IGNOU to offer courses on culture studies

Updated on: Wednesday, December 29, 2010

In a significant move to foster studies on India's heritage and culture, the National Museum Institute (NMI) of History of Art, Conservation and Museology and Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) have come together to offer a range of programmes and courses through a collaborative mode. These courses and programmes will be on offer from the next academic year.

CV Ananda Bose, vice-chancellor , NMI, said, "We have prepared a comprehensive action plan to transform the National Museum and NMI into a hub of culture and heritage learning through a number of initiatives. One of the key highlights of the plan include promoting studies on culture and heritage. While we have the right lineage, Ignou has the expertise to take it forward and give it a wider perspective."

Both the institutes will design and develop certificate, diploma and degree programmes or any other training programmes for participants in museology. This will include museum administration, collection management, preventive conservation, exhibition development, within the disciplines of ancient and medieval history, visual and performing arts, and earth sciences and anthropology.

"Ignou and NMI will jointly certify the participants for all the courses offered. The course materials , wherever applicable, will be jointly prepared through national level expert committees. Both the institutions will jointly organise workshops and courses to safeguard traditional knowledge systems and promote the gurushishya parampara in various fields. The various study centres of Ignou will be used to disseminate these courses. Capacitybuilding programmes for upgrading skills of employees in museums will be launched availing of Ignou's vast network. For this, training will also be given to curators and artisans that in turn will help them to improve in their art forms," shared Latha Pillai, pro-vice-chancellor of Ignou.

The focus will also be on research-related courses. "We will be encouraging action research where students can come and work on a particular part of the 20 galleries that we have. The research will deal with holistic coverage of various cultural issues. Joint publications and research work will also be undertaken by both the institutes," added Bose.

Both the institutes are also working on specific courses that will empower women. Bose stated, "We are planning to customise the programmes for the benefit of housewives. These courses will be in the field of museum merchandising and development, among others."

IGNOU to offer courses on culture studies

More Education news