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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 20112
The 2007 IGNOU scheme of providing University Education opportunities to maximum
number of eligible students by making optimal utilisation of the existing infrastructure
and intellectual capabilities of the best affiliated and autonomous colleges through
the open university and distance education systems proved to be a successful and
sustainable intervention for enhancing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher
education in the country. The “Convergence Scheme”, as we call it, is a partnership
between the nation-wide collegiate education system and the Indira Gandhi National Open
University for sharing academic resources, for enhancing the quality and quantity of
education delivery. During the last three years, 20,798 Graduates and 17,080 Post-
Graduates completed the programmes successfully. The Scheme has an enrollment of over
7,000 learners in the Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme, thus enabling school dropouts
to get back into the mainstream of higher education.
The 480 colleges that participated in the scheme represent the best
in the country. Some of them are Colleges of Excellence identified by
the University Grants Commission. The Colleges lent the services of
about 5,000 teachers without conflict to their regular work. Classrooms,
computer lab, library and laboratory facilities were given to these
additionally admitted students in extra hours on working days and during
weekends and holidays.
The students under this scheme get the complete set of study
material from IGNOU. The College is given freedom to increase the
number of teaching hours depending upon the nature of the course and
the requirements of the students. The students also get a campus feel and fair opportunity
to interact with the regular students and teachers in the college. They also participate in
extra-curricular, social and cultural activities in the college campus. Assessment,
evaluation and result declaration are in the IGNOU Semester-Course-Credit pattern.
The Convergence Scheme has the advantage of availing the best features of the
conventional classroom teaching and the distinct benefits of the Self-learning-centered
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system. In this context, it is worth noting that in the
preparation of the Self-Instructional Material for the ODL system, the expertise of a large
number of teachers in the conventional, regular mode Universities and colleges is being
used. In such a context, it is all the more relevant that these teachers also get an
opportunity to deliver these educational material to more aspiring students with
appropriate backing of the required classroom teaching, practicals, project work and
significant campus presence. This is a clear case of optimal utilisation of the state-of-the-
art infrastructure and the rich and scarce academic resources for enhancing the quality
and reach of higher education in the country.
The scheme also gives an opportunity for the large number of teachers in our colleges
to get exposed to the Open and Distance Teaching-Learning technologies. When all the
Universities and Colleges get broadband connectivity and other educational technology
facilities through the flagship schemes of the Government, like the National Mission of
Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) and National
Knowledge Network (NKN), this experience with the ODL Technology-Enabled teaching and
learning acquired through this innovative Convergence Scheme of IGNOU, adds to the much
required ICT capacity-building of teachers.
This scheme proposed by IGNOU in the 11th Plan has been accepted by the Planning
Commission, even though the implementation details are yet to be finalised. Now this
scheme is an exclusive project of the Indira Gandhi National Open University and has been
running successfully for the last three years. Recently, a national-level expert committee
has reviewed the entire scheme in terms of its impact on the Gross Enrollment Ratio,
economic sustainability and quality. The results are really promising. While appreciating
the extra efforts taken by the Principals and Teachers of these Colleges in working
together with IGNOU for the success of this Scheme, I would request the Planning
Commission, MHRD and the State Higher Education Departments to institutionalise this
activity as a major quality intervention in higher education.
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CONTENTS
‘Raise GER to 30%’
Golden Stars
CONVOCATION
ADDRESS:
Enrollment in higher
education should
expand to 40-45 mn
from the mere 13
mn today, says
Union HRD Minister
Shri Kapil Sibal
RC CONVOCATION........10
CSD INITIATIVES.........13
NEWS UPDATES..........14
REGIONAL UPDATES...15
MILESTONES...............16
GYAN DARSHAN..........16
8 GOLDMEDALLISTS: These
meritorious learners stand
testimony to the impeccable
impact the Open and Distance
Learning mode has had on India’s
education system
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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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011 3
22NDCONVOCATION
When the campus was all smiles...
For most learners, convocation
means bidding adieu to the
institution. But things were
different at the 22nd Convocation
ceremony of the Indira Gandhi
National Open University, held at
its Maidan Garhi campus in New
Delhi on April 2.
Holding their head high in
flowing black robes, learners of all
hues — middle-aged executives,
proud degree-holding mothers and
young 20-somethings — remained
every bit true to IGNOU’s mantra
of Age No Bar, Place No Bar, Pace
No Bar and infused great energy
into the otherwise quiet campus.
For most of them, the
Convocation was a step towards
acquiring a higher qualification
from IGNOU.
The University roads, bedecked
with flowers and banners, brilliantly
complemented the sea of students.
The faces of each and every
member of the IGNOU family
appropriately reflected the
ecstatic as well as proud mood in
the University. The mind-boggling
numbers notwithstanding, the
Convocation was testimony to
great planning and execution with
an interactive exhibition, tea and
snacks stalls, and above all the
air-conditioned pandal seating
thousands.
It made for a great
shutterbug moment with the
faculty, gold medallists and
award winners posing for
photographs. The event ended
with lunch for the faculty and a
warm high tea party for the gold
medallists.
They say ‘A perfect end to a
great start’. But at IGNOU, it was
just a sunny beginning leading to an
even more brighter future ahead!�
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4
22nd Convocation
In just four years, IGNOU has, in the
face of stif f competition from both
public and private institutions, almost
trebled the number of students on its
rolls from 1.1 million to about 3.5
million,” emphasised Vice Chancellor
Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai while
inaugurating the University’s 22nd
Convocation Ceremony on April 2.
Addressing a large and diverse
gathering at the University’s Headquarters
in New Delhi and the 51 Regional Centres
that joined the ceremony via video-
conferencing, Prof Pillai said that
flexibility and innovation are the keystones
of IGNOU’s achievements and its
emergence as the world’s largest
university — a fact confirmed by a
Wikipedia listing of 61 top universities in
the world by student enrollment.
“The IGNOU success story has been
made possible due to its huge national
and international reach, wide range of
academic programmes, flexible entry
qualifications, diverse learner groups,
walk-in admissions and examinations,
and modular programmes based on a
credit system, among others,” he said,
while welcoming Chief Guest Shri Kapil
Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource
Development; Guest of Honour Prof P.T.
Manoharan, eminent scientist and the Sir
C.V. Raman Chair Professor at IGNOU;
Guests of Honour at the 51 Regional
Centres across the country; Pro-Vice
Chancellors; Members of the Board of
Management, Academic Council and the
Planning Board; Directors of the 21
Schools of Study; gold medallists in their
respective fields of study; recipients of
2,15,000 learnersreceived Degrees,Diplomas andCertificates and 78 meritoriousstudents werehonoured with gold medals at the22nd Convocation,organised at theDelhi Headquartersand 51 RegionalCentres
VC Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai and Guest of Honour Prof. P.T. Manoharan along with Pro-VCs and IGNOU staff at the Convocation Ceremony.
Convocation Day
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011
22nd
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degrees, diplomas and certificates;
IGNOU faculty and mediapersons.
Over 2.15 lakh learners received
Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates at
the 22nd Convocation, telecast live on
Gyan Darshan TV channel and broadcast
by over 30 Gyan Vani radio channels.
While delivering the Convocation
Address via videoconferencing, Sibal said
he has set his sights on increasing the
country’s Gross Enrollment Ratio to
global standards by 2020. “I am setting
sights to raise it to the global average by
2020, which, by then, will be around 30
percent. It will mean that the enrollment
should expand to 40-45 million from the
mere 13 million today,” he said.
Prof Manoharan delivered the Guest of
Honour address and emphasised upon the
importance of science education.
The golden moment came when 78
learners were honoured with gold medals.
Apart from this, six gold medals were
awarded in special categories like Best
Research Paper, Best Service Centre, Best
Overseas Partner Institution, etc.; two cash
awards of `10,000 each (Commonwealth
Educational Media Centre for Asia, or
CEMCA, and the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
award); Prof. Ram Reddy Memorial Gold
Medal award and Prof. Grover Award (for
the best among the physically-handicapped
meritorious students), were presented by
Prof Manoharan.
Calling the Silver Jubilee Year an
opportunity for introspection on the events
and experiences of the past 25 years of the
existence of IGNOU, the VC said that the
objective now is to consolidate the existing
activities and move towards introducing
new and innovative projects.
“IGNOU’s approach will be to design
learning and training modules, courses
and programmes through which learners
can pay skills providers directly, and
make the knowledge and skill acquired
bankable through testing and
certification, converting them into
diplomas, higher diplomas, associate
degrees and degrees,” Prof Pillai said,
adding that the University continues to
usher in innovative initiatives and
combinations such as Expansion in On-
Campus Programmes; Major Strides
through Community Colleges; Multi-
modal Education Delivery; Vocational
Education and Training; International
Collaborative Programmes in the
Disability Sector; Application of ICTs in
Education and Training; and On-Demand
examinations, among others.
Prof Pillai also highlighted the
activities of the various Schools, Centres,
Divisions, Chairs of Study and Units of the
University. “In the past four years, IGNOU
has been able to reach out to multitudes
of learners because of our ability to forge
unconventional and rewarding alliances.
The University has collaborated with
public and private institutions in
education at the state and national
levels, as well as other sectors such as
technology, health, IT, management and
science. Fruitful collaborations have been
achieved in the social sector as well.
Such collaborations have enabled the
University to optimally use state-of-the-
art facilities available with these
institutions that would have otherwise
remained under-utilised. Collaborations
have enabled the University to reach the
unreached, and take education to the
doorsteps of every learner,” Prof Pillai
remarked.
As part of the initiatives to promote
GER, IGNOU has identified 120 districts
with GER between 3.0 and 7.0 (excluding
8 districts having no higher education
setup), where the University can tap the
prospective learners in the age group of
18-23 (the age group that contributes
towards enhancing GER in higher
education), he added.
In the skill development sector, certain
measures have been suggested. These
are: access and equity to the
stakeholders in general and in the
Educationally Backward Districts (EBD) in
particular; facilitation of an inter face
among academicians and faculties and
the grassroot-level craftspersons and
workers active in EBDs; implementation
of the models of integrated education and
equipping students to face challenges of
the global world, the Vice Chancellor said.
“IGNOU has a key role in creating 500
million certified technicians and skilled
workers by 2020. In this context, 2010-
2020 has been declared as the ‘Decade of
Innovation’ by the Government. IGNOU,
with its country-wide network of Study
Centres, has the greatest potential in the
country to address the issue of skill deficit
in Indian youth,” Prof Pillai concluded.
The University also organised an
exhibition representing 21 Schools of
Study. The highlights of the exhibition
were stalls from various NGOs/partner
institutions.�
5IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011
2,15,000 learners received Degrees,Diplomas and Certificates
44,926 received Bachelor’s Degree
20,775 received Master’s Degree
59,042 received Diplomas
90,618 received Certificates
3 received Doctor of Philosophy Degrees
78 received Gold Medals for toppingtheir respective fields of study
IN FIGURES
HALL OF FAME: Some of the gold
medallists at the Convocation ceremony.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 20116
CONVOCATION
ADDRESS The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)
in higher education is presently
hovering at a mere 13 percent in
our country, 10 percent below the
world average. I’m setting sights
to raise it to the global average by 2020,
which, by then, will be around 30 percent.”
“This means that enrollment in higher
education should expand to 40-45 million
from the mere 13 million today,” stressed
Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human
Resource Development, while delivering the
Convocation Address at the 22nd
Convocation Ceremony held at the IGNOU
Headquarters in New Delhi on April 2.
How to achieve this mammoth yet
achievable task of 30 percent GER?
“Via ‘Distance Education’. It’s
becoming increasingly popular as
economic forces encourage, and new
technologies facilitate, its spread. The
convergence of communications and
computing technologies is rewriting the
possibilities for distance education, both in
terms of capabilities and cost.”
“Distance education has become popular
because it offers people from rural, working
class communities access to higher
education. We are targeting an enrollment
of at least seven million students, with a
majority from the disadvantaged sections
and locations, in the next few years,” the
Union Minister added.
The “new” demand for higher education
Enrollment inhigher educationshould expand to40-45 million fromthe mere 13 milliontoday, says UnionHRD Minister ShriKapil Sibal in hisConvocationAddress
Hon’ble Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal, delivering the Convocation Address via videoconferencing.
‘Raise GER to 30%’
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in India has come mainly from two groups
— a “rising” lower-middle class and
women. These sections will continue to
fuel demand for higher education and will
be fighting for more places to provide
quality education, he added.
“Open and Distance Learning must,
apart from access, also provide quality
education, not only in the matter of
academic material, but also in the field of
skill development. Education is not just the
absorption of knowledge. It is important to
create an environment and a framework
through which acquisition of knowledge
and skills go hand in hand, thus
empowering our young men and women to
use that knowledge for productive
activities.”
“If we allow Distance Education to be
used as an effective and alternative tool to
formal education, the horizons of Distance
Education and Open Educational
Resources will expand exponentially,” he
added.
On the use of new technologies in the
ODL system, he said: “We need to invest
much more in these technologies and
develop new teaching methodologies,
which will enable us access to complex
Educational Resources necessary for
enhancing excellence in the field of
Distance Education. The absence of
adequate faculty, both at the tertiary level
can well be compensated not only through
Distance Learning Programmes, but also
through interactive teaching, where
technology is an appropriate enabler.”
Congratulating the graduating class of
the year 2011, Shri Sibal concluded: “Young
minds like you have a great responsibility
on your shoulders. I would like all of you to
see yourself as agents of change for a New
India. The goal of capturing ‘knowledge
leadership’ for India is realisable in your
lifetime. You are graduating at the most
appropriate time for shaping such a
knowledge-driven India. You can make this
dream a reality. To achieve this, you have to
follow a few simple, but profound principles.
That is, never compromise on excellence.
Never give up. And convert every adversity
into opportunity.”�
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011 7
1. Bansant Kumar, SOSS, Patna2. Shiv Kumar Jha, SOE, Patna3.Sandeep Kumar Pathak, SOCE, Ranchi4.Shyam Sundar Yadav, SOMS, Delhi 15.Puja Sharma, SOMS, Khanna6. Sucharita Parija, SOCIS, Bhubaneswar7. Rajkumar, SOMS, Delhi 18.Alia Hamed Ali, SOH, International9.Wondwosen Dejene Amare, SOSS, International
10.Pushpa Kumari, SOH, Ranchi11.Har Singh, SOSS, Delhi 212.Sheetu Raina, SOSS, Jammu13.Beshir Shemsu Mohammed, SOSS, International14.Mandakini Kumari, SOSS, Ranchi15.Syed Shakeel Ul Rehman, SOSW, Srinagar16.Satnam Singh, SOSS, Jammu17. Mr. Arvind Balasubramanian, SOTHSM, International18.Ramesh Kumar, SOITS, Lucknow19.Amina Nooriya Vayal Parambath, SOH, International 20.Monika Gupta, SOCIS, Delhi 221.Ravpreet Singh, SOMS, Khanna22.Divyadevi, SOE, Hyderabad23.Ujjwal Grover, SOE, Lucknow24.Ruchi Mehta, SOE, Delhi 125.Akansha Gupta, SOTHSSM, Delhi 126.Smriti Sinha, SOSS, Patna27.Vidya Vijay Kadam, SOHS, Pune28.Kalpana Tehlan, SOS, Delhi 129.Shaila Ali, SOSW, Srinagar30.K. Gouri, SOET, Bhubaneswar31.Veera Gloria, SOTHSSM, International32.Khushboo Kapoor, SOJNMS, Jaipur33.S. Harish Kumar, SOEDS, Trivandrum34.Mohamed Fajer B., SOCIS, Cochin35.Shashank Bhushan Singh, SOHS, Bhopal36.Kiran, SOE, Delhi 137. Ishwar Mahadeo Bharti, SOSS, Pune38.Kriti Shrivastava, SOS, Bhopal39.Bishwa Raj Bajracharya, SOMS, International40.Shefalika Ghosh Samaddar, SOITS, Delhi 241.Vishnuchand Zampani, SOHS, Hyderabad42.Dr. Veena Doda, SOHS, Delhi 243.Thilakavathi R., SOMS, Chennai44.Sneha Sayani, SOMS, Hyderabad45.S. Raghavan, SOMS, Bangalore46.Saurabh Aggarwal, SOL, Khanna47.Sanjeev Saxena, SOET, Bhopal48.Rashmi Mishra, SOHS, Delhi 249.B. Pallavi, SOMS, Hyderabad50.Samta Sharma, SOMS, Jaipur51. Gourav Sharma, SOVET, Delhi 152.Pratibha Kumari, SOCE, Darbhanga53.Latha S., SOE, Cochin54.Ajay Prasad, SOVET, Delhi 155.Sarvanand Tukaram, SOSW, Panaji56.Rama Aggarwal, SOTST, Delhi 157.Rakkeeb K., SOJNMS, Cochin58.Nitha K. Thomas, SOVET, Cochin59.Maneesh Venugopal, SOVET, Cochin60.Bhavika Mahendrabhai, SOET, Ahmedabad61.R. Rajasekar, SOET, Delhi 162.Uma Shankar Sharma, SOSW, Aligarh63.Hema V., SOVET, Bangalore64.Narayanan V., SOET, Cochin65.Sandipkumar B. Turakhiya, SOA, Ahmedabad66. Ashok Kumar, SOET, Dehradun67.Dhanalakshmi T., SOCE, Chennai68.Subhash Chand Sharma, SOET, Bangalore69.Vinay S., SOVET, Delhi 170.Rakesh Singh, SOMS, Army71.Shreya Khatri, SOMS, Convergence Unit72. Akshay Kumar, SOA, Aligarh73.Anjli Kaushal, SOHS, Delhi 274.Chanchal Jaggi, SOCE, Khanna75.Raju Saw, SOE, Ranchi76.Dinesh Kumar, SOVET, Delhi 177.Lokesh Kumar Dewangan, SOTHSM, Raipur78.Hari Pal Singh, SOA, Lucknow
Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister
for Human Resource Development
(HRD), launching the newly-
designed OpenLetter website
(www.ignou.ac.in/openletter) as
Vice Chancellor Prof. V.N.
Rajasekharan Pillai looks on.
Open Letter, IGNOU’s monthly
newsletter, is the medium through
which the University
communicates with all its
stakeholders — from faculty,
students and administrative staff,
to officials of the HRD Ministry and
other academics and experts who
contribute to IGNOU’s initiatives,
both in India and abroad.
Sibal launches OpenLetter website
Gold Medallists
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 20118
MEET IGNOU’S
22NDCONVOCATION
1: Alia Hamed Ali of Jeddah receiving the Gold Medal for topping the Master of Arts (English)
programme.
2: Amina Nooriya from Riyadh receiving the Gold Medal for topping the B.A. (English)
programme.
3: Arvind Balasubramanian of Dubai receiving the Gold Medal for topping the M.A. in Tourism
Management programme.
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INTERNATIONAL TALENT
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011 9
Amidst the sea of successful students who received Degrees, Diplomas and
Certificates at IGNOU’s 22nd Convocation, there were some faces which stood
out. They were easily distinguishable by the glittering gold medals that adorned
their necks. We bring you some meritorious learners who stand testimony to
the impeccable impact the Open and Distance Learning mode has had on India’s
education system.
It’s not new for Alia Hamed Ali of Jeddah. The mother of two has been a recipient of
IGNOU’s gold medal in Bachelor of Arts (English) programme in 2008. This year, she was
rewarded the honour for Master of Arts (English) programme. “After receiving two gold
medals, I am motivated to get a third one. IGNOU has provided immense support to
education, particularly girl education, in Jeddah. Once you have the will and
determination, everything else seems easy,” says Alia.
Amina Nooriya of Riyadh is speechless after being awarded the gold medal for B.A.
(English). “IGNOU’s education is ageless. Anybody can fulfill their dream of completing
higher education at this university,” says Amina.
When Ashok Kumar, a clerk in the Indian Army, marched to the podium to receive
his medal for Diploma in Civil Engineering, he knew that his life has changed. “After
doing this course, I have been promoted to the post of Junior Engineer (Civil) in the
Indian Army. I want to pursue more programmes from IGNOU,” says the 31-year-old.
The success of these students will surely go a long way in conveying to others that
Open Distance Learning has the potential to produce future leaders.�
’S GOLDEN STARS
Army personnel Ashok Kumar receiving the
Gold Medal for topping the Diploma in Civil
Engineering programme.
Armyman Subhash Chand Sharma receiving the Gold Medal for topping
the Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering programme.
AT THE FRONTLINES
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 201110
RCs JOIN THE
CELEBRATIONS
22NDCONVOCATION
On April 2, the University’s
Convocation Day, 2,15,000 students
received Degrees, Diplomas and
Certificates at the University
Headquarters in New Delhi and 51 Regional
Centres (RC) across the country, which joined
the ceremony via video-conferencing.
Guest of Honour Prof P.T. Manoharan
presented the Best Regional Centre Award to
representatives from RC Cochin and
RC Shillong.
RC Madurai held the ceremony at KLN
College of Engineering. Around 300 learners
who secured distinction were awarded
degrees by the Guest of Honour Prof S.
Sudalaimuthu, Vice Chancellor, Alagappa
University. In his address, Prof Sudalaimuthu
emphasised on the need for quality distance
education to increase the present
enrollment in the Higher Education sector
from 12 percent to 20 percent by the year
2020. He further informed that IGNOU has
an edge over other institutions by way of
providing technology enabled learning
through various means of Information and
Communication technology.
Dr P.S. Krishnan, Director, Aeronautical
Development Establishment (ADE), Defence
R&D Organisation (DRDO) Ministry of Defence,
Govt. of India, was the Guest of Honour at RC
Bangalore. Over 700 learners collected their
Degrees/Diplomas/ Certificates at the
convocation, held at Kovempu Kalakshetra, BIT
Campus, Bangalore.
RC Srinagar organised the convocation
ceremony at the Government College for
Women, Srinagar. Chief Guest Prof Abdul Wahid
Qureshi, Vice Chancellor, Central University,
Kashmir, said that IGNOU has provided learners
a chance to explore a diverse range of
subjects. He also congratulated Shaila Ali and
Syed Shakeel-ul-Rehaman of Srinagar, who
received Gold Medals at IGNOU Headquarters
in New Delhi. RC Srinagar awarded
Degrees/Diplomas/ Certificates to 1,904
eligible students.
Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Higher
Education, Labour and Employment, Govt. of
J&K, graced the occasion at RC Jammu. He
lauded the initiative of IGNOU to reach the rural
and tribal areas, low literacy areas, physically
challenged, jail inmates and government and
non-government sectors where education
through conventional system was not
possible for many reasons. A total of
1,167 students were eligible for the award
of Degrees/Diplomas/ Certificates at RC
Jammu.
While addressing the gathering at RC
Nagpur, Chief Guest Dr Vilas Sapkal,
Vice Chancellor, Nagpur University,
said, “Distance education has made a
great impact in our education system.
Internationalisation of education is an
important consideration for every
country.”
In his Convocation Address, Jnanpith
award-winning poet O.N.V. Kurup, who
was the Chief Guest at RC
Thiruvananthapuram, said, “An IGNOU
degree holds greater value, as the
University caters to learners from each and every
part of the country. The purpose of education is
to make one a better human being.
So those who win
IGNOU degrees in
science, technology
or humanities, must
pose better human
values”.
Congratulating the
graduating students at
RC Kohima, Chief
Guest R. Tohanba, Par-
liamentary Secretary
for Information & Public
Relations and Econom-
ics & Statistics, Naga-
land, lauded the efforts of
the IGNOU fraternity for
the achievements made in
the field of Distance Edu-
cation in the country. “Your success will convey
to others that Open Distance Learning has suc-
cessfully equipped you to face the future,” he
told the learners.�
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 201111
It was a golden opportunity for students
who wanted a genuine career counselling.
The Directors of various schools of IGNOU
were present at the stalls of their schools,
answering students’ queries about career
progression.
Each school, from Humanities to Health
Sciences and Foreign Languages, displayed
its various programmes, and ensured full
faculty presence.
Not just the schools, but some Regional
Centres too participated, and were there to
answer questions. The various Divisions and
Centres were also present in full force. Also on
display were products made by students at
various centres under special initiatives.
Another counter displayed handicrafts work
produced by inmates of Tihar Jail.
EXHIBITION AREA
Har Singh, a student of Master’s in
Library and Information Science
from School of Social Sciences
(SOSS), who received a gold medal, is
working as a Semi-Professional Assis-
tant (SPA) at IGNOU’s Chandigarh Re-
gional Centre. “Joining IGNOU
completely changed my life. I earned
Certificate in ICT from School of Com-
puter and Information Sciences before
joining the Bachelor’s Programme in
Library and Information Science from
SOSS. IGNOU course material also
helped me clear UGC-NET exam in the
first attempt.” Singh told OpenLetter.
‘IGNOU CHANGED MY LIFE’
1: A learner receiving a degree from Prof. S. Sudalaimuthu, ViceChancellor, Alagappa University, at the Convocation Ceremony held atRC Madurai. 2: A learner receiving a degree from Prof. A. Lakshminath, ViceChancellor, Chanakya National Law University, Patna, at theConvocation Ceremony held at RC Patna.3: Learners watching the Convocation Address by Chief Guest Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development,at RC Madurai. 4: Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Higher Education, Labour andEmployment, Govt. of J&K, with learners at Regional Centre Jammu.5: Prof. Devang V. Khakhar, Director, IIT-Mumbai, delivering thekeynote address at the Convocation Ceremony at RC Mumbai.
2
4
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 201112
THE ACHIEVERS
22NDCONVOCATION
Where there is a will, there is a way. Five learners proved this saying by winning themost prestigious awards at the Convocation Ceremony, thus proving that IGNOU, withits unique blend of ODL and On-Campus modes of education, is quenching the thirst ofknowledge of thousands of students across the country, as well as abroad
Mohammad Saderuddin (left), an M.Com. student from Kolkata, and Love Ashish Sharma from Delhi, receiving the ‘Prof. Grover Cash Award for the BestAmong the Differently-Abled Meritorious Students.’ “IGNOU has made life so much simpler for someone like me, who cannot attend regular classes. I cannow consider myself a part of the mainstream of society,” says Saderuddin, who now plans to pursue a Ph.D. from IGNOU.
Shaila Ali from Srinagar receiving the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam CashAward of `10,000 for the ‘Best Student in Bachelor's in Social WorkProgramme.’
Sucharita Parija fromBhubaneswar receiving theCEMCA Cash Award of `10,000 for the ‘Best Female Student in any Degree Programme Related to Information andCommunication Technology.’
Satnam Singh from Jammu receiving the ‘Prof Ram Reddy Memorial Medal Award’ for
highest aggregate marks in any Master's DegreeProgramme in Social Sciences.
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An out-of-the-box thinking, like
redirecting city sewer lines to a
treatment plant first and then let it
mix with the river water, can save
the Ganges from extensive pollution.
These concerned words came from
Dr D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for
Human Resource Development, while
launching the online ‘Appreciation
Programme on Sustainable Management of
Ganga — A Scientific Approach’ at the
University campus in New Delhi on April 1.
“Sustainability of the Ganga is something
that not even a single citizen is unaware of.
We are fortunate to contribute in the
government’s activity of Ganga Action Plan
and launch this online programme for
increasing the awareness,” said VC Prof V.N.
Rajasekharan Pillai.
“The industrial waste, waste water
emanating from slums, religious mass
bathings and an indiscriminate use of
fertilisers are behind the pollution rise in
Ganga river,” Dr Purandeswari added.
“The Appreciation Programme would help
develop major, inter-disciplinary activities of
national relevance. This programme would
strengthen the ongoing government
supported research programmes, activities
of NGOs, industry and professional societies
and the implementing agencies,” said
Dr Manju Sharma, former secretary,
Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
“We should take services of NSS
volunteers and universities situated along
the banks of the river for its ecological
development. The ‘Sustainability Audit’
Programme aims to teach the learners an
audit system to maintain the green,”
emphasised Prof M.S. Swaminathan,
eminent agricultural scientist.�
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011 13
CSDINITIATIVES
The School of Extension and
Development Studies (SOEDS) and
Chair for Sustainable Development
(CSD), IGNOU, have launched an
online Leadership Programme on Himalayan
Ecosystems (LPHECO) for scientists and
policymakers working in the areas of
agriculture, rural development, environmental
science and sustainable development.
While launching the programme, Dr Karan
Singh, Member of Parliament, emphasised on
the spiritual, ecological and environmental
aspects of the Himalayas. “Unless there is
involvement from Nepal, Bhutan, China, state
governments of the Indian Himalayan region
and Panchayati Raj institutions, there will be
no concrete step taken towards the
conservation of the Himalayas,” he said.
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan
Pillai said, “These programmes should aim
at advancing scientific knowledge, evolving
integrated management strategies,
demonstrating their efficacy for
conservation of natural resources and
ensuring environmentally-sound development
in the entire Indian Himalayan Region.”
Noted agricultural scientist and CSD
Chair Professor at IGNOU, Prof M.S.
Swaminathan, underlined the key role that
leadership from young scholars could play in
saving the Himalayas and subsequently
transforming them from ‘Bleeding
Himalayas’ to ‘Greening Himalayas’.
The duration of the programme is
minimum one month and maximum six
months. Admissions will be available
throughout the year.�
VC Prof. Pillai, Dr. Karan Singh and Prof. M.S. Swaminathan at the launch of the programme.
The CSD has entered into a pact
with the Salim Ali Centre for
Ornithology and Natural History
(SACON), an organisation under the
Ministry of Environment and Forests,
to offer programmes in Environmental
Impact Assessment and Ornithology.
MOU WITH SACON
CSD Programme on resurrecting Ganges
Dr. D. Purandeswari, MoS for Human Resource Development, launching the Appreciation Programme.
For more details about the CSD programmes, log on to www.ignou.ac.in
‘Make bleeding Himalayas green’
P-12-13:Layout 1 4/30/2011 6:03 PM Page 2
Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource
Development, launched IGNOU-Intel online Teach
Programme titled ‘Empowering Educators to Innovate’ at
the University’s 22nd Convocation Ceremony on April 2.
The Programme is an initiative of the Sir C.V. Raman Chair for
Science Education, headed by Prof. P.T. Manoharan.
“This IGNOU-Intel collaboration will create new models of
teaching and learning in areas other than science and maths,
and help upgrade our capabilities,” said VC Prof V.N.
Rajasekharan Pillai.
The objectives of the programme are to create student
interest and enhance science learning in secondary schools by
sharing innovative ICT integration usage models under Intel
Teach; conduct capacity-building workshops for principals and
teachers using relevant technology tools; support science and
maths teachers in integrating ICT into teaching strategies using
various Intel Teach curriculum assets; and promote and nurture
an aptitude for scientific research amongst the students of
selected schools by guiding them to create innovative science
projects and providing them with a platform to compete at
national and international events, like IRIS National Fair and the
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF).
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 201114
NEWSUPDATES
The Department of Information
Technology (DIT), Ministry of
Communications and Information
Technology, Govt. of India, has
constituted a Working Group on IT Mass
Literacy Programme under the chairmanship of
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.
The Group has commenced its work by
launching a website on IT Mass Literacy
Programme. A link to the website has been
provided on the IGNOU website. This website
is envisaged to come out as a complete
portal on the Programme for certification
and feedback, and even to ascertain if a
person is an e-literate.
The objective of the website is to bring
together all institutes/universities/
corporates/colleges offering IT
programmes on one platform in order to
generate statistics about IT literates.
As per the Letter No. 1(7)/2010-HRD
from the Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology, Department of
Information Technology (Human Resource
Development Division), Government of India
and the recommendations of the Standing
Committee of Parliament for Department of
IT, the website on IT Mass Literacy has
been launched to maintain the data with
regard to literacy rate in computers.
There are many individuals who probably
do not have a certification, but know how to
work with the IT facilities at basic level for
information interchange or for their
knowledge enhancement. Hence, there is a
need to define standards, so that a person
bearing specific knowledge with some
experience in IT applications can be called a
certified IT professional for basic level.
IGNOU offers a number of programmes
related to IT such as Certificate in
Information Technology (CIT), Computer
Literacy Programme (CLP), Certificate in PC
Hardware and Networking (CPHN).
The University also offers digital learning
activities at www.IgnouOnline.ac.in, a one
stop window catering to the learning needs
of IGNOU learner community. eGyanKosh is
the digital repository of programme-based
learning content available in text and video
formats. The EDUSAT Virtual Class provides
links to all the online programmes of
the University.�
IT Mass Literacy Programme website launched
Learners during a STRIDE workshop on e-literacy at IGNOU.
‘Empowering Educators to Innovate’
Prof. P.T. Manoharan, Sir C.V. Raman Chair Professor, and VC Prof. Pillai releasing the IGNOU-Intel brochure at the 22nd Convocation.
P-14-15-RC:Layout 1 4/30/2011 5:19 PM Page 1
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 2011 15
REGIONALUPDATES FIRSTPERSON
‘A dream come true’
With an extremely poor family
background and a tag of a
school dropout, Tamil Selvi,
an 18-year-old
girl, was forced to become a
housemaid. Tamil, whose
mother works as a maid and
brother is a coolie, never
thought of a life beyond the
regular domestic chores, until
her employer spotted an
advertisement in a
newspaper — ‘RMD
IGNOU COMMUNITY
COLLEGE’.
The RMD IGNOU
Community College
provides flexible training
programmes in Palliative
Care Health Assistant.
Despite her monitory
challenges and poor
background, the
Principal agreed to find
sponsors and Tamil got
enrolled in the
programme.
She successfully completed programme
and got a job in a tertiary hospital. Today,
Tamil’s joy knows no boundaries as she
has been chosen as the team leader for
palliative care service in the hospital.
“Here I am! I received my certificate
with tears in my eyes. I am worthy now
and can support my family with
my salary. Thanks to RMD
IGNOU Community College’s
Palliative Care training, I feel
unique. It is a dream come true
for me,” says an ecstatic Tamil.
“My confidence has gone up
as I have a job in hand now. I feel
special being a Palliative
Care Health Assistant.
IGNOU has provided me
with the satisfaction of
helping the people who
have gone beyond curative
stages such as patients
suffering from cancer and
other advanced diseases
and terminal illness. Most
importantly, I have gained
respect, knowledge and
earning in spite of being a
school dropout and
belonging to a poor
family,” she adds.
IGNOU runs the RMD IGNOU
Community College in collaboration with
the RMD Pain & Palliative Care Trust in
Chennai.�
While working in England aboard a Cruise
liner a decade ago, I used to meet a lot of
people who had completed their studies
from Community Colleges and would wonder what
exactly it was, as at that time, the concept was
almost unheard of in India. On returning to India and
working in the hospitality sector, I found that most
hotels and restaurants in our country suffered from
a dearth of skilled manpower, primarily because
youngsters from the lower strata of society were
unable to afford the prohibitive costs of a mainstream
hotel management education. It was then that I
began to seriously wonder how we could launch the
community college concept in India and so, it was a
definite delight when I found out that IGNOU had
launched the Community College Scheme.
Having been fortunate enough to partner our
college with IGNOU in this venture, my personal
experience has been that when I explain the details
and benefits of the Community Colleges to
prospective students and their parents, there is a great
acceptance of it. They too realise that the students are
a lucky lot and within no time, are converted into
‘believers’, so to speak, in this system of education. It
is indeed a privilege for us at St. Mary’s Community
College, Bangalore, to be associated with IGNOU.
— GREGORY LOBO, CHAIRMAN,
ST. MARY’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
BANGALORE
‘Community Colleges convert
students into believers’
“My confidence has
gone up and I feel
worthy now. Most
importantly, I have
gained respect,
knowledge and
earning in spite of
being a school dropout
and belonging to a
poor family. ”— Tamil Selvi, a learner
63rd Regional Centre opens in Visakhapatnam
IGNOU launched its 63rd Regional
Centre in Visakhapatnam on March 29.
The new RC was inaugurated by
Minister of State for Human Resource
Development Dr D. Purandeswari in the
presence of Vice Chancellor Prof V.N.
Rajasekharan Pillai.
“The distance mode of education would
help the poor to acquire skills and also
increase the overall literacy rate in the
country,” Dr Purandeswari said.
The Minister also requested Prof Pillai to
set up a zonal office of IGNOU at Hyderabad.
Others present at the event included
Vizag Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao;
Dr B.S. Sudhindra, Director, Regional
Services Division; Dr M. Krishnaiah,
Regional Director, RC Vijayawada; and
Ward Corporator P. Vijay Chander.� MoS for HRD Dr. D. Purandeswari inaugurating the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre on March 29.
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | APRIL 15, 201116
MILESTONESONCAMPUS
Nautical Sciences
February, 2004: IGNOU inks MoU with the
Directorate General of Shipping for launching
Bachelor’s Programme in Nautical Sciences.
� IGNOU collaborates with the National Trust
for Welfare of Persons with Autism,
Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and
Multiple Disabilities.
March, 2004: IGNOU signs MoC with Tamil
Virtual University for the establishment of a
virtual university and further dissemination
of knowledge.
April, 2004: The South Asia Foundation (SAF)-
Madanjeet Singh Scholarships are launched. SAF
allocates 6,000 scholarships in total, of which
3,000 scholarships are for IGNOU students.
July, 2004: IGNOU partners with the World
Intellectual Property Rights Organisation for
studies in the area of Intellectual Property Rights.
SAF Scholarships
Upcoming Events
HIGHLIGHTS APRIL-MAY 2011
Photosynthesis is a
process that converts
carbon dioxide
into organic
compounds,
especially sug-
ars, using the
energy from
sunlight. Photosynthe-
sis occurs in plants,
algae, and many
species of bacteria.
A Thangka is a
Tibetan silk
painting with
embroidery,
usually depict-
ing a Buddhist
deity, famous scene, or
mandala of some sort.
To Buddhists these
Tibetan religious paint-
ings offer a beautiful
manifest.
Stress Management is
the amelioration of stress
and chronic
stress often
for the pur-
pose of
improving
everyday func-
tioning. Stress produces
symptoms which vary ac-
cording to persons, situa-
tions, and severity.
An estuary is a partly en-
closed coastal body of
water with one or more
rivers flowing into it. They
are a dynamic ecosystem
with a connection to the
open sea
through which
the water en-
ters accordingly
to the rhythm
of the tides.
Ustad Iqbal
Ahmed Khan
is an advo-
cate of Hazrat
Amir Khusro’s
tradition of In-
dian music. A custodian
of the Delhi gharana, he is
well known for his versa-
tile singing ability, and is
also regarded as a cham-
pion of Indian music.
Floriculture: Ornamental Plants Floriculture, or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture
concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental
plants for gardens and for floristry. The development of new
varieties is a major occupation of floriculturists
The Sarus Crane The Sarus Crane is a non-migratory crane found in parts of
the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The
tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m
they are conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands.
Thangka: The Holy
Art of Tibet
Stress Management:
Sinusitis
Estuaries - As
Marine Ecosystem
Ek mulaqat: Iqbal
Ahmed Khan Se
The Process of
Photosynthesis
GYANDARSHAN
1. IGNITE 2011 -- May 10 and May 12,
Chandigarh and Jammu: Indira Gandhi
National Open University will organise
IGNITE 2011, a multi-city, inter-school quiz
contest, in Chandigarh on May 10 and
Jammu on May 12.
For a complete schedule, log on to www.ignou.ac.in
IGNOU celebrates
Ambedkar Jayanti
Dr B.R. Ambedkar Chair on Social
Change and Development, IGNOU,
marked Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth
anniversary on April 13 with a special
lecture by Planning Commission member
Dr Syeda Hameed and a sufi qawwali
performance by Niyazi brothers.
In her lecture, held at the IGNOU
Convention Centre, Dr Hameed threw light
on Dr Ambedkar’s observation about
“equality in political life and inequality in
social and economic life.”
The Sufi qawwali performance paid
tribute to Dr Ambedkar’s ideals of
secularism and community.�
M. Damodaran appointed
BSE Chair Professor
Independent man-agement consult-
ant Meleveetil
Damodaran has
been appointed the
Honorary Chair Pro-
fessor of BSE Chair
at IGNOU. He will
be guiding the Uni-
versity’s Advanced
Research in Finan-
cial Markets.
An IAS officer from the Manipur-Tripura
cadre, Damodaran headed the Security
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from
February 18, 2005 to February 18, 2008.
Damodaran worked as Joint Secretary
in the Ministry of Finance, Banking
Division, for five years, dealing with
Government’s ownership functions of
Public Sector Banks and being
its inter face with Reserve Bank of
India (RBI).
He also headed the Unit Trust of India
and IDBI Bank. Both at IDBI Bank and UTI
AMC, Damodaran won accolades for
successfully bringing out the organisations
from the brink of collapse.�
Niyazi brothers and their group performing at
the IGNOU Convention Centre on April 13. M. Damodaran.
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