Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Latest offerings from IGNOU

G. KRISHNAKUMAR

What is new among the courses being offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in 2006.

A TIMELY COURSE: IGNOU's graduate diploma courses cover newer subjects such as disaster management and women's empowerment. PHOTO: P.V.SIVAKUMAR

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is diversifying its academic programmes in 2006 by introducing a postgraduate diploma course in disaster management and a certificate course in ICT applications in library. These are among the 86 courses notified for the January session. A diploma programme in women's empowerment and development and a certificate course in food safety (online) are the two other courses announced by the university.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Management (PGDDM) is of one-year duration. Graduates in any discipline can apply. "The major objective of the programme is to provide comprehensive knowledge on disaster preparedness, mitigation and rehabilitation," says V. Vasudevan, Regional Director of IGNOU. Seven subjects will be offered. These include understanding natural and manmade disasters, risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, disaster preparedness, disaster response, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery and project work. Dr. Vasudevan says that candidates completing the course will be able to carry out risk assessment and vulnerability analysis during an emergency. Government functionaries, NGO volunteers, military, paramilitary, home guards, civil defence personnel, geologists, scientists, meteorologists, engineers, administrators and officials of Government and public sector undertakings can apply for the course. The fee is Rs. 3,100.

The Diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development is a one-year course consisting of 32 credits. The objective is to sensitise development workers on gender-issues. It will impart necessary expertise to learners to function as trainers and community organisers. Some subjects included in the curriculum are women and society, strategies for women's development, women and development, foundation course in gender training perspectives and credit and finance. The course will be offered at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Ernakulam study centres. The fee is Rs.1, 900.

The certificate programme in ICT applications in library is of six-month duration. Those who have completed Plus Two with certificate or diploma in library science can apply. The course is offered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam study centres.

The fee is Rs. 4,100. The objective of the programme is to impart mass ICT literacy programme for junior-level professionals. The courses include database and content organisation, library automation and digitisation and network-based information services.

The Certificate in Food Safety is a six-month programme offered at Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam centres. Those who have completed Plus Two can apply. The programme fee is Rs. 1,700. CD-ROM and course materials in print will support the online programme.

The Master of Computer Applications (MCA) course is one of the most sought after courses of the university in Kerala, says Dr. Vasudevan. Over 1,200 candidates had enrolled for the course in January.

IGNOU will offer eight doctoral programmes in education, history, tourism studies, political science, economics, sociology, public administration and library and information science.

A Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA) course and Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMPA) course will also be offered in January 2006. The duration of both the courses is two years. Other postgraduate programmes include distance education, business administration, business administration (banking and finance), and computer applications.

The degree programmes offered are nursing, civil (Construction management/water resources engineering), and hospitality and hotel administration. Courses in hospitality and hotel administration will be offered in collaboration with the National Counselling for Hotel and Catering Technology.

The last date for submitting the application is September 15. Details can be had from IGNOU Regional Centre, Kaloor, Kochi, 682017 (ph: 0484-2340203/2348189/2330891; www.ignou.ac.in)

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail