IGNOU FAQs on Open and Distance Learning

Questions like, ‘Are the programmes which are unique to IGNOU considered valid by other universities? Can I take admission at IGNOU in spite of myself being registered with any other university? – and so on are now answered in a ready booklet. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a new booklet and an e-booklet on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system.

In a notice posted on its website, IGNOU informs, “It is observed that the learners including the prospective as well as the alumni, guardians, teachers and several other stakeholders had many misgivings regarding the norms and procedures, rules and regulations followed in the University. In this regard, this booklet is going to be a very useful compilation as it would act as a ready reference material for all the full-time and part-time functionaries of IGNOU spread over Headquarters, Regional Centres and the Study Centres.”

There are a total of ten chapters in the booklet. The first eight chapters deal with issues like registration, evaluation, recognition, projects, practicals, assignments, etc. Chapter 9 consists of inter alia selected actual and representative case studies. “Several academic programmes are on offer at IGNOU which do not have parallel in the conventional system and the learners have many queries regarding them. We have listed those in Chapter 9 which we have received from time to time. Chapter 10 is on ODL-Quiz which contains 60 Multiple Choice Type questions with answers which are targeted towards testing the knowledge of the reader about the ODL System of IGNOU and it also generates awareness about the same,” mentions the booklet preparation team.

The FAQ e-book is uploaded on the University's website www.ignou.ac.in under the "Student Zone" tab on the home page.

And of course, for all your education related queries, be it distance or full-time in your choice of subject, just log on to shiksha.com.

Log in to IGNOU site for all admission-related queries and transactions

Helping students with easy access to information, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has introduced website-based student services. Henceforth, crucial student-related information will be uploaded on the IGNOU’s website.

According to a notice posted on IGNOU’s website, information will be provided on various issues, such as admission, re-registration details, status of re-admission, change of elective/ course, address checking, credit transfer effected, study centre opted, and so forth. The website will also host downloadable files such as prospectus, application forms of various programmes, registration forms, re-admission forms, credit transfer scheme of various programmes with their respective prescribed performa, etc.  It will also upload notifications issued pertaining to equivalence/ recognition granted and the notifications/ gazette publication by various regulatory bodies pertaining to recognition of IGNOUs degrees/ diploma’s. The varsity informed about these new developments through an official notification posted on its website.

According to Dr Pankaj Khare, Registrar, Student Registration Division (SRD), “It is the SRD of the university that handles its three million active students for registration to its various programmes. In order to streamline and facilitate handling this voluminous data, the division has developed in-house software for error detection in admission and re-registration data and the same has been provided to all the Regional Centres.”

He added that the division has also developed software for change of elective/course, address, Regional Centre/ Study Centre and ‘on-line’ transmission of data by RCs called the Regional Data Transfer System (RDTS). The University introduced ‘On-line admission’ for all the programmes from November 2008. At present, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India are entrusted with the task across the country.

Students can search their latest status of admission for July 2012 and January 2013 sessions on the website along with their admission validity in the database including the re-admission period. They can type their name and find out their enrolment number and check their eligibility for appearing in the term-end exams.