IGNOU offers information security courses

Chennai: IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) announced on June 18 that it has kick-started the admission process for post-graduate diploma and certificate courses in information security—both conducted by its School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET).

Those who have successfully completed under-graduation can apply for the one-year Post Graduate Diploma in Information Security (PGDIS) programme. But the six-month Advanced Certificate in Information Security (ACISE) course is for matriculate students.

"These programmes aim to raise high professional ethics in the individuals and students towards providing information security and make one competent enough to acquire the necessary skills and techniques to ensure protection against any infiltration. The programmes have been designed to prepare the youth to experiment and learn the skills and techniques needed for providing protection and security to the information available in the virtual environment and to make learners both responsible and smart net users," programme coordinator Urshla Kant said in a statement issued to the press.

NCP MP demands restoring IGNOU courses

New Delhi: HRD Minister's intervention was sought in Rajya Sabha today for restoring 26 face-to-face programmes by the Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU) in the wake of over 10,000 BEd aspirants and other students being deprived admissions.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Tariq Anwar (NCP) said fate of 10,000 BEd aspirants and other students was left in the lurch due to closure of 26 face-to-face programmes and 129 institutions under IGNOU's convergence scheme.
   

He said the courses had gained popularity since their introduction in 2008 and at present around 2,000 students are enrolled in these undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
   

Anwar said even admissions under open and distance learning have taken a hit this year.
   

"While IGNOU admitted 1.19 lakh students in January 2012, during the same period last year the university admitted nearly two lakh students," he said urging the HRD Minister to look into the matter to save the future of students.
   

Anwar said IGNOU was passing through the worst phase now since its inception in 1985. 

IGNOU launches new programmes in health care

NAGPUR: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Nagpur centre, has activated new centres and programmes in the health care and foreign languages. This includes - postgraduate diplomas in maternal and child health, and geriatric medicine along with certificate courses in Ayurveda, AYUSH nursing, French language, and home-based care providers. Each of these courses, starting from July, will provide 30-40 seats with different admission criteria.

National level experts have formulated these programmes which have been put in the curriculum of IGNOU to reach every nook and corners of the country for providing opportunities in the field of education.

Dean of AYUSH (Ayurveda) College, Ganesh Mukkawar, says, "Nagpur centre will help to extend professional training in Ayurveda to masses." People come from Pune and Mumbai as well to attend classes in the Nagpur region as it is the educational hub for Central India, he adds. Last year, 7,000 students had taken admission in IGNOU for the various courses and 2,000 had enrolled in the MBA course.

Moreover, IGNOU will start new centres like Sadabai Raisoni Women's College and Kaushlyadevi Maheshwari Mahila Mahavidyalaya in the city and one centre in Gondia from the new academic session. "Every university is trying to achieve a single objective which is to expand the scope of education in the country. We also aim that education should reach the grass root level and every citizen should be well-qualified," says Nagpur regional director P Sivaswaroop.

IGNOU offers online courses on sustainable science

New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started its admission process for three online courses on sustainable sciences, a statement said on Thursday.

Admissions are open for - Leadership Programme on Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development, Appreciation Programme on Sustainable Management of Ganga - A Scientific Approach and Leadership Programme on Himalayan Ecosystems for the May 2012 session.

"The objective of these programmes is to sensitize policy makers, administrators, scientists and other stakeholders in the emerging discipline of sustainability science," said the statement.

"The aspirants must be graduates in any subject," it added.

As per IGNOU, the courses offer a complete virtual learning environment covering all activities, from registration to certification.

"It consists of integrated multimedia course ware, online counseling and mentoring, 24x7 learner support; group-based online seminar, online project platform and online examination," said the statement. 

IGNOU to offer more facilities to differently-abled students

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will provide new wheelchairs, lifts and additional security at all regional centres to help the differently-abled students.

“Many students with disabilities are seeking admission to various courses offered by IGNOU. At present, there are a few thousands of students with different categories of disabilities,” vice-chancellor M Aslam said.

IGNOU had also organised a two-day workshop last week to train staffers from all its 67 regional centres, on how to assist and deal with physically-disabled students.

IGNOU conducts science quiz for jail inmates

Nagpur: The regional hub of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) conducted a science quiz for the inmates of Central Prison here.

As many as 30 questions were asked and prisoners displayed a tremendous amount of knowledge with their quick replies even before the question could be completed, authorities said.

The event was a joint initiative between the IGNOU and Nagpur chapter of the Indian Science Congress.

The winners were awarded merit certificates and a book on science on the sidelines of the National Science Day on February 28.

Vice-Chancellor of RSTM Nagpur University, Vilas Sapkal, IGNOU Regional Director Dr P Shivaswroop and Superintendent of Central Prison here V V Shekdar distributed certificates to the winning inmates at a function here.

Central Prisons in Nagpur and Amravati are the IGNOU Study Centres in Vidarbha from among 13 districts of Vidarbha (nine districts) and Marathwada (three districts).