The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) hosted its 30th convocation in Delhi and simultaneously at 56 regional centres in India through video conferencing to confer degrees/diplomas/certificates to 2,38,000 students.
Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State for Higher Education, HRD, presented Gold medals and cash awards. While addressing the students, he said: “IGNOU has now reached the free and digital education horizon, expanding the perimeter of the free and distance education system. The MHRD has given the channels of ‘Swayam’ and ‘Swayamprabha’ to IGNOU so that it can bring a digital revolution in higher education. The university is already working on Massive Open Online Course. Our expectation from the university shall be to extend its students horizon towards digital education through new technology, communication mediums, electronic mediums and devices.”
IGNOU has signed a MoU with the Kendriya Vidyalas all over the country to conduct its term end examinations in these schools now. The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Ravindra Kumar said: “The online admission system has received an encouraging response with the University for admission of students for the July 2016 cycle. As many as 1,53,454 students took admission through this mode for the January 2017 cycle. Students are now allowed to edit the filled-in information before final submission to the University. With the shifting of the fee module to the last stage, the system has become more student-friendly.”
The university has developed a cloud based application for online re-registration of existing learners of second/third year for BA, BCom, BSc, Bachelor in Tourism Studies & Bachelor in Social Work programmes having duration of one year or more. “Cumulative international student enrollment of 66,769 is likely to increase with integration of ICTs and quality of learner support services. 12 Overseas Study Centres for fresh admission have been approved,” he added.