IGNOU must strengthen presence in Asia, Africa, South America, Europe: Minister

NEW DELHI: Minister of state for external affairs and education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh virtually inaugurated the 10th Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) overseas coordinators consortium meet and an agreement signing ceremony with the overseas facilitators with 15 other institutions.

The minister urged IGNOU to increase the number of programmes for Foreign Students Residing in India (FSRI) in both open and distance learning (ODL) and online modes. This initiative will allow IGNOU to increase its presence outside India. For this, the university should establish more overseas study centres in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, he said.

Recalling his last visit to the IGNOU campus, the minster lauded the university's state-of–the-art technology infrastructure and initiatives like e-GyanKosh, e-content app, and online programmes including SWAYAM courses, SwayamPrabha Channels Gyan Darshan, and Gyan Vani among others. He also pointed out that IGNOU must take the lead in internationalising higher education by integrating online and digital education.

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IGNOU's international division director, Jitendra Kumar Srivastava welcomed the minister, IGNOU vice-chancellor, coordinators of the overseas study centres and the various university officials to the meet. Srivastava stated that the new scheme of overseas facilitators for which agreements are being signed has been possible with the guidance and efforts of the IGNOU vice-chancellor, Nageshwar Rao.

He also went on to congratulate the overseas study centres for signing an agreement with IGNOU for the scheme of overseas facilitator for promoting online programmes by the University.

Vice-chancellor Rao said in his address that learner support system and online education have been given a flip with the Samarth Portal, SWAYAM (MOOC platform of MoE), and SWAYAM Prabha channels (24x7 educational TV channels provided by GoI) provided by the government of India.