Organises 35th Convocation in Srinagar
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has become a hub of affordable education for all sections of society, especially students hailing from far-flung/ remote areas and weaker sections. The University conducted its 35th Convocation on Wednesday and awarded degrees to students in Srinagar.
IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar held convocation at Tagore Hall Srinagar to award degrees to around 10,368 students while number of students who were awarded degrees at national level was 2.91 lakh. The Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan attended the function as Chief Guest through online mode while Director National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar Dr Rakesh Sehgal was the Guest of Honour and Director General, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) Saurabh Bhagat attended the function as Chief Speaker and presented degrees/ certificates to students.
The main function of 35th convocation of IGNOU was held in New Delhi along with its 32 regional centres in respective regions. One Niyaz Ahmad Yatoo from Nagam area of district Budgam bagged Gold Medal in Master of Anthropology.
Briefing about IGNOU regional centre Srinagar, Regional Director, Dr Kamlesh Meena said the centre was established in 1999 and since then it had made inroads in Valley in a tremendous manner. The centre started with around four courses at the time of establishment but presently university has 46 learner support centres where it offers admission in 40 programmes through distance mode, he said, adding that IGNOU regional centre Srinagar is planning for academic expansion. “All these initiatives will be effectively adopted to implement New Education Policy (NEP 2020) and for empowering the higher education institutions like Regional Centre Srinagar in Kashmir Valley,” said Regional Director.
Director NIT, Rakesh Sehgal in his address said that IGNOU is playing a vital role to cater the different communities by imparting higher education opportunities through distance mode. “IGNOU is the biggest platform for providing higher education facilities to unreached segments of society, especially economically backward, marginalized and poor groups of society,” he said.
Director General of IMPARD J&K, Saurabh Bhagat said that IGNOU is the largest University catering higher education institution across the world with the mandate of democratization of higher education among masses. For those female students of remote areas who do not have any access to regular classes, IGNOU provides them a platform at par with the other institutions, he added.