New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) today i.e. June 14, 2011, has announced that it will offer a PG Diploma programme in Rural Banking. For the purpose, IGNOU’s Center for Corporate Education, Training and Consultancy (CCETC) and School of Agriculture (SOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD). IGNOU Registrar (Admin) U.S. Tolia signed the MoU with Sanjit Kumar Chatterjee, Director, BIRD, in the presence of Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof K.R. Srivathsan.
The course named Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Banking (PGDRB) will be a fully residential programme. Those who have successfully completed graduation in any discipline, from a recognized University, are eligible to apply for the course. The maximum age limit for the course is 25 years as on July 1, 2011 and 30 years for those in service.
PGDRB, a one-year programme, will be commenced from the July 2011 session. It aims to develop a cadre of talented young professionals, who would serve in rural banking offered by BIRD, Lucknow, which is an autonomous society promoted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This MoU between IGNOU and BIRD aims to lessen the distance between programmes that are currently available and the courses that are on high demand in the market. The course also aims to produce competent professionals, by enhancing their capabilities for overall rural development.
The MoU throws light on the following areas of collaboration - Joint Programme in Rural Banking, leading to PGDRB, Executive Certificate Course in Rural Banking, Short-Term Training programmes for in-service executives of Banks, MFIs/NGOs, government development departments and other development organizations. Apart from this, the MoU also identifies Short-Term Orientation programmes for newly recruited officers of the Indian Administrative and Economic Services.
