Open Universities and MOOCs for reaching the unreached
14 July, 2014
Prof. G.Ram Reddy was the founding Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) established in the year 1985. He foresaw, planned , designed and shaped the course structure and administrative set up of this mega university. A lecture is organized to commemorate his death anniversary on 2nd July by IGNOU.
This year 19th Prof. G.Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, organized by IGNOU, was delivered by Prof. Asha Kanwar ,President & CEO, Commonwealth of Learning. The main theme of the lecture was “Open Universities in the time of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses): reaching the unreached?” Professor Asha Kanwar, one of the world’s leading advocates for learning for development associated with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as an academician since 1988. In 1999, she became Pro-Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. Professor Kanwar has over 30 years of experience in teaching, research and administration.
Prof. Asha Kanwar in her lecture stated that while reaching the unreached, underprivileged and vulnerable groups/sections of Society, emphasis should be on people, rather than on technologies alone, whereby the knowledge as a social product emerging as an ‘interface’ of machine, individual, society and learning as a process that leads to development. She recollected that in view of the contribution by IGNOU on ODL, IGNOU was named "Centre Of Excellence for Distance Education"by Prof. James A. Maraj, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer, COL
“Since Independence, India has made tremendous progress in various fields. While its development has contributed to greater production, there has not been corresponding improvement in distributive justice.” She quoted a visionary statement of Prof. Reddy.
Further, Prof. Kanwar emphasized in her presentation regarding (i) Establishment of CEMCA at IGNOU in 1994 (ii) launching of the Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship Scheme (RGFS) from 1995 onward, a two-year, distance-delivered Masters of Distance Education programme for education administrators at IGNOU
The function was presided by Prof. M.Aslam, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU. In his presidential remarks, Prof. Aslam mentioned that Prof. G.Ram Reddy Memorial lecture series was started at IGNOU in 1996. While recalling his services and contribution to ODL, Prof. Aslam mentioned that “recognizing his services, the Andhra Pradesh Government named the Centre of Distance Education in Osmania University as G. Ram Reddy Centre of Distance Education. Also, Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture was instituted in his memory by the IGNOU, New Delhi” he added.
Prof Aslam also stated that “Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has the mandate to democratize higher education through the open and distance learning mode. This National Open University, established by an Act of Parliament in 1985, provides opportunities for an inclusive and a successful learning environment for millions of learners from all sections of the society to acquire a University Certification for academic pursuits, gainful employment, and workplace education and for career progression.”
Prof. P. Prakash, PVC, IGNOU welcomed the gathering on this occasion. Mrs. Pramila Reddy, wife of late Prof. G.Ram Reddy was also present during the event. Mr. J.Ernest Samuel Ratnakumar, Registrar,IGNOU proposed vote of thanks.
