[Assam] State’s first open varsity starts academic activities (The Assam Tribune,25.12.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

  Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University  http://www.kkhsou.org 
   
        State’s first open varsity starts academic activities
By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Dec 24 – The first Open University of the State – Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University (KKHSOU), set up last year, has started its academic activities with its Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP). The six-month programme is aimed at preparing those above 18-year learners who have not been able to complete the 10+2 courses, for higher studies. The BPP courses being offered twice a year.

Addressing a press conference at his Basistha Road Housefed Complex office, KKHSOU founder Vice Chancellor Prof Srinath Baruah said that process of BPP admission had already started and it would be over by February 15 next. After February 15, classes will start and final examinations for the first batch have been planned by July next.

Classes for the programme will be held at about 60 study centres spread all over the State on 15 Sundays. The results of the examinations will be declared within one month of the examinations and those qualifying in the final examinations will become eligible for the Bachelor courses being launched by the University. Admission fee for the BPP is Rs 700, said Prof Baruah.

Besides, the University is offering bachelor degree programme, diploma courses, certificate courses, teachers’ training programme, vocational training courses and research and development programme.

The University is also planning to offer need-based degree and post-graduate courses, besides a large number of professional and vocational diploma and certificate courses to promote development of human resources suitable for the job market, self-employment and entrepreneurship development. Its thrust area will however, be professional and vocational courses.

The University will also start innovation and research-oriented research and training programmes. But all these courses and programmes will be offered in phases on priority basis, said Prof Baruah.

It has plans to offer degree courses initially in Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Commerce (B Com), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA) and Bachelor in Mass Communication (BMC) from the ensuing academic session beginning in August next. 

BCA and BMC courses will be modular ones. In such courses, the learners will have the advantage of being awarded the certificate on successful completion of the first year courses. The diploma in such courses will be awarded on successful completion of the second year courses while the degree will be awarded to the learner on successful completion of the third year courses.

In the degree courses, credit system will be introduced wherein the papers in which the learners get qualifying marks, the same will be credited against their name and they will have to clear the other papers within a period of eight years or within a fixed time-frame, Prof Baruah said.

The University also plans to offer a degree course in tourism and hospitality management in the next phase. It has plans also to run some professional courses like the ones connected with healthcare, agriculture and entrepreneurship development, through some selected partner institutions. 

The admission of the learners will be made through the study centres and partner institutions and these institutions will work as the contact agencies of the University. The study centres will conduct the counselling classes, Prof Baruah said. 

On the medium of instruction, Prof Baruah said that English and Assamese would be the languages. Including Bengalee as a medium for the Barak Valley Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme learners is also under consideration. 

The University has plans also to go for agriculture-based courses and a plot of land in Rani area on the outskirts of the city has been surveyed for the purpose.

On the preparation of the study materials, Prof Baruah said that three workshops were held to train the writers with the help of the IGNOU and the Distance Education Council experts. 

University’s OSD, Academic Dr M C Sarma and Registrar Rajat Baran Mahanta were also present.
            
























   (The Assam Tribune,25.12.2007)


       
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