Ignou approves associate degree programme

There is good news for those who dropped out of school but want to enter the regular university system. Indira Gandhi National Open University
(Ignou) will soon offer an associate degree programme, through community colleges, to help such students re-enter the university system. "The academic council of the university has approved the programme and within five months, the university will start offering associate degree programmes to those studying in community colleges," informed V N Rajasekharan Pillai, vice-chancellor, Ignou. "Community colleges are very successful internationally. Those who opt out from schools to pursue work or cannot continue school education for some reason can walk into these colleges. In fact, at least 80 big universities of the world have university community colleges. These colleges offer the associate degree as their highest degree, along with diplomas, after people enter a two-year training programme in a flexible mode. This associate degree helps them get lateral entry into the regular university system." Ignou now plans to start its own community colleges and provide recognition to some of the existing ones to offer the associate degree. In India, according to Pillai, the community colleges framework is not institutionalised. "This initiative will offer a formal framework to these colleges. There are over 100 community colleges spread across India. And most of them are run by charitable trusts, missionaries, etc. Ignou may offer the associate degree through these colleges after they get recognition, depending on infrastructure availability, faculty and programmes," said Pillai. The university will consider academic programmes such as associate