New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS): Online education can be a useful tool for those seeking a second degree or an additional value addition course, V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) said Friday.

"Teaching, learning, examination and certification through online and virtual classrooms need to be systematically introduced in our curriculum and examinations," said Pillai.

The Vice Chancellor said the country's higher education system should adopt protocols and norms for recognizing credits earned by online education or by virtual classroom teaching for the award of university degrees and diplomas.

"Such programmes should be cost-effective, flexible job training and work integrated learning programmes keeping in mind the new skill demands of the changing markets and technologies," he said.

According to IGNOU, it has an online learning platform where more than 30,000 active users have been registered in 2011.

"We have 10 online academic programmes where certificates, diplomas and degrees are awarded after online delivery, counselling and online examinations," said Pillai.