The Peninsula
Doha, May 9: The Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) off campus centre, MES Indian School, will soon be providing undergraduate courses in science and doctorate programmes, according to Dr Parveen Sinclair, one of the Pro-Vice Chancellors of the university.
IGNOU, based in New Delhi, India, claims to be the largest university in the world with about 1.8m students in 35 countries apart from India. It offers about 148 programmes, both in the modular and credit systems, adding about two courses every month. It offers courses from the certificate to the doctorate level.
MES is all set to start its undergraduate courses in science. "The laboratories are excellent. But they need to be improved some more to facilitate the courses", said Dr Sinclair at a press conference in the school. The MES off campus centre, started in 2000, offers many courses, including the much sought after bachelor's degree programmes in education, commerce and business administration.
Ever since it began in 1985 through a parliamentary provision, the university has been keen to provide higher education to large sections of the population, particularly the disadvantaged segments of society, as per its mission. Bachelors Preparatory Programme (BPP), a six-month course, is a special feature of the university. The course enables anyone educated up to seventh grade gain entry into undergraduate courses. "This is set as a bridge for those who couldn't study to get back in touch with education," said Dr Sinclair.
"We are the harbingers of democracy in education. We go to the doorsteps of those who need our services," she said. "Learning is a never-ending process. We have to strive for it continually," she added.
Talking to media persons, Dr Sinclair said, "The courses we offer are very interesting. The university syllabus is set as per the need of the times. Our children are equal or come at par with the students of other universities even in the west. The toughness of the syllabus has never affected our students. It has always made them more competitive"
Dr Sinclair was here to attend the third convocation of the off campus students in Doha, held yesterday.