YCMOU launches diplomas in engineering for Naval Dock

Mumbai, Jan 18 (PTI) The Yashwantrao Chavan MaharashtraOpen University (YMCOU) today launched two special diplomas inMechanical Engineering and Electronics for the employees ofcountry''s oldest Naval Dockyard here.

"This collaboration (between the Open University andNaval dockyard) is our way of saluting the sacrifice andservices of the defense professionals," YCMOU Vice-ChancellorDr R Krishnakumar said.

The programme will soon be launched in other Dockyards ofthe Navy in Visakhapatnam, Port Blair and Karvar for thebenefit of several thousand of dockyard personnel, he said.

Giving an example of YCMOU''s recent tie-up with theMaharashtra Police through which even constables are beingoffered a degree (B.A. in Police Administration), Krishnakumarsaid the Open University is soon going to launch a specialprogramme for Indo-Tibetan Border Security Force.

The diplomas will be of six semesters and the fees willbe concessional, he said.

In his presidential remark, Vice Admiral R K Sherawatsaid, "Education makes one a better person and hence it isalways desirable for all in all age-groups and in allsituations."

He said the 275-year-old Naval dockyard had approachedseveral institutions for the purpose but the panel ofselectors found YCMOU as the best possible option.

Regional Director of YCMOU, Mumbai, Prof Pradeep Dablisaid family members of the dockyard personnel would also beenrolled for several courses of the University and shall beprovided all educational facility in the dockyard itself inthe second phase of the project.

Dabli said YCMOU offered 184 courses through its 3,500study centres across India that catered to the needs of3,50,000 students, the most by any Open University in thecountry.