IGNOU conducts meeting on promoting ODL, online courses

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) conducted a National Consultative meeting at IGNOU campus on Promoting ODL and Online Courses as a part of <g data-gr-id="27">formulation</g> of New Education Policy by Government of India. The meeting was inaugurated by V S Oberoi, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

The Secretary Higher Education shared his views on the theme Open and Distance Learning and Online Courses. He urged the distinguished gathering to look at the whole perspective differently and reposition ODL in the new architecture of education for <g data-gr-id="25">21st</g> century.

He emphasised that the ODL mode should not be taken as an adjunct mode and needs to come to the mainstream. He also stated that the quality of programmes 

offered through ODL should be better than those offered through <g data-gr-id="28">other mode</g> for which new policy should provide adequate inputs.

Referring to the example of Skill India, he stated that: “ODL probably has an advantage over other systems since the large groups can be addressed with minimal infrastructural support. Similar sectors need to be addressed in this policy document which should come out as a visioning document for next 20-25 years. We should develop the vision for ODL mode first.”

He also urged that adequate attention needs to be paid towards <g data-gr-id="32">education</g> of armed forces and paramilitary personnel and learners with special needs. He also advocated interdisciplinary approach and mentioned not to segment educational content into silos.

Prof Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU discussed the objectives of the meeting and highlighted the task assigned to IGNOU by MHRD. 

He mentioned that this is the third consultative meeting on the New Educational Policy (NEP) on the theme “Promoting ODL and online courses”, the earlier two were conducted at Delhi and Chennai.