open letter january 2011

2

The Planning Commission, Government of India, has started the process of preparing anApproach to the 12th Five Year Plan. An open consultation, involving all stakeholders, is in progress. ‘Twelve Strategy Challenges’ have been identified to initiate these

consultations. These Strategy Challenges, according to the Planning Commission, refer to somecore areas that require new approaches to produce the targeted results. The strategy challengestentatively proposed by the Planning Commission are: Enhancing the Capacity for Growth,Enhancing the Skills and Faster Generation of Employment, Managing the Environment, Marketsfor Efficiency and Inclusion, Decentralisation, Empowerment and Information, Technology andInnovation, Securing the Energy Future, Accelerated Development of Transport Infrastructure,Rural Transformation and Sustained Growth of Agriculture, Managing Urbanisation, ImprovedAccess to Quality Education, and Better Preventive and Curative Health Care. We will all beparticipating pro-actively in this dialogue initiated by the Planning Commission for a betterunderstanding of the critical issues, to be addressed in the 12th Plan to accelerate faster, moreinclusive and sustainable growth.

We are in the last year of the 11th Plan, which could be aptly described as an Education Plan,considering the thrust given to educational expansion and consolidation atall levels. In terms of qualitative and quantitative growth and in strategicpolicy interventions, education, science and technology sectors have beenin the forefront during these four years of the 11th Plan. The EducationSector Reform Agenda, which was set in motion in the last two years, hasstarted showing results. A cursory look at the ‘Twelve Strategy Challenges’would indicate the significant roles of education, skill and employability inall the other sectors as well. Improved Access to Quality Education,Technology and Innovation and Enhancing the Skills and Faster Generationof Employment are the areas of very vigorous interventions happening inthe higher education institutions now. A critical overview of the strategies

adopted in 11th Plan focussing on the inputs and outcomes, institution-wise and sector-wise, wouldgreatly facilitate the future planning processes.

The completed four-year period of the 11th Plan has witnessed unprecedented growth andconsolidation in the activities of the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Establishing 11 newSchools of Studies and the National Centre for Disability Studies, getting the best faculty,experienced consultants, full-time Research and Teaching Assistants (RTAs) and developingrelevant new programmes for these Schools were significant achievements during this period. Wecould attract the best faculty and very bright and young researchers for these new disciplines,which were created through rigorous consultations with renowned experts in these sociallyrelevant fields. The recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission, PlanningCommission and Parliamentary Committee on Higher Education gave the necessary inputs forthese activities. Vocational Education and Training, Extension and Development, Gender andDevelopment, Inter-disciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies, Translation Studies and Training,Social Work, Foreign Languages, Journalism and New Media Studies, Performing and Visual Arts,Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy, Traditional Knowledge Systems, Convergence ofOpen and Distance Learning Technologies with the Conventional Systems of Education, CommunityCollege Skill Development Programme and its linking with higher education were the areas wecould give a firm foundation during these four years. The new projects and schemes like the full-time Research and Teaching Assistantships (RTA), Sustainable Development, e-Gyankosh &Flexilearn@ignou, Vertically-Integrated flexible, full-time engineering programmes, ‘Gyan Deep’and ‘Akashdeep’ for the Indian Army and Air Force, respectively, and Rural Capacity-buildingthrough ODL and strengthening of Local Governance proved to be sustainable and value-adding.

This period has also been very fruitful for the University in its national and internationalnetworking for effective and optimal utilisation of intellectual capabilities and infrastructuralfacilities for providing knowledge and skills to a vast number of people in a financially sustainableway. The University has also maintained its exacting standards as the premier national resourcecentre for Open and Distance Learning and seamless provider of quality education, at par withother international institutions of higher learning. The University has also been unwavering in itscommitment on access to education and equity in opportunities to women, Scheduled Castesand Scheduled Tribes, the rural population, remote areas, tribal regions, the differently-abled andthe socially and economically weaker sections of the society. The student enrollment in IGNOUhas doubled in the past four years — from 1.5 million to over three million, prompting the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare it the largest, mostdiverse and inclusive institution of higher learning in the world in 2010.

The cover story in this issue of OpenLetter attempts to delineate this growth story of IGNOU,which is one of social commitment with prudence. This success is attributable to the pro-activeparticipation of the teaching and non-teaching staff and the entire academic and administrativeauthorities of the University and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).Partnering the Government in its various plan schemes and aligning and streamlining teachingand training activities with national priorities delineated by the Planning Commission in the 11thPlan helped the University to grow in the right perspective. We envision such a collaborative pathin approaching the 12th Plan for Inclusive Education,Training and Capacity-Building at all levels.

With Best Wishes for a happy and productive New Year.

4

The Growth Story

Empowering Airmen

INFOCUS: The four-yearperiod of the 11th Planhas witnessedimpressive growth,consolidation andprogress in theEducation and SocialSector activities of theIndira Gandhi NationalOpen University

LAW PRACTICUM......03

NEW TIE-UPS.............09

NEWS UPDATES........12

REGIONAL UPDATES..15

GYAN DARSHAN........16

MILESTONES.............16

10 SPOTLIGHT: ‘Akashdeep’, a partnershipbetween IGNOU and the Indian Air Force,is designed to enable all serving airmento obtain Bachelor’s degree in anystream within eight-13 years of service

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 MohanPhotos: 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

CONTENTS

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JANUARY 15, 2011

3

LAWpracticum

Law students from India and US interact on Human Rights Law themes at the winter programme

School of Law (SOL), in partnershipwith the William S. Boyd School ofLaw, University of Nevada, LasVegas, United States, organised an

International & Comparative Human RightsLaw Practicum at IGNOU from December 20,2010 to January 06, 2011.

An American Bar Association approvedprogramme, the two-week event aimed atexposing law students to comparativeand international human rights lawthemes through enriched classroom andfield experiences. A close interaction onthese issues took place between adiverse group of 15 and 14 students fromthe U.S. and India, respectively.

The participants were addressed byluminaries like Prof N.R. Madhava Menon,a legal educationist, Dr P.M. Nair (IPS),Additional Director General of Police(CRPF), Dr M. Gandhi, Director, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, and RaviNair, Director, South Asia Human RightsDocumentation Centre.

The programme was organised under theoverall supervision of Prof K. Elumalai,Director, School of Law, and Prof MartinGeer, William S. Boyd School of Law.

During the course of the programme,participants visited 13 institutions to geta feel of the functioning of theseinstitutions by interacting with theofficials concerned. They also visited nine

institutions in small groups for intensefield study for two-three days. Based onthese visits, they prepared a researchpaper for presentation.

“This unique Human Rights PracticumProgramme had initially thrown severalchallenges. As the days progressed, theparticipants were able to learn the legalstatus of various human rights issues,prevalent in respective countries, bymutual exchange moderated by experts.

“They not only interacted withrenowned experts on critical dimensionsof human rights issues but also visitedselected national-level institutionsengaged in tackling human rights

issues,” informed Prof Elumalai.Some of the institutions visited

include the Institute of Social Sciences,International Committee of Red Cross,Delhi Legal Services Authority, NationalHuman Rights Commission, Tihar Prison,National Commission for Protection ofChild Rights, National Law University,among others.

“At the end, the participants,particularly from the U.S., said that thisprogramme was a life-time experience,”added Prof Elumalai.

The participants were presented with aCertificate of Participation at a specialvaledictory function on January 5, 2011.n

Deciphering human rights trends

From left, Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao, Academic Registrar, NLU; Prof Martin Geer, William S. Boyd School of Law; VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan

Pillai; Prof N.R. Madhava Menon, Founder Director, NLU; and Prof K. Elumalai, Director, SOL, at the inauguration of the programme.

The group of students who participated in the human rights law practicum.



INfocusThe four-yearperiod of the 11thPlan has witnessedimpressive growth,consolidation andprogress in theEducation andSocial Sectoractivities of IGNOU

The Growth StoryThe four-year period beginning

2006-07 has been one ofimpressive growth and progressfor the Indira Gandhi National

Open University – The People’sUniversity – catapulting it to the biggest among its peer institutionsacross the globe with over three millionstudents.

The University has also maintainedits exacting standards as the premiernational resource centre for open anddistant learning and seamless providerof quality education, at par with othernational and international institutions ofhigher learning.

SOCIAL COMMITMENT WITH PRUDENCE

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JANUARY 15, 2011 5

n University unfailingly reported anexcess of receipts overexpenditure

n Student enrollment has doubled in four years from 1.5 million to over 3 million

n UNESCO declared IGNOU as thelargest institution of higherlearning in the world in 2010

n Fees from students virtuallydoubled in four years from `158.52 crore to `312 crore

n Share of non-plan administrativeexpenses to total expenditure fellfrom 28.24 to 17.14 percent

n University ably managed higherpayout on salaries on account of Sixth Pay Commission

n Bulk of University’s expansion came about from internal accrualsn Largest number of Government-supported schemes in the Social and RuralDevelopment Sectors.

The University has also beenunwavering in its commitment onaccess to education and equity inopportunities to women, members ofScheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,the rural population, remote areas,tribal regions, the differently-abled andthe socially- and economically-weakersections of society.

The bulk of IGNOU’s expansion hascome about from internal accruals,notably the modest tuition fee that the University charges its students.

This has been possible becausestudent enrollment has doubled in thepast four years from about 1.5 million toover three million, prompting the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organisation (UNESCO) todeclare it the largest, most diverse andinclusive institution of higher learning inthe world in 2010.

This is in marked contrast to thegeneral trend for higher educationalinstitutions in India, which continue todepend heavily on grant income even foroperational expenditure, not to mentionnew growth initiatives.

The achievement is all the morenoteworthy, considering that be it in 2006-07 or the three full financial yearsthereafter for which accounts have beenaudited, the University has unfailinglyreported a surplus — or an excess ofreceipts over expenditure.

HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

The bulk of IGNOU’sexpansion has come aboutfrom internal accruals,

notably the modest tuitionfee that the University

charges its students. IGNOUwas also one of the first

Universities in the countryto implement the

recommendations of theSixth Pay Commission. Thenon-plan expenditure towardstaff welfare also shot upfrom `9.23 crore to `57.02crore. These expenses aretoward contributions for thenew pension scheme, bonus,

pension, gratuity, leaveencashment, leave salary,

honorarium, etc.

6 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JANUARY 15, 2011

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

The primary reason why the Universityhas reported excess of income over

expenditure is that the fee generatedfrom students has vir tuallydoubled during the periodunder review – from `158.52crore to `312 crore.

Accordingly, the bulk of theincrease in total receipts –from `286.54 crore in 2006-07to `448.55 crore in 2009-10 –has come fromstudent fees, whichnow contribute ahealthy 88 percent of internal revenuegeneration, against82 percent in 2006-07. As a percentageof total receipts,student feecontributes 69.76percent against55.32 percent in

the year 2006-07. “All this clearlyshows that IGNOU has been able togenerate sufficient money internally tofund its programmes and expansion, not

just in India but also acrossthe globe,” notes Prof V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai, ViceChancellor.

He made a special mentionof interventions such as theprogrammes being conceivedand run for the armed forces,

such as Gyan Deepfor the Army andAkashdeep for the AirForce. A similar tie-up is soon to beformalised forpersonnel of theIndian Navy. Thesetie-ups alone havegenerated a revenueof almost `14 crore.

On the expenditureside, too, audited

data reveals that money has been spent on some extremely productivepurposes, such as financing the ‘GyanVani’ and ‘Gyan Darshan’ programmes,intended to widen the University’soutreach to every nook and corner of the country.

Against a mere `41 lakh spent onthese two programmes in 2006-07, theexpenditure was higher at `8.75 crorein 2009-10. The outreach, accordingly,also expanded.

‘Gyan Darshan’ is a 24-houreducational TV channel in collaborationwith other institutions of higherlearning, while ‘Gyan Vani’ is a largecooperative network of FM radiostations, exclusively devoted toeducation. Efforts are now on for two-way tele-conferencing, interactive radiocounselling, and for relaying educationalprogrammes through local FM radiostations.

This apart, expenditure alsoincreased on account of expanding

“IGNOU has been able togenerate sufficient money

internally to fund itsprogrammes and expansion,not just within the country, but also across the globe.The facilities to students,

teachers and the non-teaching staff have also

been considerably stepped up.”— Prof V.N.R. Pillai, Vice Chancellor

In the past four years, IGNOU has not onlydoubled its student strength, but has alsocontributed significantly to the nation’s

knowledge pool. It has, at the same time, ensuredthat its faculty is provided with the best offacilities to pursue research and remain at thevanguard of the academic community.The period between 2006-07 and 2009-10 saw

student strength rise from 1.5 million to over 3million and the number of programmes on offer goup from 129 to 486 – almost a four-fold increase! This has helped the University to dramatically

expand the nation’s knowledge repository. More importantly, all the course materials are

now available to a vast number of people underour Flexilearn scheme, which allows access tofree and open courses of the University. “This is a personal learning space where free

learning resources are integrated with learningmanagement system for anyone who wants tolearn, whatever their educational needs andexperience. It is a huge resource,” says ViceChancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.Many of these programmes are being executed

through innovative alliances and collaborationswith top-notch institutions – both in the privateand public sectors. This has helped the Universityto utilise under-used facilities such as state-of-

the-art labs as well as the services of topacademics. This networking has helped the University to

form collaborations with – and avail the expertiseand facilities of – such institutions as the IndianInstitute of Astrophysics, the National Museum,the Rehabilitation Council of India, Institute ofHotel Management, Catering and Nutrition,Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, theIndian Council of Medical Research, Institute ofRail Transport and the Apparel Export PromotionCouncil, to name just a few. “The University’s contribution to increasing the

nation’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) is as

Increasing the knowledge pool, creating faculty facilities

the regional outreach of the University –comprising a wide network of Regional Centres, Sub-Regional Centres and Study Centres across the country.

This is another statedmandate of the University. Theexpenses incurred on thesecentres more than doubledfrom `56.72 crore to `118.09crore.

“The number of RegionalCentres during this periodhas gone up from 59 to 62,while the number of StudyCentres has risen from 1,468to well over 3,000 – morethan doubling. This has beenof great help to students,and has helped the Universityto reach out to places whereconventional education isunable to reach,” notes Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Latha Pillai.

SOUND FINANCIALS,

HEALTHY REVENUES

If revenue expenditure alone isconsidered — which gives a fair idea ofan institution’s financial health,especially those with socialcommitment – the operations ofthe University continued togenerate a surplus – whichstood at `69.25 crore during2009-10.

The University, as did otherautonomous institutionsacross the country, also borea major additional burden onaccount of outgo towardsalaries and wages.

The payment of arrears dueto the generous award by theSixth Pay Commission alsoadded to the outgo. Paymentstoward salaries and wages –due to both higher payout andrecruitment – went up from`35.68 crore to `86.12 crore.


Acursory look at the audited accountsmay give an impression that theUniversity’s corpus had “reduced”

from `215.60 crore as on March 31, 2008 to`208.34 crore the next year and further to`187 crore a year later. But the fact is theUniversity’s invested funds have actuallyincreased.This is how: During end-March 2010, long-

term investments in Government bondsworth `56.80 crore attained maturity, out ofwhich `40 crore pertained to the corpusfund, and the rest toward heads such aspension fund and security deposit. Therefore, the invested amount against

the corpus showed a lower figure of, `187 –that is reduced by `40 crore of maturedgovernment bonds.The matured amount was re-invested in

the following month – April. Accordingly, thecorpus reflected the true picture in thatmonth, showing an amount of `237 crore –that is `187 crore, plus the matured investedamount of `40 crore.The same was true in 2009, when the

corpus, it appeared, got reduced from`215.60 crore in the previous year to`208.34 crore. But that was not the case, asdetailed above. Therefore, there was noquestion of any decline in the corpus.

Counting the CorpusIGNOU study material being dispatched.

“The increase inthe number ofRCs and SCs

during this periodhas helped IGNOU

reach out toplaces whereconventionaleducation is

unable to reach.”— Dr. Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor

significant as it is undeniable. It is also doing itsbest to help the National Skills Mission achieveits goals,” says Prof Pillai.IGNOU has, in this period, striven to become

a more academically vibrant space – one thatinvests in academics, ensures they enjoysignificant career growth, and also creates anenvironment that is encouraging of research, thepublication of papers and participation inseminars and conferences. This was not justlimited to existing faculty, but to consultants andresearchers as well.The strength of faculty – both part-time and

full-time – rose in this period from 352 to 425.And of these, almost a fourth enjoyedpromotions. The number of part-time consultantsstood at 25 four years back. Today the numberhas risen to 66. The Research and TrainingAssistant (RTA)scheme was non-existent four yearsago. Today, theirnumber stands at452 and University’soutgo on theiraccount is about`1.8 crore annually. “The University

has thus been atthe vanguard ofcreating meaningful

jobs for researchers and academics,” notes ProfPillai, adding: “It is important to note that we arenot only adding to the nation’s knowledgeeconomy – but also to the economy at large.”Faculty is, in fact, actively encouraged to

publish papers, make presentations andparticipate in as many conferences andseminars pertaining to their areas of interest.This is reflected in the amount the Universityspent on travel and other expenses for facultyparticipating in seminars and conferences. Fouryears ago, the amount spent under this headwas `43.38 lakh. Today is has doubled to `86.15 lakh.It is as part of the University’s efforts to create a

vibrant academic environment and to ensure thateminent academics and other personalities are involvedwith it that IGNOU has created as many as 15 new

Chairs in the past fouryears. And these chairshave brought eminentpersonalities like writerU.R. Ananthamurthy(Tagore Chair),agricultural scientist M.S.Swaminathan (Chair forSustainableDevelopment), and Dr. K.Kasturirangan (ISROChair for SatelliteEducation).

Increasing the knowledge pool, creating faculty facilities

“IGNOU has been at thevanguard of creating jobs forresearchers and academics.We are not only adding to the

nation’s knowledge economy – but also to the

economy at large.” — Prof V.N.R. Pillai,

Vice Chancellor


As a result, the percentage-expenditure under this head, which washovering around 18 percent till a fewyears ago, ballooned to nearly 25 percent.

“IGNOU was one of the firstUniversities in the country to implementthe recommendations of the Sixth PayCommission, including clearing thearrears,” Prof Pillai points out.

Added to that, the non-planexpenditure toward staff welfare – dueto the reasons aforesaid – also shot upfrom `9.23 crore to `57.02 crore. Theseexpenses are toward contributions forthe new pension scheme, bonus,pension, gratuity, leave encashment,leave salary, honorarium and otherwelfare schemes.

“This expenditure is also a necessarypart of the University’s effort to keep itsstaff and faculty satisfied and maintainhigh productivity levels,” saysProf Pillai, adding that aconcerted effort has been madeto ensure that senior facultymembers have independentrooms and personal assistants.All of them have also beenissued laptops to increaseefficiency and productivity.

With increased salaries, theUniversity also had to incur a

much higher expenditure towardterminal benefits, compared with earlieryears. Total Quality Managementremains the highest priority in all areasof operation of the University.Expenditure on staff welfare rose from

`9.31 crore to `57.83 crore – an almostsix-fold increase. As a percentage ofexpenditure this was a jump from 4.03percent to 12.94 percent ofexpenditure.

Against this backdrop, there has alsobeen a concerted effort on the part ofthe University to curtail expenditure.This is the reason why the share of non-plan administrative expenses to totalexpenditure has fallen significantly from28.24 percent in 2006-07 to 17.14percent in 2009-10.

New strategies are also being evolvedto mobilise resources so that theUniversity can continue to work on itsmandate without any financial impediment.In addition, maximising non-monetaryinputs and achieving cost-effectiveness inoperations and economy in spending alsoremain the guiding principle of the

University.Nonetheless, the Vice

Chancellor has constituted aCommittee under thechairmanship of Pro-ViceChancellor Prof P.R. Ramanujamon how to curtail expenditurefurther. The suggestions andrecommendations made by theCommittee will be pursued inright earnest, Prof Pillai says.n

IGNOU has striven to invest in conferences and seminars to create a more vibrant academic space. Seen in the photo, renowned agricultural

scientist M.S. Swaminathan speaking at the Sixth Pan Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Kochi.

In the past four years, the number ofStudy Centres has risen from 1,468 toover 3,000. The expenditure on accountof expanding the regional outreach ofthe University has more than doubledfrom `56.72 crore to `118.09 crore.

NEWtie-ups


There’s good news for studentsaspiring to enter the stockmarket. IGNOU and the BombayStock Exchange Training

Institute (BTI) have signed aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a two-year, full-time MBAprogramme specialising in FinancialMarkets.

“The programme being offered is afull-time degree programme, speciallydesigned to suit the requirements ofstudents who are planning to make acareer in financial markets,” said ViceChancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillaiat the BSE building on Dalal Street,Mumbai, on January 7.

“We plan to cover vital concepts relatedto exchanges, which will help studentsspearhead the financial industry,” ProfPillai added.

According to Ambarish Datta,Managing Director and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, BTI, “The programme structureis more dynamic than anything thatcurrently exists and will cover variousmodules such as corporate governance,risk management and so on. It’s likeNASA teaching space technology. Wewill be able to give students a ringsideview of how the market works.”

The admission process has alreadystarted and the intake in the first batch

will be between 60 to 100 seats.Classes, which will commence from May2011, will be held at the Dalal Streetbuilding.

The fee for the programme isapproximately `2 lakh.

The objectives of the programme areto enhance employability of learnersglobally; to bridge the gap between theprogrammes currently available and theprogrammes required by the market forenhancing employability; and to havejoint programmes to address current andemerging needs of the market, informedthe Vice Chancellor.n

Preparing future stock specialists

Sudhakar Rao, Chairman, BTI, exchanging the MoU with VC Prof Pillai in Mumbai on January 7.

Apart from the MBA Programme in FinancialMarkets, IGNOU and BTI have agreed

to execute this MoU through a broaderunderstanding and offer joint programmes invarious fields, including information technology,management, finance, retail, educationtechnology and services, BPO, etc.The following key areas have been identified:

n PGDMn BBAn Certificate Programmes

Broader Perspective

IGNOU has joined hands with the Telecentre.orgFoundation to design and deliver a Certificateprogramme in Telecentre/Village Knowledge Centre

Management (CTVM). The primary objective of thecollaboration is capacity-building of rural youths in thecountry to manage telecentres effectively.

Telecentre is a place where villagers can usecomputers, Internet and other digital technologies todevelop information and communication skills andprovide knowledge to their community for betterlivelihood.Those who have completed their 10+2 orare managers of telecentres run by organisationsacross the nation and potential village levelentrepreneurs are eligible to apply. The duration of theprogramme is six months and can be extended to twoyears. The fee for the programme is `4,000.

The Government plans to set up nearly

2,50,000 telecentres at every village panchayat inthe country by 2012. The programme aims to traintelecentre operators/managers to manage theirtelecentres effectively, improve the skills andknowledge base of existing telecentre managers,

create opportunities for the village communitythrough trained telecentre managers, help bringpublic and private sector services to villages andhelp generate self-employed opportunities asvillage knowledge centre managers.

After the completion of the programme, studentscan secure jobs in Common Services Centres ofGovernment of India, Village Knowledge Centres, e-Choupals, Drishtee, TARAhaat, etc.

Application forms, along with the prospectus, canbe obtained in person by paying `200 in cash orthrough post by sending a demand draft of `250,payable at New Delhi, to The Director, Centre forExtension Education (CEE), Room No. 1, First Floor,DEC Building, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.

Forms can also be downloaded fromwww.ignou.ac.in.n

Manage a rural telecentre, courtesy IGNOU

The Government plans to set up 2,50,000

telecentres across the country by 2012.

10 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | JANUARY 15, 2011

After successfully launching ‘Gyan Deep’ — an Army-IGNOUCommunity College Scheme — to empower jawans, IGNOU has

now brought the Indian Air Force (IAF)under its ambit.

IGNOU and the IAF signed aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Air Force Auditorium in NewDelhi on December 20 for enablingnearly 100,000 in-service airmen toearn Bachelor’s degree in streams likearts, science, business and music etc.,within eight to 13 years of theirservice.

“Two great events have occurred inthe recent past. Sachin Tendulkar hascompleted his 50th test century and theIAF has signed an MoU with IGNOU forrecognising service training for higher

education of airmen and NCs(E). Thisshall encourage the younger generationto join the IAF,” said Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik.

Vice Chancellor V.N. RajasekharanPillai said the move would get “a largepool of qualified officers to join thePeople’s University. This collaborationwill provide a large number of people to undergo a systematic training and will work equivalent to a few universities put together.”

“There’s a lot of educationalinfrastructure and opportunities available outside the formal educationboundary and IAF is one such entity,”Prof Pillai added.

“Although the training imparted to the airmen at various institutes preparesthem for the air operational tasks and job-

Empowering Airmen

Air Officer-In-charge (Personnel) Air Marshal K.J. Mathews (left) exchanging the MoU for ‘Akashdeep’ Project with VC Prof V.N. Rajasekharan

Pillai in the presence of Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, in New Delhi on December 20.

SPOTLIGHT‘Akashdeep’, a partnership betweenIGNOU and the IndianAir Force, is designedto enable all servingairmen to obtainBachelor’s degree in any stream withineight to 13 years of service


related duties, they suffer on the formaleducation front owing to their professionalcommitments. This, however, will not bethe case now,” said Air Officer In-Charge(Personnel) Air Marshal K.J. Mathews.

The IGNOU-IAF ‘Akashdeep’ Projectwill register the existing airmen traininginstitutes as Community Colleges, whichwill maintain a high degree of autonomy.

The Joint Basic Phase Training (JBPT),Module-I and Module-II will help theairmen earn credit points, which would betransferred to IGNOU to help them earnCertificates, Diplomas and AssociateDegrees in arts, science, commerce,business administration, hotelmanagement, hospitality services,medical services, para-medical services, office management, automobiletrade performing skill, music andinstrumental music.

The Associate Degree of communitycolleges, as explained by Air MarshalMathews, consists of a minimum of twoyears which can be completed in foursemesters of study, comprising 64 creditsin all.

The first semester, called the basicfoundation course with the JBPT phasecomprising 16 credits, is a compulsorysubject for one to be eligible for acertificate course. For those airmen who have not completedtheir Class 12 studies, JBPT will becounted as the bridgecourse to bring them atpar with the 10+2qualification.

The second semester isthe applied professionalcourse in the chosenprogramme comprising 16credits with a compulsorysubject where Module-Itraining stands as theireligibility to gain a diploma(minimum one year).

The third semesterincludes qualificationsattained through theknowledge upgradationcourse in Module-II. Andlastly, the fourthsemester includesqualification attainedtowards knowledgeupgradation through compulsoryinternship project and project work obtained during On-the-Job-Training (OJT).

“Module-II and OJT together willconstitute third and fourth semester andwould make them eligible for award of

an Associate Degree. The 64 creditsobtained on successful completion of the Associate Degree will becometransferable towards the completion of96 credits in all, to obtain a Bachelor’sDegree,” added Air Marshall Mathews.

Pro-VC Latha Pillai described the

IGNOU-Air Force initiative as “a modestattempt to make education for the menwho guard our borders, borderless.”

The Community College Scheme ofIGNOU will soon be extended to theIndian Navy for the benefit of theservicemen, she added.n

The Associate Degree, consisting of

a minimum of two years, can be

completed in four semesters, comprising

64 credits in all.

l First Semester: Consists of the Basic

Foundation Course (comprising 16

credits) and is a compulsory subject

for one to be eligible for a certificate

programme.

l Second Semester: Consists of the

Applied Professional Course in the

chosen programme (comprising 16

credits) with a compulsory subject,

where JBPT Module-I training stands as

the eligibility to gain a diploma

(minimum one year).

l Third Semester: Includes qualifications

attained through the knowledge

upgradation course in JBPT Module-II.

l Fourth Semester: Includes qualification

attained towards knowledge

upgradation through compulsory

internship project and project work

obtained during On-

the-Job Training (OJT).

“With this move,the knowledgeand experiencegained by the

IAF officers willbe recognised in

the civilianenvironment.” — Air Marshal K.J.Mathews, Air Officer In-Charge (Personnel)

PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE

Air Force officers at the MoU signing ceremony.

12

NEWSupdates NEWprogrammes


IGNOU, in a move to upgrade the skillsof in-service teachers along withpotential teachers, has started two newPost-Graduate Diploma Programmes —Post-Graduate Diploma in EducationManagement and Administration(PGDEMA) and Post-Graduate Diploma inSchool Leadership and Management(PGDSLM). For details, please visitwww.ignou.ac.in.

IGNOU has launched a PG Diploma inPharmaceutical Sales Management(PGDPSM). Dr. Reddy’s LaboratoriesLtd. has sponsored its 3,000 employeesto enroll in PGDPSM and Certificate inCommunication and IT Skills (CCITSK).For details, please visit www.ignou.ac.in.

Owing to the significance of Urdu and Arabic in Indian history and

heritage, IGNOU has launched two newprogrammes — BA (Elective)Programme in Urdu and CertificateProgramme in Arabic. For details, visit www.ignou.ac.in.

Urdu, Arabic Programmes

NEWSscan

IGNOU’s School of Social Sciences (SOSS)has taken several measures to make itsResearch Degree Programme in Economicsmore comprehensive and distinguished.One such measure is the introduction ofFace-to-Face lectures for the Ph.D./M.Phil.Programme in Economics.

Students aspiring to do their researchwork in Economics will be able to attend aregular lecture to comprehend the technicalnature of the compulsory and optionalcourses prescribed as Pre-Ph.D course work.

For the Face-to-Face mode, IGNOU hascollaborated with research institutions likeNational Institute of Public Finance andPolicy (New Delhi), Madras School ofEconomics (Chennai), Institute for HumanDevelopment (New Delhi), etc.n

MBA cut-off announced

IGNOU has announced the cut-offpercentage for admission to itsManagement programmes for the January2011 and July 2011 academic sessions.The cut-off for CAT/MAT/State-levelEntrance Exams stands at 40 percent.

The University has also announced thatthe result of any examination body, whichdoes not reflect the score in terms ofpercentage and/or percentile will not beconsidered for admission. In such cases,candidates will have to appear forOPENMAT, to be conducted by IGNOU onFebruary 13, 2011.

However, candidates who havesuccessfully cleared management examssuch as CAT, MAT and state-level examsneed not appear in OPENMAT.n

Promoting HindiEconomics in F2F mode

Throwing light on the importance of thelanguages spoken in the country, VC

Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai has stressedon the promotion and restoration of Hindiand other Indian languages.

“IGNOU believes in conserving Indian languages. Keeping in mind the government policies about theconservation of Indian languages, we haveensured that most of our courses arepublished in Hindi as well,” Prof Pillai saidin the forthcoming in-house Hindipublication ‘Deepshikha’.

“We have set a benchmark for others tofollow. This has been possible only becausethere has been a sudden spurt in thenumber of programmes offered by theUniversity,” Prof Pillai added.n

Presenting your creative art andtalent before others involves somesort of a compromise. But, we atthe Indira Gandhi National Open

University (IGNOU), don’t want that,” saidProf V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

He was speaking at the three-day‘Orientation Programme of the Gurus’,jointly organised by the Centre forTraditional Knowledge Systems,Educational Development of North East

Region Unit (EDNERU) and the School ofPerforming and Visual Arts (SOPVA), fromJanuary 17-19.

Various Gurus from Assam, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim andArunachal Pradesh were felicitated duringthe function, organised under the ‘Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme’ of the NorthEast Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC),

Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. Theyalso demonstrated their respectivetraditional art forms at the event.

While addressing the Gurus, Prof Pillaihighlighted the Certificate Programme in Indigenous Art Practices (CIAP), acertification under the Guru-ShishyaParampara Scheme, which aims to establishsupport mechanism for the art forms thatare fast disappearing, and provide livelihoodoptions for the certified Shishyas.

“We pay respect to each and every artform of this country and believe thatuniversities should promote such art forms.The well-known art forms have advocatedfor themselves but it’s necessary topromote them in the prevalent areas. Theremay be several universities offering such a programme but IGNOU is different in itsapproach,” Prof Pillai added.n

‘Promote disappearing art forms’

Gurus from the North-Eastern states at the orientation programme.

Focus on serving teachers

PG in pharmaceutical sales


NEWSupdates

The sale of IGNOU course material hasreached new heights with booksworth `2.5 crore being sold yearly on

an average. “Our books attract such a huge demand

despite the fact that the course material isavailable free of cost in the E-Gyankoshsection at www.ignou.ac.in,” informedManjula Verma, Registrar, MaterialProduction and Distribution Division(MPDD) at the 16th Delhi Book Fairorganised at Pragati Maidan in the Capital from December 25 to January 2.

The IGNOU stall offered study material foracademic programmes like management,computer education, B.Ed, M.Ed, politicalscience, medical, nursing, tourism studies,engineering, environment, ruraldevelopment, hospitality management, etc.

The course material is extremely popularamong the civil services aspirants, addedVerma. “I am preparing for my IASexamination and was keen to get hold ofsome IGNOU books relevant to my chosensubjects like political science,” said DeveshKumar, who bought the study material fromIGNOU’s stall at Hall No. 9.

“The sales figure at the 16th Delhi BookFair reached `3.3 lakh in just five days,surpassing the sales mark of the 15th DelhiBook Fair,” Verma added.

IGNOU had an edge over the otherpublication houses participating in thebook fair since its course material is notavailable otherwise in the open market.

Thus, the book fair provided students agolden opportunity to explore variousprogrammes offered by IGNOU, and thattoo at a discounted rate of 10 percent.

“Apart from selling the study material,we also gave publicity material to studentsvisiting our stall to make them aware ofseveral IGNOU programmes.”

“The marketing cell of the Universityconducts exhibitions in the Capital andparticipates in career fairs to help studentsget a feel of various vocational IGNOUprogrammes,” Verma added.

The University has been participating inthe Delhi Book Fair since the last 15 years.The overwhelming response it gets can beseen from the sales figures, which touched`6 lakh in the 15th Delhi Book Fair and`6.4 lakh in the 19th World Book Fair.�

IGNOU shines at Delhi Book Fair IGNOU stall at the 16th Delhi Book Fair.

factoids IGNOU and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay,

recently conducted a ‘Digital Drishti Workshop’ on basic

computing and Internet surfing for visually-impaired students.

IGNOU has initiated the process tointegrate all its business processesin back-office automation by

implementing Enterprise ResourcePlanning (ERP)system. The project,started in August2007, would becompleted by January2013.

“The modules of theHuman ResourceManagement System(HRMS) are well integrated with financeand other modules. The processes ofEstablishment section, like maintainingpersonal and job details, absence andleave management of employees,medical, LTC, etc. are now automatedand are being done online. Payrollmodule is also operational,” said R. Thyagarajan, ERP nodal officer forAdministration Division.

“The ERP system has broughttogether all the HR and accountingactivities in a single database,” saidRavi Mendiratta, Sr. SoftwareEngineer, Computer Division.n

The number of live transactions done insome of the most popular modules of HRMSso far are as follows: Medical:n Total number of OPD requests raised

through ODLSOFT: 19,170n Total number of IPD requests raised

through ODLSOFT: 711Leave Management:n Number of leaves applied through

ODLSOFT: 14,372Leave Travel Concession (LTC): n Number of LTC requests that are raised

through ODLSOFT: 350Loans & Advance:n Number of loans and advance requests

raised through ODLSOFT: 56

ERP for Human ResourceManagement System

NUMBERS SPEAK

Ravi Mendiratta.


NEWSupdates

A‘perfectionist’ Hindi poet,Shamsher Bahadur Singh wasnever satisfied with his work,and this approach is reflected in

his unforgettable poetry. The influencesof modern western poetry and Urdupoetry deepened his sensibility towardsintegrating the arts of music, paintingand sculpture with the art of poetry.Another poet of his era, Upendranath

Ashk, is known for acting as a bridgeamong Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu languages. In a tribute to their outstanding

contribution to the Hindi literature in theirbirth centenary year, School of Humanities(SOH) organised a one-day NationalSeminar at IGNOU on January 19.Inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof

V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, the seminar was attended by distinguished Hindicritics Prof Namwar Singh, NityanandTiwari, Vishwanath Tripathi, Dr ManagerPandey, Neelabh, Harimohan Sharma andRajendra Singh Toki.“Regarded as a torchbearer of

legendary poet Munshi Premchand’stradition, Ashk inspired youth to writesensitively and responsibly on topicsclose to the masses,” said Dr Tripathi in his opening remarks. “He worked as abridge among Punjabi, Hindi and Urdulanguages. It’s disturbing to know thatowing to the drought of translatory work

among the Indian languages today, peopleare less aware of Ashk’s brilliance,”added Dr Pandey.Remembering his first meeting with

Shamsher Singh in 1942, Prof Singh saidthat the poet was a ‘perfectionist’ whonever got tired of rewriting his ownpoems, thus producing some of the bestworks. Prof Tiwari, a well-known thinker,said Shamsher was one of the pioneers of‘New Poetry’ in Hindi. “It is never easy,

even for me, to enter his house of poemsas you may not get to the core of hispoetry. Despite this, readers have adistinct fascination towards his poems,”he added.Prof Sharma touched upon many

unknown aspects of Shamsher’s work,while Neelabh went emotional whileremembering Ashk.SOH Director Prof Rita Rani Paliwal

welcomed the guests at both sessions.n

A tribute to poets Shamsher, Ashk

Distinguished Hindi critics Nityanand Tiwari and Prof Namwar Singh, Pro-VC Prof Parvin Sinclair,

SOH Director Prof Rita Rani Paliwal and others at the one-day National Seminar at IGNOU.

TOPhonours

LakshamanPrasad, Asst.

Professor inPainting, School of Performing and Visual Arts(SOPVA), has beenhonoured by the All India Fine Artsand Crafts Society(AIFACS) for his creation‘Contemporary YouthCondition’. Urban ArtCommission ChiefK.T. Ravindran presented a certificate and a cashprize to Prof Prasad at the 83rd Annual All IndiaArt Exhibition 2011, in New Delhi on January 3.n

AIFACS award for SOPVA faculty Yadav, Sunaina awarded at Lalitya National Art Camp

Gaurav Yadav and Sunaina, students of Master of Fine Arts-Painting fromSchool of Performing and Visual Arts were honoured for their creations by

Space Designers, Nagpur, at its first ‘Lalitya National Art Camp 2010’ onOctober 3. Gaurav received the first cash prize (Rs 10,000), Sunaina receivedthe consolation prize (Rs 1,500).n

Prof Lakshaman

Prasad (inset);

his artwork.

(Left) Gaurav’s award-winning painting; (right) Sunaina’s creation.

Union Defence Minister A.K. Antonyinaugurated the 62nd RegionalCentre of IGNOU in Malabar

(Kerala) on January 4.Speaking on the occasion, Antony

expressed hope that the Centre wouldhelp meet IGNOU’s educational goals.A joint effort was required from

all, irrespective of party affiliation, for bringing development in Kerala, he said. The function was presided over by Minister of State for Home,Mullappally Ramachandran.The Centre will be the 62nd Regional

Centre of the University and the third inKerala, after Thiruvananthapuram andKochi. With the opening of the Centre,students from Malabar region, includingKasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad district couldapproach the Malabar RC for their course requirements. With the launch of theCentre, four Study Centres and 28 local support centres functioning in Malabar willcome under its supervision.n


REGIONALroundup

factoidsIGNOU has collaborated with HLL Lifecare Ltd. to offer two clinical

engineering and management programmes. The programmes

will be conducted jointly by HLL and IGNOU.

Training programme on carpentry

IGNOU Institute for Vocational Educationand Training (IIVET), in collaboration withRustomjee Academy for Global Career,

Mumbai, organised a vocational trainingprogramme on Carpentry (Shuttering) inthe construction industry, in Shillong.The one-month training programme,

which started on December 6, 2010,provided the participants an option ofextending the training to six months.The participants who decided tocontinue after the completion of theprogramme, have been put in a six-month on-the-job training, with a salaryof `4,000-5,000. They can furtherbecome supervisors and earn up to`8,000 a month.Rustomjee Academy for Global Career

has joined hands with IIVET in itsendeavour towards Corporate SocialResponsibility Initiatives.n A participant at a training session.

Dr GangadharSahoo, firstRegional Director

of Regional CentreBhubaneswar, passedaway on January 2. Dr Sahoo served as RD Bhubaneswar fromDecember 5, 1986 toOctober 13, 1991. During

this period, RC Bhubaneswar had three statesunder its jurisdiction – Orissa, Bihar and WestBengal.

A reputed officer in the Department ofEducation, Govt. of Orissa, Dr Sahoo served asthe Principal of two autonomous government colleges of Orissa prior to joining IGNOU.

Dr Sahoo’s contribution and support to IGNOUhas been immense. The University communitydeeply mourns his demise and conveys itsheartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Dr Sahoo passes away

Dr GangadharSahoo.

62nd RC opens in Malabar

Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony

inaugurating the Malabar Regional

Centre in Kerala on January 4.

Prof Pushplata Tripathi,Registrar, SED, addressedIGNOU learners at the second

graduation ceremony of St. Mary’sUniversity College, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, recently. A total number of192 students were awarded degreesin streams like MBA, MARD, M.Com,MEC, MSO, MPA and MLIS. HisExcellency Bhagwant S. Bishnoi,Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, wasthe Guest of Honour at the event.n

Graduation ceremony

Prof Pushplata Tripathi in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


MILESTONESONcampus

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture

July 2003: Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Director

General of Council of Scientific and

Industrial Research (CSIR), delivers the

annual Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial

Lecture.

August 2003: IGNOU signs Memorandum of

Collaboration with Footwear Design &

Development Institute (FDDI).

September 2003: IGNOU launches Post-

Graduate Diploma Programme in Library

Automation and Networking.

lHuman Resource Development Minister

Murli Manohar Joshi inaugurates Sanskrit

Net under Bhasha Mandakini on Gyan

Darshan.

lAgriculture Minister Rajnath Singh visits

IGNOU and addresses various KVK officials

via tele-conferencing.

Sanskrit Net

Upcoming Events

HIGHLIGHTS JAN-FEB 2011

Fisheries science is the

academic discipline of

managing

and under-

standing fish-

eries. It is a

multidiscipli-

nary science,

which can be the focus

of an undergraduate,

master’s or Ph.D.

programme.

Srinivasa Iyen-

gar Ramanujan

was an Indian

mathematician

and autodidact

who made sub-

stantial contributions to

the discipline of mathe-

matics. He has left be-

hind 4,000 original

theorems, despite his

lack of formal education.

Plastic Surgery is a med-

ical speciality concerned

with the cor-

rection or

restoration of

form and func-

tion. It also in-

cludes many

types of reconstructive

surgery, hand surgery,

microsurgery, and the

treatment of burns.

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is

an Indian classical singer

of the dhrupad genre.

Since the death of his fa-

ther Nasir Faiyazuddin

Dagar, Wasi-

fuddin has

been singing

solo. He was

awarded the

Padma Shri in

2010.

The Sundar-

bans is the

largest single

block of tidal

halophytic

mangrove for-

est in the world. The forest

lies in the vast delta on

the Bay of Bengal formed

by the super confluence of

the Ganges, Brahmaputra

and Meghna rivers.

IGNOU’S Convergence SchemeA Convergence between the conventional University system

and Open & Distance Learning system through optimal utili-

sation of physical infrastructure, intellectual and knowledge

resources in institutions is the unique feature of this scheme.

Colony That Never Sleeps - Termites Termites, a group of eusocial insects, divide labour among gen-

der lines, produce overlapping generations, take care of young

collectively and mostly feed on dead plant material. Termites

live in colonies that comprise of several million individuals.

Great Mathematician

Sri Ramanujan

Ways of Hope: Plastic

Surgery

Ek Mulaqat

Wasifuddin Dagar se

Mangroves of

the Sunderbans

A Battle for Survival,

Fisheries Science

GYANDARSHAN

1. Orientation Programme for Training of

Trainees - Education of Children with

Disabilities — February 11, Chennai

2. Inauguration of Chaitanya Community

College — February 18, Kottayam College,

Kerala

For a complete schedule, log on to www.ignou.ac.in

Welcoming 2011 with new hopesand dreams for IGNOU, Vice Chancellor Prof V.N.

Rajasekharan Pillai sent his New Yearmessage across to learners and Universityofficials on January 5.

“In the 25 years of its existence, IGNOUhas bridged the gap between teachers and students through quality teaching,education and capacity-building via the ODL pedagogy. The excellent quality of self-learning study material enables thelearners to prepare easily,” Prof Pillai said.n

‘Learners’ satisfaction our goal’

Dr B.S. Sudhindrahas taken over as

Director, RegionalServices Division(RSD) at IGNOU. Hehas been associated

with the University since June 1989as Regional Director at the Head-quarters, Pune, Jammu and Banga-lore. Dr Sudhindra holds a Ph.D. fromthe Indian Institute of Science (IISc).n

Dr R.R. Rausaria, Director, Dis-tance Education Council (DEC),

has retired from service. Earlier, Dr Rausaria worked as Registrar(I/c) in the Material Production andDistribution Division (MPDD).

Dr Ram Chandra, Regional Director, RC Delhi-1, retired fromIGNOU on December 31, 2010. He joined IGNOU in 1997 as Joint Director, RSD. n

Dr B.S. Sudhindra

joins as RSD Director

Dr Rausaria retires

from service

Prof Debjani Roy

takes charge of CTKS

Prof Debjani Roy has been

assigned the chargeof the newly estab-lished Centre for

Traditional Knowledge Systems(CTKS) at IGNOU. Prior to joiningCTKS, Prof Roy served as Officeron Special Duty, IGNOU Institutefor Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong.n

Dr B.S.

Sudhindra

Learners during the New Year celebrations

at IGNOU campus on January 5.

Prof Roy

open letter january 2011

Documents