Go for e-learning to earn a second degree, IGNOU VC: Media Release

"For a second degree or an additional value addition course, online education can be considered as a full option. Teaching, learning, examination and certification through online and virtual classrooms need to be systematically introduced in our curriculum and examinations. May be, to start with it can be a definite percentage of the core curriculum in all our teaching programs," said Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), while emphasizing the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration in learning.

"It is high time that our higher education system adopts protocols and norms for recognizing credits earned by online education or by virtual classroom teaching for the award of university degrees and diplomas. Such programmes should be cost-effective, flexible job training and work integrated learning programmes keeping in mind the new skill demands of the changing markets and technologies," he said.

IGNOU has an online learning platform called www.IgnouFlexiLearn.ac.in where more than 30,000 active users have been registered in 2010-11. It facilitates informed learning wherein anyone can register and explore courses free of cost to gain knowledge and skills in a specific area of interest. "We have 10 online academic programs where certificates, diplomas and degrees are awarded after online delivery, counseling and online examinations," he said.

IGNOU's knowledge repository e-Gyankosh stores, indexes, preserve, distributes and shares the digital learning resources developed by the ODL institutions in the country. "More than 2100 courses and 1800 video lectures are available online in the repository. Video programmes are being provided through a special channel of IGNOU in YouTube with the metadata link. Live educational programmes are available through the webcasting platform," he said.

After its launch in 2008, the site has already received over 1.5 billion hits, with an average of 400 visits per day from all over the world. There are 1,09,911 active registered users of the repository. The e-Gyankosh team has also developed an in-house e-learning platform for delivery of online programmes. 27 online programmes have been launched by the university using this platform. At present, there are 3315 registered users for online programmes. This platform provides a complete virtual learning environment covering all the activities from, registration to certification.

 

Date: 26th August, 2011