NT Reporter
Panaji
Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday exuded confidence that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s budget announcement to allot land to establish a permanent regional centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will soon turn into
a reality.
“Sawant, in his Budget speech for the year 2024–25, has announced the proposal for allotment of land for the establishment of a permanent regional centre of IGNOU in Goa. This is a progressive and visionary step. I am confident that this announcement will soon translate into a reality, and that a full-fledged permanent regional centre of IGNOU will be established in the state,” he said in his speech at the 39th convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre, Panaji.
The convocation address was read by Goa State Research Foundation chairman Prof Janardhanam, who was the guest of honour at the function.
The Governor said that such an institution will not only enhance academic facilities but will also serve as a hub for lifelong learning, skill development, and community engagement, and further reinforce Goa’s position as a centre of educational excellence.
A total of 1,517 learners from 14 schools of studies across 17 disciplines were awarded degrees at the convocation ceremony.
IGNOU regional director Dr G Shrinivas, addressing the gathering, said that the regional centre, Panaji offers 76 postgraduate programmes, 71 undergraduate programmes along with diploma and certificate programmes.
“The learner profile highlights IGNOU’s inclusive character with 48 per cent women participation, over 56 per cent working professionals, representation from SC, ST, OBC communities, and persons with disabilities,” he said, adding that over 37,000 learners appeared in term-end examinations.
He also said that in collaboration with the Navodaya Leadership Institute, IGNOU has successfully trained over 2,200 teachers of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas from five states – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Goa, and Maharashtra – with programmes amounting to approximately Rs 80 lakh, focusing on leadership development and capacity enhancement.
It was also announced that a two-year research project on the Koraga community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), has been awarded under the aegis of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, with a grant of Rs 14 lakh awarded
to the regional director
Dr G Shrinivas.
