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IGNOU— |
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Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) - India’s first Virtual
Campus |
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"Indira
Gandhi National Open University was established in 1985 as the apex
Open University in the country with the goal of providing higher education
to large segments of the population and to disseminate learning and
knowledge through different methods. The University was also looking
to monitor and encourage other Open University systems in the country.
One of the fastest growing educational systems in the world, with over
six lakh students, more than 50 programs comprising over 600 courses,
IGNOU is the largest university in the country and the second largest
in the world. To achieve its vision of reaching out to students across
the country, IGNOU created the Virtual Campus, a technology-driven learning
experience and examination approach. " |
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Online
education is the most exciting segment in the Indian IT space. A host
of e-education sites continue to enter the market with focused offerings,
linking up students and teachers, almost on a daily basis. This is happening
because the new medium seeks to supplement -- not replace -- traditional
teaching-learning methodologies. Keeping in view the global and in country/domestic
market changes, India has to play a vital role in terms of software
exports, skilled manpower support, and online education. With India
currently in the midst of a "dotcom" wave, Indira Ghandi National
Open University (IGNOU) has taken the initiative in launching online
in January 2000 two of its educational computer programmes. In July
2000 it launched twenty capsule courses (each comprising three courses)
in different specialization areas of management |
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Each
of these capsules addresses one specific functional or specialization
area, one basic course pertaining to that specialization and a project
course. The Bachelor of Information Technology and Advanced Diploma
in Information Technology programmes are offered through a Virtual Campus
Initiative (VCI). Management Programme capsule courses are offered through
Project MEIDS (Management Education through Interactive Delivery Systems).
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IGNOU’s
Virtual Campus gives greater control to the learner. The course content
and lectures are available on http://www.ignou.org/virtualcampus with
a voice enabled modules. Students can either access this lectures by
connecting to the Internet from home or visit IGNOU’s Tele Learning
Centers. The University currently has 21 Regional Centers and 20 Tele
Learning Centers located in key cities along with 440 Study Centers
that are spread across the country with special emphasis on the remote
and inaccessible areas of the North Eastern states, the tribal belts
of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Bihar. |
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To
decrease learner isolation and to provide academic, administrative and
informative support to learners, Student Support Services operates two
types of support centres -- regional centres and study centres. The
latter play an important role, delivering self-learning course material
and supplementary learning aids (audio, video, teleconference, interactive
radio counselling, etc.) and providing opportunities for learners to
enhance their learning through contact programmes |
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To
provide support services to learners in areas not having institution-based
support facilities, individuals who have post-graduate degrees and who
are permanent residents in given areas may serve as distance learning
facilitators. They include retired teachers/officers, professionals,
housewives, or even motivated unemployed individuals. Similarly, with
the objective of extending the outreach of education on a single window
basis (making all facilities available at one place), IGNOU in collaboration
with the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, has launched
an educational project to cater to defense personnel in different parts
of the country. |
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