Highlights four decades of inclusive education
SRINAGAR: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre Srinagar commemorated its 40th Foundation Day with a grand event held at the auditorium of S.P. College Srinagar. The celebration reflected on four decades of academic excellence, accessibility, and inclusive education in the region.
The main celebrations at the university’s headquarters in New Delhi featured distinguished guests including Prof. Peter Scott, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada, who served as the chief guest, and Shri Saurab Bhagat, IAS, Commissioner Secretary to the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, who graced the event in Srinagar as the local chief guest.
The Srinagar event brought together officials from the regional centre, esteemed academic leaders such as Prof. Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, Principal of S.P. College, Prof. Yasmeena Farooq, Principal of Women’s College Srinagar, Prof. Gulam Mohd, Vice Principal of A.S. College Srinagar, along with coordinators, part-time staff, academic counsellors, students, and former regional directors to celebrate the milestone.
The program commenced with a warm welcome address by Prof. John Mohd, Assistant Coordinator of IGNOU Centre 1209 at S.P. College, who highlighted IGNOU’s major achievements since its inception and its pivotal role in expanding higher education access in remote areas of Kashmir and Ladakh.
Addressing the gathering, Study Centre Coordinators Prof. Waheed Iqbal and Prof. Mustafa Majid Sheikh shared their experiences, emphasizing increasing enrolment trends, supportive student services, innovations in learner facilitation, and the transformative impact of IGNOU’s flexible learning system on local communities. Their reflections reaffirmed IGNOU’s ongoing commitment to strengthening distance education in the region.
The chief guest, Shri Saurab Bhagat, IAS, in his presidential address, praised IGNOU’s quality study materials and encouraged students preparing for competitive exams to utilize them effectively. He commended the regional centre staff for maintaining high enrollment numbers and supporting learners across Kashmir and Ladakh.
Former regional directors Prof. Shamim Ahmad Dar and Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar also conveyed their felicitations, reminiscing about the challenges and achievements during their tenures and acknowledging the progressive evolution of learner-support mechanisms.
Prof. Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, Principal of S.P. College, lauded the efforts of the regional centre in providing quality student support services and sustaining high enrolment levels in the region.
A special highlight was the address by Regional Director Dr. A. H. Rizvi, who emphasized IGNOU’s mission to provide accessible, quality, and inclusive education for all societal sections. He appreciated the dedication of coordinators, counsellors, and staff, and called for continued innovation, digital learning, and community outreach as IGNOU prepares to enter its fifth decade.
Dr. Rizvi also motivated learners to thoroughly engage with IGNOU’s study materials, emphasizing that learners are the future of the nation. “You carry the responsibility to serve the community and the country,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to Shri Saurab Bhagat, the principal guests, and the college administration for their support and participation. The chief guest and other dignitaries appreciated Dr. Rizvi’s leadership and initiatives in expanding quality education across Kashmir and Ladakh.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Abdullah, acknowledging the contributions of all participants. The celebration underscored IGNOU Srinagar’s profound impact on lifelong learning and reaffirmed its commitment to transforming education through openness and inclusivity.
The program was graciously anchored by Mr. Peer Javeed Iqbal, staff member of IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar.