Profile 2010 - IGNOU

momentum in the last year and over 400 high
quality affiliated colleges in the public domain
are partners with IGNOU in the national mission of
enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio. It is also gratifying
to note that the Planning Commission, Government of
India, finds this model a cost-effective strategy for
enhancing both the quality of class room teaching and
the quantity of education delivery. While delivering the
IGNOU Foundation Day Lecture 2009, Prof. Narendra
Jadhav, member, Planning Commission, on the theme
`Sustainability, Innovation and Inclusion in the Education
Sector,` observed that blending of the conventional higher
education system with the open and distance learning is
necessary for increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio. He
asserted that such a convergence is the only way forward
to take higher education to the masses.
The setting up of an exclusive Research Unit and the
newly introduced Research and Teaching Assistantship
(RTA) scheme have brought in the culture of full-time
research in the University. Realising that post-graduate
education in domain subject areas is inextricably linked
with research leading to Ph.D degrees, many schools
started developing full-time on-campus post-graduate
programmes for selected number of students by making
use of campus infrastructure and complimenting the
Distance Education Programmes. Rigorous quality
standards have been stipulated for the Ph.D programmes
including compulsory course work and mandatory
requirement of publication of at least one original research
paper in a high impact refereed journal. In addition to
systemic research in ODL pedagogy, discipline-based
research in domain areas has also been initiated in a
significant way.
In the area of inclusion, the notable achievements of the
University are the introduction of large number of socially
relevant programmes and strategies in the Disability
Sector and in the education for marginalized sections of
the society. The B.A. in sign language, the first of its
kind in the country, for about 40 deaf students from all
over the world and the collaborative programmes of the
National Centre for Disability Studies with the
Rehabilitation Council of India are major steps in this
regard. It is also gratifying to note that IGNOU enrolled
over 74,000 learners from among SCs and STs – the
largest number of disadvantaged to ever get enrolled in
a single educational institution in a year. Providing
educational opportunities to the soldiers in Indian Army
and free education to the jail inmates across
the country are also such major interventions
during the last year.
Technology-enabled distance education has not only
helped in enhancing the reach of education but also
improved the quality of education. Recognising and
acknowledging the nature and need of the clientele, the
University has contextualized the content and adopted
appropriate modes of delivery. IGNOU, today with its
innovative, flexible and multimodes of delivery, occupies
a significant position globally. Based on the edifice of
dedicated and empowering knowledge-dissemination, we
envision the growth and expansion of the University into
a dynamic, vibrant and inclusive system, which embraces
all sections of the society. While appreciating and
acknowledging the proactive contributions of our own
teachers in the Schools, Centres, Institutes and in the
Regional Centres across the country, in making this
University a world class one, I look forward to many
productive and enriching years ahead, with a focus on
both Access and Success in Learning through the IGNOU
System. Expertise of thousands of teachers, scientists
and other academics from the Conventional University
and Collegiate Education System and Scientific and
Research establishments is regularly availed by the
University for the preparation of the Self-Learning
Materials of the various courses and programmes. Several
tens thousands of academic counsellors are serving the
University for the delivery of IGNOU programmes
through over 3000 centres. The administrative and
technical support of the non-teaching and technical staff
in all these activities of the University is commendable.
The support of the various authorities of the University
and the Governmental functionaries has been encouraging
all through these years. The ever-increasing student
enrolment indicates the confidence of the society in the
IGNOU system. I take this opportunity to thank them all
for their significant contributions and extend my
congratulations and best wishes to them on the occasion
of the Silver Jubilee Year.
I am happy to present the Profile 2010 of Indira Gandhi
National Open University. I thank the team headed by
Prof. Parvin Sinclair, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, for its
compilation. I am sure that this Profile would give you
all a glimpse of the multifarious activities IGNOU is
currently engaged in.
(V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai)
Vice Chancellor
March, 2010
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Profile 2010