IGNOU plans ICT education cluster for 5 countries

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is planning to start an Information Communication Technology (ICT) cluster in five South Asian countries for capacity building in education sector.

The varsity, has already given a presentation outlining the details of the plan to parliamentarians of Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka at the first ever contact group meeting of parliamentarians on education organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

"We have given a presentation on developing an ICT cluster in these countries. India will lead the action and IGNOU will be the nodal body to implement and operate it," IGNOU vice chancellor Rajashekharan Pillai told IANS.

"This will boost education, help in capacity building and generate education content across the region," Pillai added.

Earlier this week, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told the parliamentarians of the five countries that such a cluster will help in creation of wealth, skill development and employability.

IGNOU is the largest open university in the world. Currently, it has a student base of nearly three million spread across 34 countries.

"Once implemented, IGNOU will make all efforts to develop e-content, facilitate virtual class-room facility and enhance access to millions of students. From teachers training to making students get quality and contemporary education, every thing can be done efficiently.

"With ICT, the countries have come closer. When the region has almost the similar problem, its better to go for ICT and here India and IGNOU can lead," the vice chancellor said.

He also said that Edusat, the education satellite of India, has the potential to play a role in facilitating this effort.

"An enlarged footprint of Edusat can help the cause in a major way," he said.

Authorities said that since IGNOU had been doing similar work for years, developing an ICT based education cluster won't be costly.

"It will be cost-effective. The cost can go up by just 20-25 per cent from what we are spending now," Pillai said, adding that the budget-details for the project are yet to be chalked out.

©IANS