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THE
UNIVERSITY
Introduction
The
Indira Gandhi National Open University was established by an Act of Parliament
in 1985 to achieve the following objectives:
• democratizing higher education by taking it to the doorsteps of
the learners
• providing access to high quality education to all those who seek
it irrespective of age, region or formal qualifications
• offering need -based academic programmes by giving professional
and vocational orientation to the courses
• promoting and developing distance education in India
• setting and maintaining standards in distance education in the
country as an apex body for the purpose.
Prominent
Features:
IGNOU
has certain unique features such as:
• national jurisdiction
• flexible admission rules
• individualized study: flexibility, in terms of place, pace and
duration of study
• use of latest information and communication technologies
• student support services network
• cost -effective programmes
• modular programmes
• resource sharing, collaboration and networking with other Open
Universities
• relevant programmes
Important
Achievements
•
Emergence of IGNOU as the largest open University in the common wealth
• Establishment of Distance Education Council (DEC) for the coordination
and determination of standards of Distance Education Systems in the country
(1992)
• Recognition as Center of Excellence in Distance Education by the
Commonwealth of Learning(1993)
• Establishment of a Staff Training and Research Institute in Distance
Education (STRIDE)with support from the Commonwealth of Learning(COL).
• Award of 100 Fellowships by CLO as Rajiv Gaandi Fellowship to enable
candidates 19 countries in the Commonwealth to purpose IGNOU Programmes.
• Launching of an IGNOU-ISRO joint channel for organizing a one-way
video, two-way audio teleconferencing (1993-94).
• Taking IGNOU Programmes to West Asian countries, Maldives, Mauritius,
Nepal and Seychelles.
• Award of Excellence for Distance Education materials by Commonwealth
of Learning (1999).
• Launch of an Educational Channel 'Gyan Darshan'. IGNOU is the nodal
agency for 'Gyan Darshan' and regular transmissions are done from the
studios at the EMPC, IGNOU (2000).
The
Schools of Studies
With
a view to develop interdisciplinary studies, the University operates through
Schools of studies. Each school is headed by a Director who arranges to
plan, supervise, develop and organize its academic programmes and courses
in coordination with the School staff and the different academic, administrative
and service wings of the University. The emphasis is on providing a wide
choice of courses at different levels. The Schools of Studies currently
in operation are as follows:
School of Computer
& Information Sciences
School of Continuing Education
School of Education
School of Engineering & Technology
School of Health Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Management Studies
School of Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Academic
Programmes
The
University offers both short-term and long-term programmes leading to
Certificates, Diplomas or Degrees, which are conventional as well as innovative.
Most of these programmes have been developed after an initial survey of
the demand for such studies. They are launched with a view to fulfill
the learner's needs for:
• certification
• improvement of skills,
• acquisition of professional qualifications,
• continuing education and professional development at work place,
• self -enrichment,
• diversification of knowledge
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Student
Strength- 2002