IGNOU rebuts speculation over degree credibility

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has rebutted speculations by certain sections of the media over the credibility of the degrees given by it, calling them ''unfounded and baseless''.

IGNOU Vice-Chancellor H P Dikshit said not only the MBA and MCA degrees of the university are recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education, but all degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded by it were at par with those of any university recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) itself has bracketed 20 per cent of the total enrolment in higher education in the country and is expected to reach 33 per cent shortly. As the largest university in the world, IGNOU has managed to achieve this distinction in 20 years of its existence, said Prof S C Garg, Pro Vice-Chancellor IGNOU.

This has been possible because of the widespread acceptance of all its programmes and recognition of its excellence -- both nationally and internationally, he added.

Designed on the principle of SIM design and ODL pedagogy, IGNOU offers a complete range of undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral programmes in all spheres of general, vocational, technical and professional education.

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