FROMthe vice chancellor

CONTENTS
I
GNOU is heading for a paradigm shift in its research policy and research facilitation
processes in the context of the global scenario of full-time research, part-time research
and systemic research under the open university and distance education systems.
IGNOU has contributed significantly to educational technology, systemic research in ODL,

Research in Action learning management systems, satellite education, and ICT-enabled teaching and learning.
The technologies developed by IGNOU are in use the world over by ODL institutions. The
IGNOU Act mandates research at all levels and the Research Council has been created as
an Authority of IGNOU under Section 16 of the Act. Ordinances for research degrees like
4 INFOCUS: IGNOU’s
Research and M.Phil and Ph.D. are also in place. The University has a research project scheme. Paid
research study leave, in addition to the sabbatical leave scheme, are available to teachers
Teaching
and academics. Participation in national and international research conferences is
Assistantship (RTA) facilitated by travel grants. Research schemes from funding agencies are systematically
is a unique scheme availed by faculty. A new scheme, the first of its kind in the country – the Research and
to help the country Teaching Assistantship (RTA) – was introduced two years ago where full-time research in
meet its high-end a domain area, along with development of teaching modules and teaching assistance
research targets activities, are taken up by young researchers under the supervision of a senior faculty
member. About 800 teachers and academics with Ph.D. and
higher-level research qualifications are working in the University.
An exclusive Research Unit was created in the University

Pan-Commonwealth Forum recently to coordinate all these research activities.

8 SPOTLIGHT: IGNOU will host the Sixth
Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open
Learning in Kochi in November with an
aim to open up access to learning at
every level via ODL system
BEST B-SCHOOLS......03 REGIONAL UPDATES ...15
ODLSOFT....................10 MILESTONES ..............16
NEWS UPDATES..........12 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
Research programmes of Open Universities are recognised
throughout the world. The UK Open University, for example,
supports a broad and vibrant research and enterprise portfolio
and fosters research teams able to compete with the best in
the world. Over 1,000 research students are currently working
with the British Open University, in addition to several hundreds
around the globe linked to UKOU through its Affiliated Research
Centre (ARC) Programme. ARCs are organisations with which
UKOU has entered into agreements to register students. They are higher education
institutions or commercial or public sector research organisations with state-of-the-art
infrastructural facilities and a large pool of highly qualified research scientists. Some of
these are: the UK Architectural Association, the School of Architecture, the British
Antarctic Survey, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Defence Science Technologies
Laboratories, the Institute of Pharmacological Research, and the International Centre for
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. ARCs are in addition to UKOU’s own research
laboratories/centres in the various faculties at its main Walton Hall Campus in Milton
Keynes. The results of UK’s latest Research Assessment Exercise placed UKOU in the top
50 higher education institutions, according to the Times Higher Education Table of
Excellence. More than 50 percent of the UKOU’s research is rated “internationally
excellent” and 14 percent is rated as “world leading”. Other leading Open Universities
also have very strong research programmes.
IGNOU, with its 800-strong research-trained faculty, over 100 full-time RTAs and more
than 400 registered Ph.D. scholars, has great research potential. Collaboration and
networking with various national and international research institutes is the key to
accomplishing research goals. Training an optimum number of post-graduates in subject-
specific domain areas and giving them opportunity for full-time research leading to Ph.D.
degrees and post-doctoral awards need to be a focussed activity of this large talent pool
of academics.
The collaboration of IGNOU with the Harichandra Institute of Mathematics (under the
Department of Atomic Energy), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (Department of S&T),
Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, Institute of Biotechnology and Bio-
informatics, International Institute of Informational Technology, Madras Institute of
Developmental Studies, and the Indian Institute of Economic Growth, for post-graduate
education and research is in line with the global trends of open universities strengthening
research by effective utilisation of infrastructural facilities and intellectual capabilities.
The Ph.D. programme of IGNOU follows international norms of quality and standards.
Successful completion of course work, publication of at least one original research
publication in a peer-reviewed journal, pre-registration and pre-submission seminars by
candidates and open defence of the thesis are now mandatory for the award of Ph.D.
degrees.
Considering the global trend of research in open universities, it is imperative that our
open universities and distance education institutes develop a clear Code of Good Practice
in respect of the management, quality and academic standards of research programmes.
Peer review, publication in refereed journals, analysis of impact factor of original research
publications – all these should be in such a code. This issue of OpenLetter features the
recent research initiatives of IGNOU.

Design and Production:

IANS Publishing
www.ianspublishing.com V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai

2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010

INTOPranks
IGNOU enters India’s Best B-Schools listing
I
n OpenLetter July issue, we carried a
story on Careers in Management
and how IGNOU's management
programmes are providing managerial
skills not only to the top-end MBA
students via Face-to-Face mode but also
to learners via Open and Distance
Learning (ODL) System.
Now the fact is being acknowledged
by the world. In an annual survey by
Businessworld, a reputed business
weekly, IGNOU has become the only Open
University to be part of the prestigious
‘India’s Best B-Schools’ list — a listing of
the country’s crème de la crème in the
Dr Ananthamurthy appointed Tagore Chair
R
enowned Kannada writer and critic
Dr U.R. Ananthamurthy has been
appointed the Honorary Chair of
‘Tagore Chair in Indian Literature’ at
IGNOU. The Tagore Chair, located in
the School of Humanities, has been
established to organise symposia,
seminars and undertake research studies
on Indian literature.
The activities of the Chair include the
editing of a bilingual (English and Hindi)
Journal on Literature, Language and
Culture Studies.
“I feel deeply honoured and excited. The
Tagore Chair will give me an opportunity to
do a lot of meaningful work in the area of
Indian languages and literature. Through
the new responsibility, I want to work
towards Rabindranath Tagore’s vision
of empowering Indian languages,
especially regional languages,” said Dr
Ananthamurthy, who is known in India for
his social commitment and as an
important representative of the ‘Navya’
movement (the new movement) in
Kannada literature.
Born in 1932 in Melige village in
Karnataka, Dr Ananthamur thy star ted
his education in a traditional Sanskrit
school in Door vasapura and later
studied English and Comparative
Literature in the cities of Mysore (India)
and Birmingham (England).
He was a professor of English
field of management education. The
world’s largest University came 40th in
the overall ranking in the survey of
India’s best 50 business schools.
The University offers a slew of
Programmes in management and
commerce streams through School
of Management Studies (SOMS) in
the ODL mode. Some of the programmes
are Master of Business Administration
(MBA); Master of Business
Administration (Banking & Finance);
Master of Commerce in Finance &
Taxation (MCom, F&T) and PG Diploma
in International Business Operation.■
Renowned writer Dr U.R. Ananthamurthy.
Literature for several years at Mysore
University, later Vice Chancellor of the
Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam,
Chairman of the National Book Trust and
President of the Sahitya Akademi in
Delhi. At present, he is serving as the
second-time chairman of the Film and
Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
Dr Ananthamur thy began his literar y
career in 1955 with the stor y volume
Endendhigu Mugiyada Kathe. Since
then, he has published five novels, one
play, six shor t stor y volumes, four
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 3
Prof Anurag Saxena, SOMS, with Dr Silima
Nanda, Director (I/c), International Division,
during an interactive session with MBA
learners of Pan-Africa e-Network.
Satchidanandan
is SOTST Director
E minent Malayalam writer
K. Satchidanandan has
taken over as Director,
School of Translation
Studies and Training
(SOTST) at IGNOU.
Satchidanandan was one
of the pioneers of modern
poetry in Malayalam and is
well known for the subtle
and nuanced articulations
of socio-political contexts K. Satchidanandan
in his poetry. He has 22 collections of
poetry, 16 collections of translations of
poetry and 19 collections of essays on
literature, language and society to
his credit.
poetr y volumes (including translation of
Tao, Yeats and Rilke and Brecht) and 10
essay volumes in Kannada and several
pieces on English literature.
His works have been translated into
several Indian and European languages and
have been awarded with significant literary
prizes, including the Jnanpeeth Award
(1994). He was honoured by the
Government of India with the Padma
Bhushan in 1998. His most significant
works include Samskara, Bhava, Bharathi
Pura and Avasthe.■
THE TEAM: Dr V. Venugopal Reddy (centre), Director, Research Unit, with his team at the Convention Centre, IGNOU Headquarters.

Research in Action
InFocus andhya Chopra, 26, is pursuing time teaching on the campus— it is like

IGNOU’s Research
and Teaching
Assistantship
S Ph.D. in Public Administration
under the School of Social
Sciences (SOSS). Her core area of
research is Disaster Management. Through
Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani, she has
participated in several tele-conferences
(RTA) is a unique where she has communicated directly with
scheme to help learners across the country on how to
the country meet prevent or mitigate disasters like floods,
earthquakes and forest fires.
its high-end “IGNOU has provided students a wide
research targets platform to establish themselves in dual
role — of a researcher and a teacher —
while pursuing higher education. As a
Research and Teaching Assistant (RTA),
I’m not only involved with full-time
research but also spend a considerable
being part of a holistic and comprehensive
higher education stream in an ODL
system,” says Chopra, before rushing to
attend a practical demonstration on fire
safety management on the campus.
Road to Academic Excellence
Assisting faculty, revising the courseware,
proofreading the course work, publishing
research papers, giving presentations,
attending seminars and conferences... the
list is endless, but what you get at the end
of the day is purely rewarding in terms of
academic excellence. This is what over
400 RTAs enrolled in discipline-based
research at IGNOU aim at.

4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010

 On campus, 98
RTAs are enrolled
in full-time Ph.D. List of RRCs
Programmes; out of
l Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced
them, 91 learners Research Trust (SACAR), 39,
have earned Vanniar Street Vaithikuppam,
fellowships. There Pondicherry — 605012
“I’m not only are 36 M.Phil l Institute for Research in Social
involved with students, while 278 Sciences and Humanities (IRISH),
full-time research are part-time Ph.D. Nirmalagiri, PO, Kannur Dist.,
but also spend a students. Kerala — 670 701
“While l Rajagiri College of Social Science,
considerable time
higher education PO, Kalamassery, Kochi,
teaching on the
establishments and Kerala — 683 104
campus — it is
government focus l CSI Centre of Educational Research
like being part of
on Ph.D. and Development, Pasumalai,
a holistic higher
programmes, there Madurai — 625 004
education
is also great l National Institute of Advanced
system.” concern and
— Sandhya Chopra,
Studies (NIAS), Indian Institute of
RTA, SOSS apprehension about Science Campus,
the poor quality of Bangalore — 560012
M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes offered in l Model Institute of Education &
large numbers by some institutions, which Research (MIER), B.C. Road,
misuse the autonomy and concept of Jammu — 180001
distance education,” says Vice Chancellor l Gujarat Institute of Development
Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. Research (GIDR), Ahmedabad
“Strict enforcement of quality criteria, l Mount Carmel College (MC),
following international benchmarks in Bangalore
research, is the only way to curb these l J.J. College, Tiruchirappalli
undesirable practices. Quality research of l DAV College, Dehradun
high impact happening in renowned open l Jyoti Niwas College, Bangalore
university and distance education systems

should be supported and encouraged to

Publications by RTAs
l Shivdatta Wavalkar. (2010), ‘Upanyaskar
Vinodkumar Shukla’ (in Hindi), Kanpur (U.P),
Vidhya Prakashan, ISBN:81-88554-57-X
l Dhanyasree V.K. (2008) ‘Social Network
Sites in Online Learning-Supporting Features:
A Case Study of Orkut,’ in ‘Library Profession
in Search of a New Paradigm’ (pp. 785-787)
selected papers published by the Indian
Association of Special Libraries and
Information Centres, India. ISSN: 09723668
l Nidhi Chopra. (2010), ‘Education Stress
Syndrome,’ Science Reporter, Vol. 47,
No. 3. ISSN 0036-8512.
l Syed Hayath Basha. (2010), ‘Systematic
Development in Open and Distance Learning
through Programme Evaluation,’ University
News, Vol. 48, No. 26. ISSN:0566-2257.
l Kiran. (2009), ‘Teachers in 21st Century:
Redefining Objectives and Process of
Teacher Education’ in selected papers
published by All India Association
Educational Research (AIAER) and Khalsa
College of Education, Amritsar, pp.19-24.
l Beauty Gogoi. (2010), ‘Intervention
Programme to Combat Malnutrition’ in
Malnutrition: issues and concern, selected
papers published by Narotom Sekhsaria
Foundation, Mumbai, India.
l Sony Kuriakose, M.S. Senam Raju and N.V.
Narasimham. (2009), ‘Voluntary
Amalgamations in Indian Banking: Valuation
Practices and Adequacy of Swap Ratios’
Indian Journal of Commerce. Vol.62, No.3,
pp. 32-44. ISSN: 0019-512X.
l Libison K.B. and N.V. Narasimham. (2010)
‘Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) from Tourism
Industry in India: An Analysis of Short- run
Secondary Market Performance,’ in Raya
Madgerova (Ed.), Economics, Management
and Tourism (pp. 31-42) selected papers
published by South West University of
‘Neofit Rilski’, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.
ISBN: 978-954-300-104-0.
set national benchmarks in this area.
Achieving high levels of research
performance in discipline-based research
is the target of IGNOU in this ‘Decade of
Innovation’, adds Prof Pillai.
“The RTA Scheme is for highly
meritorious full-time postgraduates. The
University follows a rigorous selection
process. Once the initial screening is done
by the faculty of the Discipline, eligible
candidates are invited for Ph.D. proposal
presentations (Category ‘A’), entrance test
and personal interview (Category ‘B’).
However, qualified UGC/CSIR candidates
are exempted from writing the entrance
test,” informs Dr V. Venugopal Reddy,
Director, Research Unit.
Based on the qualifications, experience
and research proposal, the applications are
shortlisted by the Discipline. The selected
candidates are then called for an interview
with the Doctoral Committee of Discipline,
which recommends whether the candidate
should undertake the course work or not.
All selected candidates are placed
before the School Board allotting
Ph.D. topics. The Board approves research
supervisors specifying categories (A or B)
subsequently before the Research Council.
Many open universities in the world, like

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 5


“I have understood
the mechanism of ODL
and how this system
helps students like me
achieve their goals. I
find the Ph.D. course
work here at par
with any reputed
conventional university.”
— Libison K.B., RTA, SOMS
the UK Open University, the Open
University of Netherlands and Hong Kong
Open University support extensive doctoral
and post-doctoral research.
“IGNOU is proud of the fact that its
systemic research feeds directly into the
content of its world-leading teaching
programmes,” says the Vice Chancellor.
“Research is a process of systematic
collection, investigation and analysis of
information to increase a research scholar’s
understanding of the study which he or she
has undertaken with specific objectives. In
this context, it is the responsibility of the
researcher to commit himself/herself to the
study undertaken. Researchers need to put
sincere efforts and hard work with the
support of their guides to come out with
innovative ideas which could be of great use
for the community-at-large,” says Dr Reddy.
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai with Research Unit Director Dr V. Venugopal Reddy in the exhibition area of the Convocation Ceremony
6 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010
Dr Anil Ch. Borah, Deputy Director, NECRD.
“The University is committed to utilise
its large pool of academics with extensive
research experience to train young
researchers, in both systemic as well as
discipline-based research of the highest
quality,” adds Prof Pillai.
Recognised Research Centres
In this direction, IGNOU has already
identified the institutes offering higher
learning programmes for conduct of
Research Degree
Programmes of their
choice, subject to
availability of
infrastructure (building,
labs and libraries, etc.),
qualified research
supervisors and ability
NECRD, A
T
he North East Centre for Research
and Development (NECRD) in
Guwahati was conceived and
operationalised to be a think-tank
dedicated to the North-East. It instituted
the Research and Teaching Assistant
(RTA) scheme for research scholars from
or outside the region working on North-
East related themes to pursue Ph.D.
programme under the auspices of the
University.
“The objective of the scheme is to
attract the best talents into teaching–
cum-research in the areas of Open and
to conduct research in their institutes.
“Any institution which intends to
conduct research can submit an
application form prescribed by the
University. An Expert Committee
consisting of subject experts is deputed to
the institute to assess the availability of
infrastructure, academic resources and
related matters. Recommendations of the
Expert Committee are placed before the
Research Council. On approval of the
Research Council, the institute is notified
“I go to Delhi University for lab work.
Owing to IGNOU, I have got this
opportunity which I could not have had
got anywhere.”
— G. Lakshmi, RTA, SOS
 TORCHBEARER IN RTA DRIVE
Distance Learning/Teaching and Research
in discipline–based as well as general
Open and Distance Learning pedagogy,”
says Dr Sujata Dutta Hazarika, Deputy
Director, NECRD.
“NECRD-IGNOU organised its first RTA
Meet in May this year to update the Centre
about the status of Ph.Ds currently running
under the RTA scheme. The meet also
aimed at capacity building of the
researchers through a lecture series from
experts.
“We discussed and informed the RTAs
about the current status of research in the
North-East region. One should conduct
his/her research in such a manner so that
the cost-benefit issue will be maximised.
Dissemination of research is needed hence
publication is mandatory,” adds
Dr Hazarika.
“If ethics and accountability are
followed in the research output, then only
a quality research work based on scientific
temperament can be produced,” says Dr
Anil Ch. Borah, Deputy Director, NECRD.
Take the case of Beauty Gogoi. She
completed her PhD from School of
Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary
Studies (SOITS). Her area of research was
‘Role of Man Tai Women in Transition: A
study of A Aitorian village in Karbi Anglong
district, Assam.’
“I taught students of M.A. Programme
in Labour Development at SOITS. Under
the duel Ph.D. scheme, I was selected for Dr Sujata
the Ph.D. Programme in Queensland Dutta
University, Australia and I must thank Hazarika,
IGNOU for this,” says Gogoi. Deputy
NECRD also sponsors major and minor Director,
research project to academician, research NECRD.
scholars and organisations of the North-
Eastern Region.

as a “Recognised Research Centre” here at par with any reputed conventional

(RRC),” informs Dr Reddy.
Opportunities Galore
Libison K.B., 27, pursuing his Ph.D. in
Commerce under the School of
Management Studies (SOMS), is happy to
be here. His research area is ‘Initial Public
Offerings and Investors’ Behaviour’.
“I have now understood the mechanism
of ODL and how this system helps students
like me achieve their goals. At SOMS, I
have full support from the faculty towards
my research.”
“I have presented four research papers
and several papers have already been
published in various reputed journals, all
thanks to the support from my research
supervisor... I find the Ph.D. course work
university,” Libison adds.
G. Lakshmi, 29, shares a similar story.
A Ph.D. student of Life Sciences at the
School of Sciences (SOS), her research
area is ‘Metagenomics’.
“IGNOU’s collaboration with other
universities in the area of research has
been a boon to us. I have learned new
techniques. The course work is prepared
in a very simplified manner,” says
Lakshmi, who has attended several
training programmes pertaining to her
study area.
From Arabic language to Economics,
from Biotechnology to Public
Administration, IGNOU researchers are not
only writing new chapters in the ODL world
but also charting a new route in higher
education like never before.■
From heritage
walks to books
l Kanika Singh (RTA in History)
Her topic of study is
representation of heritage in
museums. She is an active
participant in heritage activities
organised in New Delhi. She is a
team member of a group called
‘Delhi Heritage Walks’ which
leads heritage walks to lesser
known areas in the city.
She was panel member at a
discussion on ‘Experiencing
Delhi’ at Ramjas College, Delhi
University in February 2010,
where she spoke on history of
conservation practices in Delhi.

l Dhanyasree ( RTA in Library

and Information Sciences).
She has done content checking
and editing for IGNOU’s online
MLIS programme: Library and
Information Virtual Education
(LIVE). She has also undertaken
content checking and editing of
different modules of the web
enhanced training programme
titled ‘Digitisation and Digital
Library,’ funded by TIFP, DSIR
and Ministry of Science and
Technology. This is a Pilot
project to deliver online and
CD-based training programme on
digitisation and digital libraries,
involving multimedia-based
self-learning material with
synchronous and asynchronous
online interactive environment.

on March 15, 2010. (Photo right), Research Unit staff at the stall.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 7

PCF6Kochi
From left, Prof P.R. Ramanujam, Pro-VC and Programme Chair, PCF6; VC Prof Pillai; COL President Sir John Daniel; economist M.S.
Swaminathan; Prof A. Kalyani, VC, Tamil Nadu Open University and Pro-VC Dr Latha Pillai at the launch of PCF6 at IGNOU Headquarters.
‘Access to learning at every level’
or the first time, a leading
F international conference on open
learning and development — the
biennial Pan-Commonwealth Forum
(PCF) on Open Learning, an initiative by
the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) —
will be held in India this November.
With the aim of exploring the
contribution of Open and Distance
Learning to international development
goals by opening up access to learning at
every level, PCF6, jointly organised by
COL and IGNOU, will be held at the Le
Meridien Hotel in Kochi, Kerala, from
November 24 to 28, 2010.
Renowned agricultural scientist Prof
M.S. Swaminathan, father of the Green
Revolution in India, is the Honorary Chair.
Sir John Daniel, COL President, and Prof
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor,
IGNOU, are the Co-Chairs.
Coinciding with the completion of
IGNOU’s Silver Jubilee Year, PCF6 aims to
consider what ODL has done and still can
do in terms of success, informed Prof P.R.
Ramanujam, Pro Vice Chancellor and
Programme Chair, PCF6. The overall theme
of PCF6, titled Access and Success in
Learning: Global Development
Perspectives, will focus on four key areas
— Social Justice, Community Development,
Skills Development and Formal Education.
“The Forum brings together
practitioners, researchers, planners and
policymakers in the fields of Open and
8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010
Distance Learning and development from
KEYNOTESPEAKERS
over 70 countries,” said Prof Ramanujam.
Over 800 delegates are expected to take
part in PCF6.
“It provides opportunities to share
experience and expertise and to Dr shashi tharoor
former union minister
contribute to future policy and provision.
Dr shashi tharoor will
Participants will represent the deliver the prestigious ‘asa
Commonwealth, international Briggs lecture’ at PCf6.
institutions, including UNESCO, and
agencies active in the field, such as
funding bodies and technology providers,”
hon’BlE stEVE
he added.
maharEy
The objective of PCF6 is to provide an
Vice Chancellor of massey
accessible forum for all member nations university, new Zealand,
of the Commonwealth who are committed maharey will deliver a
to increasing access to and flexibility in lecture on the theme titled
initial and lifelong quality learning ‘formal Education’ at PCf6.
through ODL, said VC Prof Pillai.
Among the keynote speakers are: Sir
John; Prof Badri N. Koul, former Pro-VC, Prof BaDri n. Koul
IGNOU; Steve Maharey, VC, Massey former iGnou Pro-VC,
University, New Zealand; and Professor Prof Koul will deliver a
Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, Vice speech on ‘skills
Chancellor and President of the Open Development.’
University, Malaysia. Former Union
Minister Dr Shashi Tharoor will deliver the
prestigious ‘Asa Briggs Lecture’. Prof EmEritus tan
For registration, kindly contact: Prof sri anuwar ali
P.R. Ramanujam, Programme Chair, PCF6, Vice Chancellor and
President of the open
The Sixth Pan- Commonwealth Forum
university, malaysia, ali
(PCF6), IGNOU Maidan Garhi, New Delhi- will speak on the theme
110068. Phone number: (011) 29572606. titled ‘Community
E-mail: programmechair@pcf6.net. Development.’
Website: http://www.pcf6.net.■
SOAconfEREncE 2010

Thrust on agriculture, rural education

K
eeping in view the need to make
the agricultural sector more
efficient in terms of planning and
delivery as well as churn out
professional workers and stakeholders in
the same, IGNOU’s School of Agriculture
(SOA) is organising a three-day
International Conference titled ‘Agriculture
Education and Knowledge Management.’
Organised in collaboration with the
International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI), Washington, the
conference is scheduled to be held at
IGNOU Centre for ODL in Research and
Training in Agriculture (ICRTA) in
Agar tala from August 24-26, 2010. The international conference on Agriculture Education and Knowledge Management aims to
make agricultural activities more efficient in terms of planning and delivery.
The conference will primarily focus on
sharing experiences on the challenges
faced by agriculture educational system in
managing indigenous knowledge as well MAJOR THEMES
as knowledge generated by research and
educational institutes for innovative l assessment of educational needs and human industry, research and extension activities
agriculture. resource development of the agriculture l Knowledge access, concepts, creation,
The main objectives of the conference sector applications and services to agricultural
are to discuss various approaches and l approaches, case studies, concepts and community and their organisations
methodologies as applicable in agriculture l Participation of the private sector, farmers’
models of agricultural education for education and knowledge management organisations and nGos in educating farmers
strengthening capacity of professionals, l open and Distance learning for continuing l Effective pedagogical methods for agriculture
researchers and educators; to discuss the education for professionals engaged in agri- education
role of effective knowledge management
systems for socio-economic development
of agricultural sector; to identify suitable
pedagogic approaches and curriculum to farmers to the latest knowledge and development, particularly in the North-
educate farmers, upgrade their technical advances in agriculture. It is important East,” said Prof B.S. Hansra of SOA.
and entrepreneurial knowledge and that new knowledge is first created, then The conference will commence with an
analytical skills; and to develop managed in combination with indigenous inauguration function and addresses by
knowledge management strategies knowledge and finally shared by Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura and
through cost-effective and efficient stakeholders on the food and agriculture Chief Guest at the function, Vice
approaches, public-private-NGO value chain. We are confident that the Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai,
partnerships, business models and conference will go a long way in evolving and Dr Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Director,
delivery mechanisms. integrated strategies to achieve food Knowledge, Capacity, and Innovation
“There is an urgent need to expose security and sustainable agriculture Division (KCID), IFPRI.■

Action plan to scale up teachers’ training

I
n order to ensure the active participation
of all Universities in training, re- training
and continuous capacity-building of
teachers, the Higher Education Department
of the Ministry of Human Resource
Development has constituted a Core
Committee of Vice Chancellors to evolve
effective and unconventional strategies for
scaling up teacher training, Vice Chancellor
Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said recently.
“In the context of the Right to
Education Act, a time-bound action plan is
being formulated jointly by the National
Council of Teacher Education (NCTE),
IGNOU and State Education Departments
to achieve these targets,” he added.
IGNOU has set up five Institutes of
Competency Advancement of Teachers
(ICAT) in five geographic regions of the
country where the technology-enhanced
distance learning and Open University
practices are being adopted.
“Delivery of programmes via ODL mode
can alleviate shortages by making teacher
trainees available earlier for service in the
classrooms. Facilitation of teaching-
integrated learning for working teachers, by
way of self-help faculty improvement
modules, can also be achieved by ODL
strategies,” Prof Pillai added.■

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 9

ODLSoft

Log into ODLSoft for ERP solutions

ODLSoft Facilities
Wg. Cdr. (Retd.) Arun Verma, Joint
Director, (ERP), and his team are in touch
with the implementation partner TCS in
achieving the following functionalities:
l Generation of Final Statement of Accounts
based on all accounting entries of the university
l Recording and tracking of Budget and Revised
Estimates against actual expenditure
l Recording and accounting of all valuables
l Investment details and online calculation of
interest and interest accrued
l Recording of all contingent bills pertaining to
Computer Division staff examining a unit in the server room. different vendors and managing their payment
l Managing and maintaining complete details of
all fixed assets of the university

I
GNOU has taken a step towards Accounting & Finance to cater to the
modernising its management practice requirements of its headquarters, thus l Issuing, Tracking and Payment of all Employee
and IT infrastructure by making IGNOU one of the few related claims pertaining to travel
adopting an Enterprise non-IT organisations to achieve l Handling complete procurement cycle, from
Resource Planning (ERP) this feat. requisition till receiving of materials
software — ODLSoft. “Being the largest l Issuing and managing all service requests
The idea behind the new University in the world, IGNOU pertaining to maintenance, additional work, etc.
automated ERP is to boost is confronted with managing a l Maintenance of the cost of projects and its
efficiency in IGNOU by wide range of activities. Thus, timelines with resources and assets
enhancing the institutional it goes without saying that l Maintaining Personal & Job information of
performance. Financial “IGNOU IGNOU deserves the best in employee and subsequent job actions (like
resources are limited; the only deserves terms of modern management transfer, deputation, retirement, etc.)
way to improve is by the use practice and state-of-the-art l Online request submission for Housing,
of technology.
modern technology for managing its Transport, Conference Room Booking
IGNOU took the initiative management internal and external l Online request submission for Leave &
to integrate all its business practice and operations,” said Dr V.S.P. Approval process
processes in back-office l Payroll generation with details of earning
state-of-the-art Srivastav, Head, Computer & deductions
automation by way of Division, IGNOU.
implementing ERP. The technology for Complete employee life- l Online request submission for LTC, Claims
University has decentralised managing its cycle from recruitment to & approval process
account disbursing system for retirement or separation is l Board of Management, Parliament questions
internal and
all Schools of Studies and available to all IGNOU & Dispatch//Receiving of files/papers/AKS
service Divisions at its external employees in New Delhi. l Online request for Medical reimbursement
headquarters. operations.” Various benefits like leaves, l Complete online recruitment process &
“It was desired that there — Dr V.S.P. Srivastav, LTA, medical claims, loans and screening
should be an innovatively Head, Computer Division advances can be availed l Schedule and track training courses, handle
designed system to make all the online. The software has also enrollments for available course session and
accounting activities and human resources enabled online budget preparation and maintain list of trainings conducted
data operable through a single, central and automatic generation of financial l Issue of Course material from the central store
integrated database to capture all day-to-day statements (balance sheet, income & (Material Production and Distribution Division
transactions and reconcile the same expenditure and schedules). — MPDD) to students, faculty, staff, etc. and
periodically and regularly,” says Wg. Cdr. The ERP implementation had two receipt of printed study material from various
(Retd.) Arun Verma, Joint Director (ERP). phases. While Phase I included printers
The ERP, ‘PeopleSoft version 9.0,’ automation of back office processes like l Cross checking Degree/Diploma/
meets the twin objectives of achieving a HR, Administration, Purchase and Certificates/Grade Card/Marks Sheet as and
foolproof, paperless and transparent Accounting, Phase II undertook processes when required from the digitised and integrated
administration at the operational, tactical like student registration, evaluation, storage using Documentum software
and strategic levels. It enables automation student administration and specialised l Maintaining consistent live data with proper
of IGNOU’s back-office processes like processes of operating divisions like EMPC, security provisioning
Human Resources, Payroll, Purchasing, RSD and SRE.n

10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010

NEWSupdateS
‘People’s Movement’ to conserve wetlands
C
onserving wetlands should assume
the role of a ‘People’s Movement’,
so that people can lead more fuller
lives, said Minister of State for
Environment & Forests Jairam Ramesh,
while launching IGNOU’s ‘Appreciation
Programme on Sustainable Management
of Wetlands’ in New Delhi on July 22.
The programme has been developed
by IGNOU’s Chair for Sustainable
Development (CSD), headed by eminent
agricultural scientist Prof M.S.
Swaminathan.
“Most wetlands in the country are being
devoured due to more highways, sewage
and dumping grounds. The Ministry of
Environment and Forests has uploaded the
Draft guidelines for protection of wetlands
on its website. These regulations will be
notified in the next two-three months. The
Ministry is also in the process of mapping
all wetlands in the country and there are
plans to open a University on Environment
and Sustainability in the near future,”
Ramesh said.
The programme, to be delivered in online
mode, provides awareness about the
importance of wetlands, why they are
disappearing, restoration efforts and
Community Colleges need a greater push: Kiran Bedi
T
he Community College movement
needs to grow in order to ensure that
India is not overwhelmed by
unemployable youth in the next three
years,” said Dr Kiran Bedi, former IPS
officer and Founder General Secretary,
Navjyoti India Foundation.
She was delivering a lecture titled
‘Community Colleges — the Answer for
Present and Future: The Experience of
Navjyoti India Foundation,’ organised by
IGNOU on July 27.
While drawing attention to the fact that
the movement of Community Colleges has
crossed the 400 mark, Dr Bedi called for
an active and priority-based involvement of
the Government, the Industry and the
Panchayati Raj institutions.
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan
Pillai, Pro-VC Dr Latha Pillai, Dr C.K.
Ghosh, Nodal Officer, Community College
Unit (CCU) and functionaries and students
of Navjyoti were present at the lecture that
From left, Prof M.S. Swaminathan, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and Vice Chancellor
Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai at the launch of ‘Appreciation Programme on Sustainable
Management of Wetlands’ in New Delhi on July 22.
sustainable management. The programme is Prof Swaminathan added.
open to graduates from any discipline. It can According to Vice Chancellor Professor
be completed in a minimum period of one V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, “CSD has
month and a maximum of six months. emerged as a model for all the Universities
“What is needed to conserve the in the country. There is an urgent need to
environment is education, social link education with development and we
motivation and regulation. Regulation were the first Indian University to start
alone will not do the job. In this context, sustainability science as a discipline.”
the Chair is working on the launch of a The ceremony was held at the
new programme on the Biodiversity of the Electronic Media Production Centre’s
Ganges. We shall soon be launching a PG Studio-II and was telecast live to all
Programme in Sustainability Science,” the Regional Centres.n
was telecast live via
Edusat.
Speaking
about the community
development work
being done by Navjyoti
India Foundation and
its march towards
becoming an IGNOU
Community College,
Dr Bedi remarked, “We
started as a ‘Galli’ From left, Dr Kiran Bedi, CCU Nodal Officer Dr C.K. Ghosh and
school and have grown Pro-VC Dr Latha Pillai at the lecture.
into a Community
college. IGNOU has given us four a ‘People’s Movement,’ where we let the
Community Colleges and that too in a very community decide what it wants in terms
short time-frame.” of programmes of study and timing of
Calling Community Colleges a ‘People’s classes.”
Movement,’ Prof Pillai said that “We have Dr Bedi added that “Community
set up 442 Community Colleges within one colleges must take up adult literacy as
year of launching the scheme. Thousands a mandate. We must make this a
of applications for establishment of more priority area in all IGNOU Community
Community Colleges are still pending. It is Colleges.”n
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 11
NEWSupdates

Lucrative offers for hospitality learners

R
ajkumar Namdeo, a learner of
IGNOU’s Certificate Programme in
Food and Beverages Service
Operation, is a happy man.
A Class XII pass-out from Shahdol
district in Madhya Pradesh, he got enrolled
in the six-month Programme this January.
Today, he has bagged an entry-level job at
the prestigious Sayaji Hotel, a three-star
facility in Indore.
“I resumed my confidence level after
going through the extensive theory and
practical sessions during the Programme.
IGNOU has designed a state-of-the-art,
market-oriented courseware that has helped
me get my first job at the city’s best hotel,”
Sujit Desai, Head (Learning and Management), Sayaji Hotel, at a hospitality training session
says Namdeo.
with 17 IGNOU learners in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
In all, 17 students of Certificate

workshop for these MPSTDC-run hotels and resorts.

“IGNOU has designed a market-oriented learners from August 2-
courseware that has helped me get my August 9. We are open
first job at the city’s best hotel.” to recruiting youngsters
—Rajkumar Namdeo,
Student
who have completed
Certificate Programmes
as long as they are able
Programme in the tourism and hospitality to pass the psychometric test that Sayaji
sector being run by IGNOU’s Bhopal conducts,” adds Desai.
Regional Centre have got entry-level jobs IGNOU Certificate Programmes are run
and training opportunities at Sayaji Hotel. in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh
According to Sujit Desai, Sayaji Head Tourism Development Corporation
(Learning and Management), “As part of (MPTDC). The University is in talks with the
their placement drive, these IGNOU learners tourism boards of three states — Assam,
will undergo a six-month training period Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim — to begin
before they get appointed at different posts similar Programmes there.
in the food and beverages department.” The Programme comprises theory
“We conducted a week-long training classes followed by practical training at
According to Dr Harkirat Bains, Director,
School of Tourism and Hospitality Services
Management, most of the learners have
either got jobs or have set up their own
businesses. “To begin with, we assist
students in attaining a basic knowledge of
English — the foremost requirement in this
sector. Then the core training begins,” Dr
Bains adds.
B.M. Namdeo, chief general manager,
MP State Tourism Development Corporation
(MPSTDC) Ltd., says that “in the next few
years, the Indian tourism industry will
require at least 20 lakh trained
professionals. In IGNOU courses, even
higher-secondary pass students can get
enrolled and benefit.”■

92 teams at IGNOU inter-school quiz in Bengaluru

total of 92 teams, of two members Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan

A each, participated in the multi-city

inter-school general quiz contest,
‘IGNITE 2010,’ hosted by IGNOU
in Bengaluru on August 10.
Sri Kumaran’s Children Home (SKCH)
team, comprising Milind Hegde and Vikas
Kashyap, bagged the winner’s trophy and
individual trophies. Aditya Hebber and Shishir
Bhardwaj, also from SKCH, were the runners
up and received individual trophies and book
vouchers. The competition was held at
Yavanika, to create greater awareness about
IGNOU and its courses, which have a
potential to benefit millions of young Indians.
VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai and Pro-VC
Dr Latha Pillai meet the participants of
IGNITE 2010 in Bengaluru.
Pillai presented the prizes to the winners.
Dr Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor and
Dr B.S. Sudhindra, Regional Director,
Bengaluru, were also present at the
occasion. The third spot was shared by
two teams — Anurup A.K. and
Nanjundeshwara N. of Deeksha Centre for
Learning, and Arun S. and Ameya M.
Talanki of Christ Junior College.
Prithvi Hegde and P.V.S.S. Raju of
National Hillview Public School came
fourth, while Vivek Aithal K.R. and K.
Krishna Chaitanya of Deeksha Centre for
Learning bagged the fifth spot.n

12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010

NEWSupdates NEWSscan

Ramnath Goenka award

S iddharth Varadarajan, Delhi Bureau
Chief of The Hindu and a dynamic
member of the School Board of
IGNOU’s School of Journalism and New
Media Studies (SOJNMS), has received
the prestigious ‘Ramnath Goenka
Journalist of the Year Award.’
Varadarajan’s articles on the
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal became
standardised source material for those
Dr Mallika Sarabhai delivering the Silver Jubilee lecture at IGNOU Headquarters in New Delhi. who wanted an assessment of the
claims and counter-claims being made
by the supporters and its critics. The

Let art bridge the gap: Sarabhai entire IGNOU family congratulates him
on his golden accomplishment.

R
ole of Arts in society is not just endeavors to reach ‘people who can do
the icing on the cake, but on yeast, something to make the excluded the Urban Governance
said dancer-politician Dr Mallika included.’
Sarabhai while delivering the Silver Jubilee The talk also explored the ways in
lecture, titled ‘Bringing Them into the
Fold: Using the Arts to Bridge the Gap’ at
which arts can become a potent language
for empowerment — to break down walls
I GNOU has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the
All India Institute of Local Self
the Indira Gandhi National Open University of prejudice and become an agent of Government (AIILSG), Mumbai, for
headquarters in New Delhi on July 29. social change. Dr Sarabhai gave several launching a flagship Post-Graduate
“Sixty-two years after independence, examples of how she has achieved this Diploma Programme in Urban
injustice and gaps still exist in aim at her dance academy Governance (PGDUG).
our society, in fact, these gaps Darpana, through plays for PGDUG, being conducted by the
“There is a need
have broadened. We now need the underprivileged, TV faculty of Public Administration
different solutions. Art forms a to bring the rich programmes talking about discipline, School of Social Sciences,
crucial part of these solutions. and powerful empowerment of women and is open to graduates from different
What’s required is that art back into the communications targeting disciplines.
forms be integrated into the fold, as they school children. Established by For more details, please visit
society,” she said. have given up her parents Mrinalini and www.ignou.ac.in
Delivering his presidential on the country Vikram Sarabhai in 1949,
address, Vice Chancellor, Prof and retreated Darpana uses dance and the
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said, into their
ivory towers.”
arts for social change. B.Ed admission relaxed
“IGNOU is in its Silver Jubilee Talking about the ‘other,’
year, with over 30 lakh Dr Sarabhai remarked that it
students on roll. The theme of
democratisation of education that IGNOU
is the rich and the privileged who are the
‘other’ in the society today and there
I ndira Gandhi National Open
University (IGNOU) has announced
major relaxation in B.Ed admission.
follows is synchronous with the theme of is an urgent need to get them back into Prof Pushplata Tripathi, Registrar,
this lecture series — ‘Inclusion of the the mainstream. Student Evaluation Division, said
Excluded’. The lecture will be an eye “There is a need to bring the rich and that the requisite eligibility
opener for all practitioners of Art.” power ful back into the fold, as they have percentage for B.Ed Programme
Through her lecture, Dr Sarabhai given up on the countr y and retreated 2011 has been revised to 50
argued that art is the most powerful way into their ivor y towers. In fact, there is percent marks instead of 55 percent
to bring about change, whether political, no segment of the society that does not in Bachelor’s or Higher Degree from
social or personal. Speaking about her need sensitisation. IGNOU and Darpana a recognised University. For details,
encounters of using art for things which have the blueprint for transforming the kindly visit www.ignou.ac.in
are ‘not art,’ she focused on her society,” Dr Sarabhai added.■

factoids IGNOU will soon launch B.A. programmes in Lab Technology,

Medical Radiology and Medical Records Science and
Health Technology in Cooperative Medical College, Kochi.

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 13

I-DAYcelebrations

IGNOU celebrates India’s 64th I-Day

A
wave of freedom swept across the IGNOU
Headquarters in New Delhi as VC Prof V.N.
Rajasekharan Pillai unfurled the National
Flag to mark India’s 64th Independence Day on
August 15. The celebrations were marked by
cultural performances, dance programmes by
students from IGNOU creche and a play
by learners.n

(Clockwise from top) Students performing a play at the IGNOU grounds; VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai addressing people after unfurling the
tricolour; children from an IGNOU-run creche in a dance performance; and a cultural programme in progress.

Remembering Quit India Movement

R
emembering Mahatma Gandhiji’s
famous slogan ‘Do or Die’, IGNOU
paid homage to the martyrs of the
freedom struggle by
commemorating the 68th anniversary of the
Quit India Movement. A flag-hoisting
ceremony was organised by the Indira
Gandhi Centre for Freedom Struggle Studies
(IGCFSS) at the Convention Centre on
August 9.
Dr Yoganand Shastri, Delhi Vidhan Sabha
Speaker, Justice Vijender Jain, former Chief Dr Yoganand Shastri (second from left), Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker, and Shashi Bhushan
Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court and (right), Chairman, IGCFSS, unfurling the tricolour at IGNOU on August 9. (Right) Union Minister
Shashi Bhushan, Chairman, IGCFSS unfurled for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah speaking at the Secular Day function.
the national flag.
On August 8, IGCFSS and Freedom Krishnamurthy, former Election Union Minister; Bali Ram Bhagat, former Lok
Movement Memorial Committee organised a Commissioner, was the Guest of Honour. Sabha Speaker; Prof B.B. Bhattacharya,
public meeting in the campus to observe Eminent speakers at the function Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru
Secular Day. The function was inaugurated included Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for University; Major Ved Prakash, Secretary, All
by former Foreign Secretary Romesh New and Renewable Energy; Ram Naresh India Congress Committee (AICC); Rajendra
Bhandari. Jagannath Pahadia, Haryana Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Singh, former minister from Madhya
Governor, was the Chief Guest and G.V.G. Pradesh; Satya Prakash Malaviya, former Pradesh; and Prof K.R. Srivathsan, Pro-VC.n

14 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010

REGIONALroundup
Sikkim govt to offer skill development courses
I
GNOU’s Institute for Vocational
Education and Training (IIVET),
Shillong, has signed a Memorandum of
Collaboration (MoC) with the State
Institute of Capacity Building (SICB),
Department of Personnel Administrative
Reforms and Training, Government of
Sikkim, to offer vocational and skill
development programmes to unemployed
youth in the region.
Basic computer training for N-E youth
Students undergoing computer literacy training at a Common Services Centre in Meghalaya.
I
GNOU Institute for Vocational
Education and Training (IIVET),
Shillong, in collaboration with Basix,
a new generation livelihood promotion
institution, has provided ‘Basic
Computer’ training to students from rural
areas of Meghalaya through various
Common Services Centres (CSCs).
The training is part of an MoU signed
between IIVET and Basix on December
4, 2009. According to the MoU, the
institutes had to deliver vocational
training on Computer Literacy, Tailoring
and Grocery, Dairy Management,
Electrical Wiring, etc, through 60 CSCs
factoids IGNOU has started agricultural programmes at the Institute of Agricultural
Sciences, BHU. Some of the programmes are Diploma in Value-Added
Products from Fruits and Vegetables and Diploma in Dairy Technology.
As per the MoC signed on July 16,
2010 at the IGNOU Headquar ters in
New Delhi, the following three
programmes will be launched initially —
Cer tificate Programme in Housekeeping,
Cer tificate Programme in Front Office
Management and Cer tificate
Programme in Food and Beverages.
IGNOU and SICB will also introduce
programmes in the following areas:
— 50 in Meghalaya and 10 in Sikkim.
As on date, 72 students have finished
the 45-day computer training in CSCs
I
located in the following areas: Lawbah,
Lawsohtun, Mawlong, Mawkyrwat,
Shella, Shangpung, Nongbah,
Laitryngew, Tura, Laitkor and Phulbari.
The training has benefitted many
students, especially those from rural
areas. After completing the training, at
least 25 candidates have become
eligible to apply for jobs in the Border
Security Force Department as computer
operators. Five students have started
working in local computer shops.n
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010 15
medicinal plants; computer hardware;
computer software; cultural and
traditional craft; paper bags and book
binding; electrical wiring, masonry,
painting and carpentry; foreign languages
(Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, English);
landscaping; tourist guide; eco village;
cooking and catering; beautician; cultural
tourism; cultural craft; and wood
carving/bamboo craft.n
Dr Poongothai Aladi, MoS for IT, with VC Prof
Pillai after the signing of an MoU.
ICT training for
Tamil Nadu teachers
GNOU has initiated ICT training of
teachers in Tamil Nadu in collaboration
with the ICTACT, the ICT capacity-building
academy under the Ministry of Information
Technology, Tamil Nadu.
Dr Poongothai Aladi, Minister of State for
Information Technology, Vice Chancellor Prof
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai; Lakshmi
Narayanan, Chairman, ICTACT and Dr
M. Shanmugam, Regional Director, Madurai,
were present during the event.
The Regional Centres in Tamil Nadu, with
Madurai RC as the Nodal Centre, are
coordinating the programme.n
ONcampus MILEsTONEs
Dr Rausaria appointed new DEC Director 24-hr Gyan Darshan
D r R.R. Rausaria has been
appointed new Director of
IGNOU’s Distance Education
In addition to the already
continued initiatives of DEC,
his main priorities would be to
IGNOU, Navy sign MoU
September, 2000: The IGNOU–Navy Educational
Project is initiated by signing of an MOU with
Council (DEC). Prior to joining diversify the activities of the Indian Navy on September 23, 2000.
DEC, Dr Rausaria worked as Council in the following thrust
Registrar (I/c) in the Material areas: development of lVice Chancellor Prof Abdul Waheed Khan

Production and Distribution Programmes, specific norms leaves IGNOU for Commonwealth of Learning
(COL), Canada
Division (MPDD). and guidelines; strengthening
Earlier, he worked as the research activities of ODL lMinistry of External Affairs offers 100
Director, Directorate of Dr R.R. Rausaria. system — both systemic and scholarships for the learners of South Asian
Distance Education, discipline-based research; countries to enable them to carry out their
Kurukshetra University. He has also programme-specific assessment and studies.
served in the Distance Education Council accreditation; development of norms for
lIGNOU starts a scheme to offer two to four
(DEC) as Deputy Director since 1994. strengthening of Student Support Services;
short-term Visiting Fellowships to Distance
A recipient of ‘Alexander von Humboldt use of technology for enhancing the reach Education Professionals working in Asian Open
Fellowship’ from Germany, Dr Rausaria of programmes in remote and distant areas; Universities for carrying out a small project
has also been a faculty member of and establishment of Centre for Internal connected with the promotion and development
National Institute of Technology, Srinagar. Quality Assurance in all ODL Institutions.n of Distance Education. For 2000, four
professionals from Hong Kong Open University,
Payame Noor University, Tehran; Open University
Six-year-old Divya is IGNOU’s youngest student of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Open University
are awarded the fellowships.

A t six, children are usually

expected to study primary
school subjects. But Divya
Prakash Pandey is special. The six-
year-old has become the youngest
student in the Indira Gandhi Divya Prakash. in craft and design. He also
National Open University (IGNOU),
and perhaps the youngest in any university.
Having a keen interest in the world of
clay and designs, Divya enrolled
himself in Certificate Programme
in Craft and Design (Pottery)
lA new Regional Centre is established in
Ranchi, the capital of newly-created Jharkhand
on EIL for construction of second phase of
(CCDP). campus construction.
Divya dreams of doing wonders
Gyan Darshan goes 24-hour
January, 2001: Gyan Darshan becomes
wishes to design and develop the
a 24-hour channel.
famous magic trick ‘Water Of India’
through his world of clay.n

[ ]
Not to be
Missed
Watch a special programme on
‘Water Resources: Hydrologic
Cycle and Indian Rainfall’ at
HIGHLIGHTS 11 am on August 23. A near-
perfect rainfall in the past few
days has boosted crop
WEDNESDAY FRIDAY SUNDAY
planting, thus raising hopes of
August 18 August 20 August 22 a considerable increase in the
07:30: Pariveshiye 08:30: Aadhunik 08:30: IGNOU: country’s total crop output.
Addhyan Mein Bharatiya Sahitya OET-031, Humsafar
11:30: Phir Ek Bharatendu 11:30: North East
Khamoshi 10:30: NCERT/CIET: Kaleidoscope/ Women
12:00: Bhasha Sec. & Sr. Sec.:Maths Empowerment: When WEDNESDAY SATURDAY MONDAY
Mandakini (Sanskrit): for Class – XII: Deriva- water Breathes Again August 25 August 28 August 30
Vedic Maths- 11, tive as Rate of Change 17:00: United Nations: 17:00: United Nations: 08:30: IGNOU: 08:30: IGNOU:
Prakrit Part- 15 13:00: Science/ An Experiment to Save Malaria Battle of Brahmand Ki Khoj Disorder of
18:30: NIOS: Environment/Health: The World the Merzoites, 12:00: Bhasha Thoughts
1. Skeleton, The Story of A River 18:30:NIOS: 1. Com- Life Story Mandakini:Vedic 12:00: Bhasha
Muscles & 18:30: NCERT-CIET- munication 2. Algorithm 21:00: IGNOU: Maths, Prakrit Part-24 Mandakini (Sanskrit):
Movement Primary: Natak Khelna & Flow Chart (Hindi) DPE-Adhigam Mein 13.00: Science/ Vedic Maths -2
2. Statistics Aasan Hai (Baten 22.30: BROU: Project Sampreshan Ka Environment/Health: 18:30: NIOS: Simple
(Hindi) Kahani Ki) Report Mahatva Brahmand Ki Khoj Machines (Hindi)

16 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | AUGUST 15, 2010