Launching over 40 new courses in 3 years, IGNOU is redefining ODL

NEW DELHI: Over 2020 and 2021, the Indira Gandhi National Open University launched more than 12 online and 14 open and distance learning programmes. Then, in January 2022, it launched another seven online courses and 15 ODL ones. These included skills courses as well as new degree programmes. All this activity took place in the middle of a devastating pandemic that brought most public institutions to their knees.

“Unlike other regular educational institutions, we were always ready for the pandemic,” said Nageshwar Rao, who, as Vice-Chancellor, is steering IGNOU through a period of vigorous growth and widespread changes. IGNOU already had all the online course material and teaching-learning material in place at the eGyanKosh portal even before Covid struck. It also had three SWAYAM Prabha direct-to-home (DTH) 24-hour channels. It was ready.

Covid has wrought permanent change in India’s public education system. The National Education Policy 2020 was passed by the Cabinet during the first year of the pandemic’s global sweep. Online learning, or at least a blended mode, will now be a lasting feature. In such a context, Rao believes IGNOU will be “much more relevant” because it already has the online channels in place to reach the learners at any time.

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Pandemic changes

“Earlier people were reluctant to use the soft copy, now they are willing to take it up,” said Rao, elaborating on the changes the pandemic has made. “Even the use of the mobile app and TV channels has gone up significantly.” The popularity of IGNOU’s mobile application, launched in 2018, rose sharply during the pandemic and until now, it has seen around 16 lakh downloads.

In the conduct of examinations, both online and pen-and-paper options, were offered, continued Rao, and IGNOU’s huge online archive helped students who missed classes.

The university’s face-to-face three-month counselling sessions have also gone online, managed through the learning management system.

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New programmes, structure

With the first lot in 2020, the University Grants Commission has allowed 58 institutions to offer online degree programmes. IGNOU is one of them. “Currently, IGNOU has more than 34 online programmes,” said Rao.

IGNOU has introduced new courses in languages, food and nutrition, sustainability sciences, rural development, horticulture among others. “Earlier we didn’t have Sanskrit or Jyotish, Urdu, environmental sciences, or animal welfare. We have now introduced all these courses within proper national educational standards,” he said. The university has appointed 300 faculty members to conduct research in and develop the courses, ensuring they meet industry requirements and reach learners effectively.

Along with the new launches, existing programmes offered in the “open and distance learning” format – certificate, diploma and degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels – have been updated and restructured. Some courses have been re-introduced with revised modules as per the skill requirements of modern industry.

For example, IGNOU has integrated modules on computer application and computer science, agriculture, gender, sustainability, and similar fields, within the BA. These were all taught as separate programmes earlier.

“After the pandemic, the industry requires different modern skills. By integrating different courses in one degree, we are trying to cater to that,” explained Rao. “We are trying to make the degree multidisciplinary by introducing diverse courses, as suggested by the central government. All these courses include technological interventions along with skills like creating presentations, projects and others. All this is done so that learners can be more relevant at their workplace.”

Then, IGNOU already had course-based registration before the NEP mandated it but it has now started to issue course-wise certificates as well. “Now, if a student clears only one course or one paper then a certificate can be rewarded. This is similar to SWAYAM’s massive open online courses,” added Rao. IGNOU also had the provision for existing programmes mid-way before the UGC announced the restructuring of undergraduate programmes across the board.

“In the pre-pandemic times, IGNOU had exit between the programmes … [but for] just 10 programmes. Now, with the NEP structure, we are exploring this option for other courses. The entry and exit have been introduced in more than 30-40 programmes which will be expanded to more courses,” said Rao.

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Innovation

The university uses its own web-enabled academic support (WEAS) platform which connects teachers and learners and provides access to classes, course details, redress mechanisms. “We see this as an innovation in the teaching-learning process. Innovation and experimentation are part of the culture. The pandemic gave us an environment in which we can experiment,” said Rao.

The university also uses the All India Council for Technical Education’s (AICTE) translation tool to ensure learners can opt for courses in their mother tongue. IGNOU’s sessions are taught in 30 regional languages through its channels, starting from January 6, 2022. “We are experimenting with new things and getting good responses,” said Rao. “Through these languages and translations, we are trying to reach the unreached students and learners of the country, who want to learn but whose environment is unfavourable.”

Also, following the suggestions in the NEP, over the past few years, IGNOU created a platform to connect its 36 lakh alumni with its current learners. “We have created a portal where these alumni can register their details, participate, engage and contribute to the teaching process,” added Rao. More than 50,000 alumni have registered till now.

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The future

While IGNOU is vigorously promoting its online courses, Rao believes it will be a while before online education truly gains a stronghold in India. “The learners are still preparing themselves to go for online programmes. For instance, if you ask a MA History student to go for online studies, he or she will be reluctant because they cannot type all those scripts. On the other hand, science, computers and management students are much more comfortable with digital systems of learning,” he explained. “For students in social sciences, languages, and other humanities courses, it is difficult for them to cope with online learning.”

The more traditional ODL programmes aren’t being left behind either, including the SWAYAM Prabha direct-to-home (DTH) channels. “We promoted these channels through our social media to create visibility and help learners learn while sitting at home, which has led to a significant increase in enrolment and usage,” he said.

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The pandemic led to increase in online enrolment, use of social media, and sped up the transitioning toward technology. IGNOU has been embracing all the changes. “After the removal of demarcations of degree-based certificates, we have lots of opportunities to explore and introduce new courses.”