Indira Gandhi National Open University

Infobox_University
name = Indira Gandhi National Open University


motto = "Education for All"
established = 1985
type = National (Public), Open
city = Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
state = Delhi
country = India
head_label = Visitor
head = Prathibha Devisingh Patil
President of India
vice_chancellor = Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan PillaiPro Vice Chancellors

Prof Om Prakash Mishra
Prof Parvin Sinclair
Dr D K Chaudhary
Dr Lata Pillai
registrar = Mr. K. Laxman
students = 1.8 million [ [http://www.ignou.ac.in/profile%2708/Profile%20%20(Final)English%201-13.pdf Profile 2 (Final)English 1-13.pmd ] ]
postgrad = 539,494 (2005)
staff = 1,462 (incl. Faculty)
faculty = 325
free_label = Programs
free = 125
affiliations = COL
NAAC
UGC
AICTE
website = [http://www.ignou.ac.in www.ignou.ac.in]

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Hindi: इन्दिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय मुक्त विश्वविद्यालय is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 when the Parliament of India passed the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 (IGNOU Act 1985) [Dept of Education, India: [http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/x/7H/8L/7H8L0101.htm The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 (Act No. 50 of 1985)] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] .

IGNOU, one of the largest universities in the world [World Intellectual Property Organization: [http://listbox.wipo.int/wilma/pressinfo-en/2005/msg00014.html Indian University Honors WIPO Director General] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] ; was founded to impart education by means of distance and open education, provide higher education opportunities particularly to the disadvantaged segments of society, to encourage, coordinate and set standards for distance and open education in India and strengthen the human resources of India through education [IGNOU Website: [http://www.ignou.ac.in/aboutus/objects.htm Objectives] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] .Apart from teaching and research, extension and training form the mainstay of its academic activities. It also acts as a national resource centre, and serves to promote and maintain standards of distance education in India. IGNOU hosts the Secretariats of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) and the Global Mega Universities Network (GMUNET) initially supported by UNESCO.

History

In 1970 (International Education Year), the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the UGC and the Indian National Commission for cooperation with UNESCO, organised a seminar on `Open University'. The seminar recommended the establishment of an open university in India on an experimental basis. The Government of India appointed eight member working group on Open University in 1974. The leading role was given to G. Parthasarathi, the thenVice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The working group had recommended establishing an Open University by an act of parliament as early as possible. The university should have jurisdiction over the entire country so that, when it is fully developed, any student even in the remotest corner of the country can have access to its instruction and degrees (Working Group Report, 1974).

The working group suggested several measures to be followed in instructional and management processes of the open university which include: admission procedure, age relaxation, preparation of reading materials, setting up of core group scholars in different fields, setting up of study centres, vehicle of curricular programmes, live contact with teachers, and so on. On the basis of the recommendations of the working group, the Union Government prepared a draft bill for the establishment of a National Open University, but due to some reasons the progress was delayed.

In 1985 the Union Government made a policy statement for establishment of a national open university. A Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education to chalk out the plan of action of the national Open University. On the basis of the report of the Committee, the Union Government introduced a Bill in the Parliament. In August 1985, both the Houses of the Parliament passed the Bill. Subsequently, the National Open University came into existence on September 20, 1985. It was named after late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (established by the Act of Parliament) is responsible for introducing and promoting distance education at the university level, and for coordinating, determining and maintaining standards in such systems functioning in the country.

In 1989, the first Convocation was held and more than 1,000 students graduated and were awarded their diplomas. IGNOU audio-video courses were first broadcasted by radio and television in 1990 and IGNOU awarded degrees received full recognition by the University Grants Commission in 1992 as being equivalent to those of other universities in the country [IGNOU Website: [http://www.ignou.ac.in/aboutus/milestones.htm Milestones] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] .

In 1999, IGNOU launched the first virtual campus in India [Newsbytes: [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HDN/is_1999_July_6/ai_55097055 IGNOU Launches First Virtual University in India] , July 6, 1999 (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] , beginning with the delivery of Computer and Information Sciences courses via the Internet.

Prominent Features of IGNOU

IGNOU has the following prominent features:
* National jurisdiction
* Relaxed admission rules
* Flexibility in terms of place, pace and duration of study
* Flexibility in choosing the combination of courses
* Student support services
* Use of specially prepared course materials
* Use of latest communication technologies
* Cost effective programmes
* Modular programmes
* Reformed mode of evaluation
* Two term-end examinations in a year
* Resource sharing, collaboration and networking with other openuniversities/distance learning institutions• Training and research in distance education.

chools

IGNOU currently serves approximately 1.4 million students in India and 35 countries abroad in eleven schools and a network of 58 regional centres, 7 sub-regional centres, 1400 study centres, and 41 overseas centres. Approximately 10% of all students enrolled in higher education in India are enrolled with IGNOU [IGNOU Website: [http://www.ignou.ac.in/aboutus/ignoubrief.htm IGNOU - A Brief Profile] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] . IGNOU offers 125 academic programs comprising 1100 courses at certificate, diploma and degree levels. In addition, a number of non-accredited extension and skill-oriented programmes are on offer through the twenty-one Schools:

*1. School of Humanities
*2. School of Social Sciences
*3. School of Sciences
*4. School of Education
*5. School of Continuing Education
*6. School of Engineering & Technology
*7. School of Management Studies
*8. School of Health Sciences
*9. School of Computer & Information Sciences
*10. School of Agriculture
*11. School of Law
*12. School of Journalism and New Media Studies
*13. School of Gender and Development Studies
*14. School of Tourism Hospitality Service Sectoral Management
*15. School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies
*16. School of Social Work
*17. School of Vocational Education and Training
*18. School of Extension and Development Studies
*19. School of Foreign Languages
*20. School of Translation Studies and Training
*21. School of Performing and Visual Arts

Divisions

The Indira Gandhi National Open University has the following Eleven Divisions to take care of various activities.

* Academic and Coordination Division
* Administrative Division
* Construction and Maintenance
* Computer Division
* Finance and Accounts Division
* International Division
* Library and Documentation Division
* Material Production and Distribution
* Planning and Development Division
* Regional Services Division
* Student Registration and Evaluation

Institutes, cells, centers, and consortia

* Distance Education Council
* Electronic Media Production Center
* National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education
* Inter-University Consortium For Technology-Enabled Flexible Education & Development
* Centre for Extension Education
* Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education
* National Council for Differently Abled
* Public Information Unit
* Hindi Cell
* Legal Cell
* SC/ST
* Vigilance Cell
* Horticulture Cell

Accreditation & Recognition

IGNOU is granted the authority to confer degrees by Clause 5(1)(iii) of the IGNOU Act 1985. IGNOU is also recognised as a Central University by the University Grants Commission of India [UGC Website: [http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/univmore.php?id=102 Universities Directory - Indira Gandhi National Open University] (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] . The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises IGNOU conferred degrees as on par with the degrees conferred by its members [UGC: UGC Circular No. F1-52/2000 (CPP-II), May 5, 2004] [AIU: AIU Circular No. EV/B(449)/94/176915-177115,January 14, 1994] and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) recognises the "Master of Computer Applications" and "Master of Business Administration" program of IGNOU [AICTE: AICTE/Academic/MOU-DEC/2005, May 13, 2005 [http://www.ignou.ac.in/aicte.htm] ] .

In 1993, IGNOU was designated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) as its first Centre of Excellence for Distance Education empowered "to actively participate in Commonwealth co-operative endeavours to identify, nurture, and strengthen open learning institutions throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in the Third World .." [COL Website: [http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/1835 IGNOU named "Centre of Excellence"] , COMLEARN, October 1993 (URL last accessed on April 29, 2007)] .

IGNOU also operates as an accreditor for open university and distance education systems in India through the Distance Education Council (DEC). Authority to do so is granted under Clause 16 and Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act 1985 [DEC Website: [http://www.dec.ac.in/stat_auth.htm Statutory Authority] ] .

Convocations in the Past

ee also

* List of universities in India
* Universities and colleges in India
* Education in India
* Distance Education Council
* University Grants Commission (India)

References

External links

* [http://www.ignou.ac.in/ Indira Gandhi National University]
* [http://www.ignouforum.com/ Indira Gandhi National University Students Forum]
* [http://ignoumca.santanu.in IGNOU MCA Students' Forum - Non-commercial forum for students of MCA]
* [http://www.dec.ac.in/ Distance Education Council]
* [http://www.ugc.ac.in/ University Grants Commission]
* [http://www.indiaeduinfo.com/correspondance_courses/correspondance_courses_universities/ignou/indira_gandhi_national_open_university.htm IGNOU MBA & MCA Programmes details]