Vice President presides over national event, emphasis on inclusive and distance education
Srinagar, 7 April: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Tuesday held its 39th Convocation across 51 regional centres, with the national ceremony presided over by the Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan.
The regional convocation, as per a PIB statement, for Jammu & Kashmir was organised at the auditorium of Government Dental College Srinagar. Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, Shri Nazir Ahmad Ganie, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir and Commissioner Secretary, Government of J&K Saurabh Bhagat were present on the occasion.
A total of 344 degrees were conferred to learners during the regional function, while 10,989 students received degrees overall from the Srinagar Regional Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Nazir Ahmad Ganie congratulated the learners and highlighted the growing relevance of distance education in expanding access to learning. He noted that institutions like IGNOU have helped overcome geographical barriers and are contributing to the evolving model of education.
Saurabh Bhagat, in his address, emphasised the role of IGNOU in promoting access to education, particularly in remote areas. He underlined the importance of distance and online education in improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio in line with the National Education Policy 2020. He stated that convocation marks the culmination of sustained academic effort and commitment by learners.
Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar, Dr. A. H. Rizvi, informed that the centre has been serving learners since 1999 and currently oversees 29 active study centres across Kashmir and Ladakh. He added that 46,468 students were enrolled in various programmes in the previous year.
Dr. Rizvi encouraged graduating students to enhance their skills and adapt to emerging opportunities, including entrepreneurship, in a competitive global environment. He informed that IGNOU has a total of 57 regional centres across the country, which supervise more than 200 centres nationwide. Srinagar’s Center serves as its Nodal Center for conducting various programmes across the 29 active study centers it has across Kashmir and in Ladakh.
While congratulating all the graduating students, Dr. Rizvi encouraged graduating students to enhance their skills and adapt to emerging opportunities, including entrepreneurship, in a competitive global environment.
The convocation was attended by students, parents, faculty members and representatives of the media.
