The Ignou building in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), over the past few years, has expanded manifold. It has now emerged as a hub for distance education. However, issues that can dilute the quality of learning should not be ignored, distance learners feel.

A two-day regional seminar on quality issues in open and distance education, organised by the Bhubaneswar Regional Centre was held here. Issues such as learners’ needs and problems, quality support service for distance learners, technology support in distance learning, needs and concerns and convergence of distance and conventional institutions for quality distance learning were discussed.

“Lack of monitoring remains one main drawback.

“There is almost no monitoring of teaching quality in hundreds of centres spread across the state,” said student Bidyabhushan Rath.

“Quality of assignment evaluations should be carried out properly by the concerned evaluator. They should be capable to giving us advice on areas where we need to improve,” said Nihar Samal, another student.

Established in 1986, the Bhubaneswar Regional Centre currently runs 350 academic programmes and has 126 learning centres in 21 districts across the state. At least 19,297 students of the state are enrolled in various courses under the university.

“Universities, institutions of higher learning in the conventional system and in the open and distance education system are constantly being scrutinised for the kind of academic programmes they offer. Open and distance education institutions need to be more careful to improve and maintain their quality,” said pro vice-chancellor of the Ignou B.K. Choudhry.

“There is a common belief that quality suffers when quantity increases. There, the quality aspect in ODE system should be given its due weightage,” he said.

“Open and distance education in India has carved a niche in higher education by catering to educational aspirations of more than half of the total number of students enrolled in higher education.

“As open and distance education has the potential to accommodate a huge number, quality issues need to be addressed to take care of the quantity,” said Ignou regional director S.K. Tripathy.

Many distinguished academicians presented 51 papers in the event. The seminar was held to bring all stakeholders on one platform to discuss various issues faced by them, Tripathy said.

As Ignou is celebrating its silver jubilee this year, many academic activities are taking place in various regional centres across the country.

“The Bhubaneswar Regional Centre already has organised a blood donation programme and a debate competition for the distance learners,” the director said.

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), over the past few years, has expanded manifold. It has now emerged as a hub for distance education. However, issues that can dilute the quality of learning should not be ignored, distance learners feel.

A two-day regional seminar on quality issues in open and distance education, organised by Bhubaneswar Regional Centre was held here. Issues such as the learner’s needs and problems, quality support service for distance learners, technology support in distance learning, needs and concerns, and convergence of distance and conventional institutions for quality distance learning were discussed.

“Lack of monitoring remains one main drawback. There is almost no monitoring of teaching quality in hundreds of centres spread across the state,” said student Bidyabhushan Rath.

“Quality of assignment evaluations should be carried out properly by the concerned evaluator. They should be capable to giving us advice on areas where we need to improve,” said Nihar Samal, another student.

Established in 1986, the Bhubaneswar Regional Centre currently runs 350 academic programmes and has 126 learning centres in 21 districts across the state. At least 19,297 students of the state are enrolled in various courses under the university.

“Universities, institutions of higher learning in the conventional system and in the open and distance education system are constantly being scrutinised for the kind of academic programs they offer. Open and distance education institutions need to be more careful in order to improve and maintain their quality to change the mindset of majority of people that it is not a second-rated education system,” said pro vice-chancellor, Ignou, B. K. Choudhry, while speaking at the seminar.

“ There is a common belief that quality suffers when quantity increases. If quality aspect in ODE system is ignored or not given its due weightage, then the belief would become true,” he said

“Open and distance education in India has carved a significant place in the landscape of higher education by catering to the educational aspirations of more than half of the total number of students enrolled in higher education. As Open and distance education has the potential to accommodate a huge number, so, quality issues need to be addressed to take care of the quantity,” said Ignou regional director S.K. Tripathy.

During the programme, distinguished academicians presented 51 papers. The aim of conducting the seminar was to bring all stakeholders on one platform in order to discuss the various issues faced by them, Tripathy said.

Ignou is celebrating its silver jubilee this year and to celebrate the occasion, several academic activites are taking place in various regional centres of the country.

“The Bhubaneswar Regional Centre already has organised a blood donation programme and a debate competition for distance learners, the director said.