Regular update of course content and access to study material within reasonable time absolutely essential.

Updated on: Monday, April 15, 2013

Praising IGNOU's role in taking education to the masses, President Pranab Mukherjee said regular update of course content and access to study material within reasonable time was absolutely essential.

IGNOU, the largest open university in the world, has started with a mandate of providing need-based education at different levels to all those who need it, but it must be kept in mind that needs keep changing over time.

"The curriculum must reflect these changing needs. Knowledge creation is happening at such a tremendous pace that things become obsolete and even irrelevant before we realise it. Continuous updating and review of existing material with new information is, therefore, absolutely essential," the President said addressing IGNOU's 26th convocation.

Thanks to IGNOU in popularising open and distance learning mode in the country, the President said enrolment to its programmes has increased from 27 lakhs in 2006-07 to 42 lakhs in 2011-12.

"It needs to be ensured that students receive or access their materials within reasonable time. There is also a need to harness technological advancements, particularly in IT and communication, to improve programmes and course content as well as cater to the growing size of student enrolment," he said.

The President said in coming times academic programmes that support multiple career goals will be more in demand. Learning systems should therefore need to adjust to the pace of the learner.

"Learning is locating itself off the campus, to the home, the workplace and the field. For these set of emerging realities, open and distance learning is a perfect fit," he said at the function where 11 students were awarded doctoral degrees including a gold medal and a gold medal for a student from abroad.

Hailing IGNOU for becoming a "pioneer" in open and distance learning mode in a span of 27 years, he said the varsity today meets education needs of 30 lakh students in India and 43 other countries through a network of 67 regional centres, around 3,350 learner support centres and 82 overseas centres.

The President in his convocation address appeared concerned over the yawning gap between demand and the supply mismatch in the country.

He said though the density of educational institutions in India has increased from 10 to 14 institutions per 1,000 sq km during the Eleventh Plan period, educational institutions are still absent in many places.

"This has resulted in a low enrolment rate in higher education," he said.

He said seven per cent of those in the 18-24 years age group enter higher education in India, as compared to 21 per cent in Germany and 34 per cent in the US.

Therefore, increasing the reach of higher education to students, especially in remote areas, is critical to boosting the enrolment rate, he said.

He felt IGNOU with its expanding global presence, needs to develop an international perspective to its programmes where global studies could be combined with interdisciplinary perspectives.

"IGNOU should be a vehicle for taking Indian and third world agendas to international arena with a view to influencing the global discourse," he said.

At the national level IGNOU should also contribute to creating a cohesive polity where citizens participate in crafting a common future on an equal basis.

The varsity should also create "interactive spaces" which would allow students from across the nation to engage with and inspire each other, he said.

"IGNOU should pride itself for having emerged as a system leader in open and distance learning. IGNOU and the network of state level Open Universities are a consortium addressing the knowledge requirements of the remotely-placed, disadvantaged, marginalised and deprived learners of the country," he said.

As many as 1,58,387 students from across the country received their degrees/diplomas and certificates at the convocation function.

Regular update of course content and access to study material within reasonable time absolutely essential.

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