programmes.

Delhi University Should Add Futuristic Courses To Its Curriculum: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said Delhi University should design futuristic courses and include them in its curriculum. He was addressing the inaugural session of a three-day international seminar on “Revisiting The Ideas of India from ‘Swaraj’ to ‘New India'”.

“I wish I were a student of DU. DU is celebrating its centenary year and we are celebrating the country’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This is a happy coincidence,” he said.

The education minister also advised the university to include futuristic courses in its curriculum. “The times are changing. Our country’s inventions do not get patented. DU can start a short-term diploma course on patent process. The students will not only become employable in India but also at the international level… DU should add futuristic courses to its curriculum,” he said.

IGNOU Extends Assignment Submission Deadline For June 2022 Term End Examination

  

The Indira Gandhi National Open University, commonly known as IGNOU, extended the deadline for submitting assignments for the IGNOU Term-End Exam, or TEE, June 2022 sessions. The IGNOU assignment submission deadline for TEE June 2022 session is extended till May 31, 2022. The candidates of the IGNOU TEE 2022 are now being provided with some additional time to submit their assignments.

Union education minister says IGNOU professors are unaware of their powers.

 

The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the professors of the Indira Gandhi National Open University are like Lord Hanuman. They are unaware of the powers they have and how it can change society. He further added that their work needs to be celebrated.

Pradhan was addressing the 35th convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Tuesday. A total of 2,91,588 students, the highest ever, received their degrees and diplomas across the country at the convocation ceremony. Addressing the students & faculty members, Pradhan said, “I am here as a student. Being a student is a mental state, a condition, it is a mindset. Wherever, whomever, whatsoever, if you are open to learn, you are a student,” the minister said.

Pradhan said he was a student leader and has now become the education minister. Recalling his time as a student, he said in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were protests against the Mandal Commission report and no convocation was held.

He said he always wished that he should have also got his degree at a convocation ceremony and this was a memorable event for him.

He said all the IGNOU professors, including those associated with the university’s regional centres across the country, possess the qualities of the “Anjani Putra” (Lord Hanuman).

“Hanuman is known to have saved society and become the voice of the downtrodden. He did not realise the kind of powers he possessed and sometimes, he had to be told about his immense powers. You are Hanuman. You do not realise what you have done. Let us celebrate what you have done,” the minister said.

He urged the degree holders to share a minute-long testimonial about the university on Facebook to celebrate the work of the faculty and the university.

The education minister also said whatever the IGNOU has been doing since its inception in 1985 has now become the National Education Policy and is being implemented across the country.

At 83, Monk Completes MA Philosophy From IGNOU

IGNOU conducted its 35th convocation in its Madurai regional centre on Tuesday.  One of the students who proved that age is no bar for education was 83-year-old Ramphal Rana. The monk graduated with a master’s degree in philosophy from IGNOU on Tuesday.

The university gave degrees, diplomas, and certificates to around 2.91 lakh meritorious students at the ceremony. According to a report by a leading news daily, Ramphal Rana wanted to explore himself and Indian religion, philosophy, and spirituality. His passion to learn more about the subjects inspired him to study further and he decided to do an MA in Philosophy from IGNOU.

Sant Ramphal, who turned monk in 2009, is a resident of Bahadurgarh. After retiring in 2000, he left everything and took the path of spirituality. He was one of the oldest students to get the degree during the 35th convocation of IGNOU. He was, however, unable to attend the convocation ceremony due to his health condition and distance.

This isn’t the first time the monk has achieved something bigger in life. According to him, he attained the fourth position at the national-level UPSC Stenographer examination. Apart from this, he also holds a first division LLB degree and has also passed the Company Secretary of India exam.

His zeal to learn more about ancient philosophers including Buddha, Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, made him take up the MA (Philosophy) course at the university. Not just this, every year IGNOU offers degrees to a lot of students who are above 60 years of age. This year, IGNOU also conferred a degree to 70-year-old Ranjit Dixit who believes that there is no age to get an education.