Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031860730600.htm

Tamil Nadu

College to sign pact with IGNOU

VIRUDHUNAGAR: V.V. Vanniaperumal College for Women will partner with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to provide enhanced access programmes (EAP), an improved format of distance education correspondence programme and dual degrees.

The college would sign a memorandum of understanding with IGNOU on March 23, the college president, S.P.G.R. Nithyanandan, told reporters on Monday.

“We are planning to offer 55 courses, including certificate, diploma, under-graduate and post-graduate courses,” its secretary, P.C.K. Muralidharan said.

This EAP coaching would be a combination of that of open university programme and regular classes, the college principal, R. Anusuya, said.

“Unlike not so mandatory contact classes in open university programmes, here weekend class is compulsory,” she added. The programme is aimed at making optimal use of the available infrastructure and teaching staff resources for the EAP.

The college would be offering dual degrees. Students enrolled in colleges through conventional system would be enrolled simultaneously for a degree of the same level in IGNOU. Besides, the students undergoing UG and PG courses would be allowed to take up certificate/diploma programmes as a value-added programme.

Mr. Nithyanandan said that the college has chosen courses that were relevant to the region and add value to core subjects. The college has taken efforts to get autonomy.