Karnataka - Mysore

KSOU to have its publications division

MYSORE: The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) is all set to establish its “Prasaranga” (publications division) for which Rs. 50 lakh has been earmarked.

Vice-Chancellor of KSOU B.A. Vivek Rai told The Hindu that the objective of setting up the publications division was to publish relevant books needed for the students of KSOU both in English and Kannada. “The KSOU is publishing self instructional materials and we want to publish reference books for them. We wanted to bring out reference books on subjects such as information technology, biotechnology, journalism, mass communication and nutrition,” he said.

He said the university had the required infrastructure for commencing “Prasaaranga” as it had 106 study centres across the State. “We can invite scholars and specialists in subjects to deliver lectures to students in six regional centres and get them published later,” he said.

There was a plan to bring out CDs on specialised subjects along with the printed version and Rs. 50 lakh a year has been earmarked for the purpose, he added. “Publishing text and reference books in digital form will help in a big way in linking KSOU with other universities in the country,” Prof. Rai said.

A consulting committee comprising experts from various fields would be formed soon which would guide the KSOU in selecting the works for publication.

Prasaranga would give priority to translation from English to Kannada and vice-versa, he added.

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