Question : Scrapping of Courses by IGNOU

(a) whether the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has scrapped various programmes/courses;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to ensure completion of courses by the bona fide students enrolled with community college under IGNOU;

(c) whether the IGNOU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army to provide soldiers B. Sc. and B. Com. degrees under Gyandeep Scheme, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to work out a special scheme for armed forces in the matter and to honour the MoU signed with Army?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): As per the information furnished by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), a large number of programmes were offered through face-to-face mode by the University by signing MoUs with Private Institutions which were not as per the mandate of the university. Subsequently, based on the report of a High Powered Committee, the university has discontinued/kept in abeyance some of its programmes including community colleges offered through face-to-face mode and also programmes running in collaboration with other institutions in the country and abroad from the academic cycle commencing July, 2012. The main reasons were that the courses offered were neither in accordance with the university’s Statutes nor the University had domain knowledge and subject expertise in their curriculum design and delivery.
The University further informed that 245 academic programmes have been kept in abeyance as they did not meet the requirement of the University Act/Statutes/Ordinances. However, the students admitted till January, 2012 admission cycle are allowed to complete their programmes of studies and with regard to declaration of results, 54,516 [Certificate-20442, Diploma-31644 and Associate Degree (Advance Diploma)-2430] grade cards and provisional certificates have been issued to the students registered under Community College Scheme.
(c): As per the information furnished by IGNOU, a MoU was signed between IGNOU and Indian Army on 4th September, 2009 for Gyandeep Scheme with the objective of conferring educational certification on soldiers of the Indian Army, within the parameters laid down by IGNOU, for Community Colleges, recognizing the ‘In Service’ training done by them. This would be within the broad framework set out by the University, through registration of Regimental Training Centres/Human Resource Development centres of the Indian Army and Army Schools of Instruction which would be hereinafter known as “Army-IGNOU Community College” or “Community Colleges.” Further, as per the provisions of the aforesaid MoU, the students after acquiring skills/knowledge worth 64 credits from the Army-IGNOU Community Colleges, have the option of vertical mobility into 3rd year of B.A./B.Com./B.Sc. of IGNOU.
(d): As per the information furnished by IGNOU, to honor the MoU, so far the University has issued 3,73,047 Degrees/Grade Cards/Provisional Certificates based on the results provided by the Indian Army and also permitted vertical mobility of Gyandeep Associate Degree (Advance Diploma) holders into 3rd year of B.A./B.Com./B.Sc (Hons. In Applied Science) form July 2015 Session as per the decision of the 64th Academic Council meeting held on 10th July, 2015.
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