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IGNOU to be part of 'mega varsity network'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE NOV. 16. A worldwide network of universities, called Global Mega University Net (GMUNET), was proposed at the Global Summit of Mega Universities (universities with the highest enrolments) held in Shanghai, China, last week. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which is the largest mega university with an enrolment of 10.5 lakh students, will be part of the network.

Speaking to presspersons on Sunday, the Director of the IGNOU Regional Centre here, B.P.R. Narasimharao, said the network would promote "mutual understanding among mega universities, and explore ways and means of cooperation".

The priority areas for collaboration among mega universities include open and distance-learning, curriculum development, surveys of fluctuating market demand, employment of experts, information and communication technology, and infrastructure.

Dr. Narasimharao said there would be joint programmes and initiatives by participating universities at certificate, degree, and non-degree levels. The universities, which would be part of the network, intended to exchange information and evolve best practices for quality assurance and mechanisms.

The network would provide a forum for ideas and developments in research, and facilitate the exchange of staff and students, he added. Mega universities from 13 countries participated in the summit.

The summit decided to set up a liaison office and Secretariat for GMUNET, which would be shifted on rotation. The Secretariat would be at the Shanghai TV University till November 2004, after which it would be shifted to IGNOU. The president of Shanghai TV University, Zhang Deming, was elected chairperson of GMUNET, and the IGNOU Vice-Chancellor, H.P. Dikshit, co-chairperson. The chairperson would be appointed on rotation.

Dr. Narasimharao said that it was also decided that IGNOU would host the next World Summit of Mega Universities in 2005.

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