New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) has jointly introduced a Certificate Programme in Chess, as a mind booster. As per sources, the programme was unveiled by World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand, on September 23, 2010 (Thursday).
NIIT and IGNOU will be award a joint certification to the students after the completion of the programme. The certificate will enable students to become a member of NIIT Mind Champions Academy and contribute to chess movement in India. The programme, which has an online format, will also be made accessible for the hearing-impaired.
The certificate programme intends to encourage students to play chess which is a great opportunity for young minds to develop. The programme will help students to think sensibly and improve their life skills. The course will work as a mind booster and help students to learn the game and increase their knowledge in chess history. In addition, the students will get an opportunity to play with world chess champion Anand and participate in the annual ChessMaster.
IGNOU and NIIT will work to extend the NIIT Mind Champions Academy across the country, under the aegis of Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. Professor V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU said that they are pleased to take their association with NIIT to the next level by offering joint certification program to promote Chess across the country. They are confident that this will encourage more and more people to learn and play Chess and will help in making India the world's foremost nation in Chess once again.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. P Rajendran, COO, NIIT Ltd said that studies have revealed that chess has a positive impact on academics. He is confident that the Certificate Programme in Chess as Mind Booster from NIIT & IGNOU will enable development of young minds and improve their concentration. Viswanathan Anand, World Chess Champion said on the occasion that he is delighted to be a part of this unique initiative by NIIT and IGNOU, that will go a long way in popularizing the game of Chess amongst youngsters in India.
The programme between IGNOU and NIIT was initiated by Professor K R Srivathsan, Pro Vice Chancellor, IGNOU. Srivathsan told the course will be offered through Distance Education Programme of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. He also mentioned that the programme will help in making school education more exciting and relevant to children's development. He affirmed that how this programme will be made openly accessible to all interested students through the Sikshadhara portal of open education under the DEP-SSA whose development he had been guiding.
