New Delhi: On Monday i.e. January 11, 2010, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and UNESCO have signed an agreement for cooperation. According to it, the UN body would identify special programmes, facilitate outreach and research activities as well as provide branding to courses.
V. N. Rajashekharan Pillai, IGNOU Vice Chancellor (VC) just before signing the agreement said that the memorandum of cooperation is being signed with UNESCO for identifying specific programmes and activities of the University for branding with UNESCO. Also, it would help in carrying these activities across the globe.
As per sources, UNESCO Director General Irena G. Bokova, who is on her first official visit to India since she took office in November last year, signed the agreement after which she delivered a special lecture for the university's Silver Jubilee celebrations. She also added that with enrolment of nearly three million students and networks across the country making the best use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), IGNOU's accomplishments are recognized worldwide.
Further, she also shared that the upcoming 2010 edition of UN's 'Education for All - Global Monitoring Report' which would be launched next week, warns that education for all is at risk not only because of the economic downturn but also because countries were not doing enough to address the root cause of marginalization in education.
