Imphal, March 23 2009: With vision to tap the local potentials and to make best utility of the resources available in the state, the Imphal's Regional Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is launching Certificate Courses in Black Pottery, Shiitake Mushroom and Performing Arts from June/July this year.

The Imphal Regional Centre of the World's largest Open University, IGNOU has been taking the initiative for the inclusion of the Courses which also had subsequently been approved by the authority of the University.

At present, the Regional Centre of the University has activated 135 courses of studies at various levels including vocational ones.

However, the University recorded the enrolment of around 1500 students in only 25 courses.

The then Imphal study centre of IGNOU, under the Regional Centre, Shillong was upgraded into a Regional Centre in 2001.The Imphal RC has currently 13 study centres in different parts of the state.

Among the courses it has offered, Certificate Courses in Primary Education, Bachelor of Education, and organic farming and sericulture in the vocational streams have of late become major choices for students and it has witnessed the rush of students pursuing for these courses in large number.

Significantly, MBA has also gained wide popularity among the students and it saw a marked increase of students offering the course.

"We are giving more importance to Vocational streams than the other course of studies given the opportunities it offers.

Grounding the trainees to start their own business is what we are focusing on," Assistant Director of the Imphal RC, IGNOU, Joseph Kuba told Hueiyen Lanpao during an exclusive chat.

In its efforts towards the end, the IGNOU has also activated a Certificate Courses solely in Organic farming, Diary and Meat Technology and Sericulture at KVK, Bishnupur and KVK Mantripukhri, Joseph added while adding that large number of students have enrolled for the courses which proves the success of the courses.

The courses are expected to be beneficial for the apprentices as the state possesses enough resources, he said.

The next courses which are waiting in the wing for introduction are Motorcycle and Car Repairing, Handicraft and Carpentry, Kuba pointed out.

"People have, though lately realised the importance of the University and began to like the materials that were provided to students, apart from the courses it offers," the Assistant Director of the Imphal Regional Centre of IGNOU, Joseph Kuba said.

As a result of intensive campaign, he said, the Regional Centre witnesses the rush of students from the academic session 2007-08.Before this, the registration of students was negligibly low.

"The main problem which handicapped the performance of IGNOU is lack of trained teachers," Joseph reasoned.

"In tandem with the objectives of the University, the RC is giving more emphasises on need-based industry," he said.

Joseph pointed out: "Two students of the University who have completed their graduation through IGNOU after a Bachelor's Preparatory Programme (BPP) were selected in the prestigious Civil Services Examination in 2008." It may be noted that a Bachelor's Degree can be pursued after completion of a six month BPP course without having any other formal educational degrees.

Hence, for any service with 'graduation' as the eligible criteria, one can apply without any fear of rejection.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 with objectives to democratise higher education by taking it to the door steps of the learners, provide access to high quality education to all those who seek it irrespective of age, region or formal qualification; offer need-based academic programmes; promote distance education; and set standards in distance education in India.

The World's largest Open University, IGNOU has 2300 study centres in India and 52 such centres abroad, and it has around 70 Regional Centres and Sub-Regional Centres.

The unique features of the University among others are national jurisdiction, flexible admission, rule cost-effective programme, socially and academically relevant programmes based on students needs analysis.

The launch of a series of 24 hour Educational Channels Gyan Darshan I, II, III and Kisan Channel from EMPC, IGNOU and the launch of Edusat videoconferencing channel are some of the important achievements of IGNOU apart from awarding 100 fellowships by COL as Rajiv Gandhi Fellowships to enable candidates from 19 countries in the commonwealth to pursue IGNOU programmes.

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