Ignou Makes Its Course Contents Open Education Resource For Free Online Access

Manash Pratim Gohain | The Times of India | January 24, 2013

A doctor who is wants to know about building bridges now just needs to visit Ignou's website. Not only is its own 29 lakh students, Indira Gandhi National Open University's open education resource is expected to benefit lakhs of civil service aspirants and knowledge seekers. This initiative comes under flexi-learn scheme, which is "knowledge is free, certification costs money".

Ignou's open education access is the only of its kind across disciplines from an Indian university. According to the university officials, making the study materials available free of cost online will not help students whose study materials are delayed, but can also make an informed choice before admission to a particular course.

According to the coordinator of Ignou's eGyanKosh, Uma Kanjilal, "At present 95% of the study materials of Ignou are available online and can be accessed free of cost and can be accessed by all. Among the benefits, an Ignou aspirant can now register and access the course material and make an informed choice of course he/ she want to pursue. Moreover, in case of any delay in delivery of study materials to the enrolled students, they can access them online either from their homes, offices or from Ignou centres. Moreover, students get only the materials of the course they are registered for. They can download related materials from other courses for reference as well."...