Conference of Vice Chancellors of Open Universities, 12th April 2012

Inter University Consortium (IUC), organised a Conference of Vice Chancellors of Open Universities at IGNOU, New Delhi on 12th April 2012. The conference was inaugurated by Smt. Vibha Puri Das, Secretary (HE), Ministry HRD, who delivered an inspiring key note address. The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, Prof. M. Aslam. The conference was well attended by the Vice Chancellors and some representatives from the State Open Universities



The purpose of this conference was to create a synergy of efforts to meaningfully contribute to the national agenda set up by the Ministry of HRD, namely quality education while pushing up the GER in Higher Educations.



The Vice-Chancellors of National and State Open Universities discussed at length, the path ways and means towards quality in distance education. They all agreed on the urgent need for collaboration among the Open Universities. Prof. Madhu Parhar, Director-IUC, proposed various strategies for the collaboration among Open Universities like

Developing a Common Curriculum for Undergraduate Programme;
Creating Open Education Resource available through a dedicated a web-portal;
Creating curriculum-based multi-media e-content for undergraduate courses.

Prof M Aslam emphasized on the importance of these meetings and expressed that IUC can play an important role in bringing together all the open universities. We should all work together to upgrade distance education and make it as acceptable as conventional system of education.

The key theme statements (OER, Common Curriculum, Multi-media E-contents) were discussed by distinguished Vice Chancellors Prof. Prof. K.S. Rangappa, Prof. S.K. Singh, Dr. Manoj Soni , Dr. R.K. Chauhan, Dr. P. Prakash, Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, Dr. A. Chandrakar, Prof. Subha Shankar Sarkar, Prof. A.K Bakshi and Prof K.K. Singh. The Vice Chancellor representatives Prof. Ashit B.Aich, Prof. P.K.Sharma, Dr. Shanmugiah and Dr. O.N.Tiwari have elaborated their issues and challenges in Open Education Systems

After thorough deliberations all agreed to pursue collaboration on the following points.
Common Curriculum Development for few selected programmes on a pilot basis.
Multimedia e-content development
Capacity Building of SOUs faculties.
Digitization of Print Materials of various programmes of SOUs.
A formal vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Nisha Singh, Deputy Director-IUC

Learn to conserve water with IGNOU

The Indira Gandhi National Open University’s (IGNOU’s) School of Agriculture (SOA) invites applications for two special programmes viz, Diploma in Watershed Management (DWM) and Certificate in Water Harvesting and Management (CWHM) for July 2012 session.
The programmes are meant for learners interested in basic knowledge and skills for water harvesting, conservation and utilization. It also includes basic aspects of agriculture like soil erosion and its management; integrated farming systems like crop husbandry, animal husbandry, agroforestry, fish farming etc. They intend to address the workforce requirement and focus on upgrading the knowledge and skills of existing personnel.

The diploma programme consists of eight courses of four credits each- seven theory courses and one project formulation while the certificate programme consists of three theory courses and a practical training at water harvesting agency. The programme has been supported by the department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
The eligibility requirement for the diploma programme is 10+2 pass or the learner should have completed the Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP) from IGNOU while for the certificate programme the learner should be 10th pass. However, 10th pass can enroll simultaneously for the BPP and the diploma programme.

The diploma programme can be completed minimum in one year and maximum in four years duration while for the certificate programme the minimum duration is six months and maximum is two years. The diploma programme has a provision of reimbursement of fee to the successful candidates by the department of land resources.
Interested learners can procure the common student handbook and prospectus from their nearest regional centers or from the university’s headquarters at Maidan Garhi on payment of Rs.100. However, the application form is also available on the university’s website www.ignou.ac.in which can be downloaded, filled and submitted to the regional centre along with the amount of Rs.100 in addition to the programme fee in the form of demand draft in favor of IGNOU, payable at the city where the regional centre is located. 50 per cent fee concession is given to rural and below poverty line students.

25th Convocation tentatively in April 2012

The 25th Convocation of IGNOU is tentatively scheduled to be held in March/ April 2012. Students who have completed their programmes by December 2011 Term-End Examination will be eligible for award of degree certificates in this Convocation.


The main function will be held at IGNOU headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068 and simultaneously at the cities of the selected Regional Centres. Students can receive their degree certificates in person or in absentia by post by paying the requisite fee.

Information regarding Convocation will be sent in due course to eligible students.

Degrees will be issued only to the candidates on production of IGNOU Student Identity card issued by the Regional Director and to no one else including the authorised representatives on Convocation Day during permissible time period.

NOTE: Students of MBA, MCA, M.Com, BTCM etc are required to remit fees for all degree certificates associated with the programme (Like Diplomas/ PG Diplomas/ Degrees).

http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/bulletinboard/announcements/latest/detail/25th_Convocation_tentatively_in_April_2012-612

Notice

Dear Learners,




The study centre will remain close on

Saturday 14th April 2012 (due to Ambedkar Jayanti / Baisakhi / Annual Day Celebrations of School)

And
Sunday 15th April 2012 (due to MCD elections in Delhi)


All the classes scheduled on these days have being postponed for week and will held as per new schedule posted on the Notice Board of the study centre.



Thanks & Regards

Naveen Raj Bhatia
Centre In-charge



12.04.2012