Hon'ble Prof. V.N Rajashekharan Pillai, Vice-Chacellor, Indira gandhi National Open University addressed the 283rd Top Management Club meeting on the topic "IGNOU in the 21st Century" on Monday, February 25 2008 at Convention Centre, IMM. The meeting was presided over by hon'ble Harcharan Singh Josh, Member, National Commission for Minorities.
Prof. Pillai stated that current 11th Plan seeks to achieve the ambitious target of increasing the higher education access rate to 15 % by 2012 from the current 10%. In addition to enhanced access, the plan also lays much emphasis on skill, capacity building, training, employability, life-long education and continuing education. Open and distance Learning (ODL) is recognized and accepted as an important mode for achieving many of these targets. In addition to contributing to social and economic development, ODL Plays a decisive role in the creation of a knowledge-based society. Conventional teaching-learning methods are being effectively supplemented with information and Communication Technology and Satellite-based teaching-learing systems all over the world.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) during its 22years of existence, has played a major role in this qualitative and quantitative expansion of the higher education system. Our educational Programmes are reaching over 5 million homes through the Gyan Darshan Channels, via the DTH (Direct-to-Home) platform. A glance at the offering of IGNOU will indicate the unique mix of academic, professional, continuing education, extension and training Programmes with an appropriate use of technology for delivery.
Commemorating the 150th year of the first war of Indian Independence, the University has started a new Centre, Indira Gandhi Centre for Freedom Struglle Studies, with the objective of documentation and research in the historical and political developments which led to the independence of the country. Activities of the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair for social change were also intiated last year.
The University has to respond to the need of continuity, consolidation , and expansion in the light of the ever-increasing demands of education, skill enhancement and training. We need to strenghthen quality assurance at the systemic levels of teaching, learning and governance. Autonomy with accountability at individual and functional unit levels, decentralization, distributed creation of infrastructure accross the country, strengthening and technological tools to serve the pedagogical requirements and above all, a very sensitive and responsible student support service system, need to be implemented for us to continue as an effective partner in achieving inclusive growth of the country through inclusive education.
Hon'ble Harcharan Singh Josh, during his presidential address stated that today IGNOU is a vital instrument of inclusive growth and National Integration. He has no doubt that 21st century which has only just begun will see IGNOU achieve graet milestones on the path of the distance education system by adding new and modern courses to strenghthen natural and human resource of the country and bring other countries closer to us.
The meeting was attended by Diplomats, Govt. Officials and large number of corporate Executives. |
