Participants at the Ignou convocation. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Feb. 22: The presence of around 300 participants at the 14th convocation ceremony of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) here today made it clear that education is an “open-ended process” and can be pursued at any point of time.

The participants included 30-year-old Ashok Sharma who received his diploma in marketing management to 60-plus Sister Babe, former principal of Loreto College (Calcutta).

It was a moment of celebration for Chitra Mishra, a medical practitioner with BIT-Mesra, when she received her degree from Ranchi University vice-chancellor S.S. Kushwaha who was the guest of honour for the evening

“There is no end to learning. I am looking forward to more avenues of knowledge and for this of course, I once again look forward to Ignou,” said Mishra who received her degree in postgraduate diploma in maternity and child health.

Addressing the gathering Kushwaha said: “Education being the an important investment for over-all development, concerted efforts are needed to expand opportunities for higher education to an extent where we are able to offer it to all those who want it.” expressed his willingness to help get land for the Ignou study centre which is at present at St Xavier’s College. “Let the regional director of Ignou and Ranchi University jointly urge the government for land so that there can be a permanent study centre,” he said.

Regional director of Ignou V.P. Rupam said: “With the visionary leadership, guidance and support that it has received from intellectuals and policy-makers of the country, Ignou today has become such an institution that several countries in the world look up to it for inspiration and support.”