IGNOU launches online PG diploma programme in Sustainability Science

The Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOUs) chair for sustainable development (CSD) has launched an online postgraduate diploma programme in sustainability science.

All graduates in social and natural sciences, policy makers, administrators, scientists and educators as well as general public interested in sustainable development are eligible to enrol for this programme. The course duration is a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years. The programme is offered for the July session only.

The application forms will be available as per the university admission schedule from the concerned regional centre. Online applications are available at university's official website.

The diploma is touted as a ticket to careers in national and international organisations, industries and academic institutions.

Formally launching the programme at the university, Shailesh Nayak, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, "Sustainability is anticipation, that is, what is likely to happen for example, with the monsoons, rainfall, winds etc. There are many thresholds (like global warming) we have crossed. The two most essential components to understand the environment is variability and change.

In addition to it, individual countries and nations play a very important role for they have their own policy and resources which they put into use. Community as a whole also affects the entire process."

"With the launch, IGNOU has become one of the very few universities in the world and the first in the country to start ‘sustainability science' as a new discipline, like the United Nations University, University of Lund, University of Tokyo etc have," said VN Rajasekharan Pillai, vice chancellor, IGNOU.

Source: HT Horizons

Date: 5th May 2011