IGNOU Inks Pact with ASCI for Skill Development in Agriculture Sector

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)  has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Agriculture Skill Council of India (ACSI) to strengthen the skill development activities and to develop new educational/ training  programmes in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors for which Qualification Packs (QPs)/ National Occupational Standards (NOS) have been developed by the ASCI.

The MoU was signed by Jitendra Kumar Srivastav, Registrar, IGNOU and Satender Singh Arya, CEO, ASCI in the presence of IGNOU Vice-Chancellor SB Arora among other officials from both the organisations.

“The University is already into the skill development activities in various fields through its educational programmes. The University intends to integrate vocational and skill based programmes as per the National Skill Qualification Framework and in line with the policies of government of India with respect to skill mission and start-up India programmes. This collaboration will add value to the pass-outs students of different agriculture programmes.” said the VC of IGNOU.

Arya emphasisedthat the symbiotic relationship between the two institutions will augment the skill development activities in a significant way taking into the strengths of both the institution i.e ASCI linkage with the industry and ministry of skill development and IGNOU reach to the unreached and use of ICT in delivery of the programmes.

IGNOU would support ASCI in the development of curriculum and course content for various segments said Arya, CEO, ASCI.

“ASCI and IGNOU may also think in future to jointly develop Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) Degree programme in the agriculture and allied sectors following the framework given by the UGC. The collaboration will also set the path for the recognition of skill development centresfor training and capacity building across various segments of agriculture sector and conduct skill gap analysis for the agriculture &Agri-allied segment.IGNOU would support Activities will be undertaken by the SOA to strengthen the human resource of agriculture like development of new programmes, more academic collaboration and strengthening the existing programme,” said M K Salooja, Director, SOA, IGNOU.

“IGNOU agrees to provide academic and faculty support for revision / development of qualification packs, popularisation of QPs and in identification of new training Providers. The ASCI also agrees to provide academic and faculty support in aligning the programmes with QPs, approval of IGNOU including its study centres as the training providers, assessment of students under RPL (Non Government Support), organise the train the trainer programme and in development of MOOC,” says the MoU.