The university awarded gold medals to 78 of its students across India and abroad of which seven were international students. Two students were from Saudi Arabia, two from Dubai, two from Ethiopia and one from Nepal. Riaz Mulla of IGNOU’s Educational Consulting and Guidance Center, Saudi Arabia also received appreciation award for the excellent “Student Support Service” at the event.
In a videoconference with graduating students, Kapil Sibal, India’s Federal Minister for Human Resources Development, said he hoped to see the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of Indian students in higher education shoot up to 30 percent by 2020. “I am looking forward to the enrollment going up to 40-45 million,” said Sibal. Currently, the figure is a dismal 13 percent, which happens to be 10 percent below the world average.
Echoing the views of the minister, IGNOU Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai threw light on the initiatives taken by the university to increase the national GER. Stressing upon the need to impart vocational skills to those in the remotest; IGNOU is aiming to create 500 million certified technicians and skilled workers by 2020.
The university is already networking with regional and study centers, local educational and training institutions to provide modular skills in different trades for this.
The occasion was graced by eminent scientist and former IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. P.T. Manoharan. He delivered the guest of honor address and emphasized the need for science education in developing economies. Science graduates can think of opting for research as a career. This is a field where India still lacks human resources.
Two students from ECGS Saudi Arabia received gold medals for MA in English and BA in English programs.
IGNOU Saudi Arabia wins its fifth consecutive gold medal for MA in English. Gold medalist Alia Hamid Ali works as a teacher at Al-Waha International School Jeddah. It is her second gold medal from IGNOU. She received gold medal for BA in 2008. Alia is an ex-student of International Indian School-Jeddah.
The other student, Amina Nooriya Vayal Parambath received gold medal for BA in English. She is a former student of International Indian School-Riyadh (2007 batch).
This achievement was possible because of the hard work and perseverance of the students as well as the cooperation and encouragement from the staff, faculty members from IGNOU-Saudi Arabia, support from the International Division, IGNOU New Delhi and the Indian mission in the Kingdom.
IGNOU Saudi Arabia since its inception in the Kingdom seven years ago has proved its credentials by students receiving nine gold medals, five of them consecutively for MA English, two for BA and one for postgraduate diploma in financial management. Last year, the ECGS center also received a gold medal for best international center among 40 countries.
