IGNOU Celebrates 38th Foundation Day; Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena Chief Guest

New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) marked its 38th Foundation Day with an impressive celebration at its headquarters in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. The event commenced with a dignified floral tribute at the statue of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, led by Prof. Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor IGNOU, alongside key university officials, Pro-Vice Chancellors, School Directors, faculty members, and the entire IGNOU fraternity.

Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the Foundation Day Lecture. In an introductory statement, Pro-VC IGNOU expressed deep gratitude for the esteemed presence of Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, highlighting the honor of having such distinguished luminaries partake in the Foundation Day Celebrations.

During his Foundation Day address, Mr Saxena applauded IGNOU as a beacon of knowledge and academic excellence in the field of inclusive education and distance learning. He emphasized the university’s role in delivering flexible, learner-centric, cost-effective, and high-quality education with a commitment to equity and access.

LG Saxena praised IGNOU for embodying the principles of inclusivity outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, calling it the “People’s University.” He acknowledged IGNOU’s pivotal role in democratizing higher education and contributing to India’s aspiration to become the world’s third-largest economy by nurturing a skilled and capable workforce.

Highlighting the significance of the National Education Policy 2020, he emphasized its transformative nature and its alignment with global agendas, particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goals-2030. Saxena underscored IGNOU’s potential to address educational challenges through innovative approaches and urged the university to leverage emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, and Virtual Reality to achieve global standards.

In his address, the LG advocated for a holistic approach to education, stressing the importance of student upskilling, vocational education, and a balanced focus on both curricular and extra-curricular activities for comprehensive student development.

Prof. Nageshwar Rao, VC IGNOU, expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest for his presence on this significant day in the university’s journey. He highlighted IGNOU’s commitment to the National Education Policy 2020 and shared that IGNOU has launched new programs integrating vocational components and expanding into regional languages to cover Indian traditional knowledge.

“The Foundation Day celebration was a testament to IGNOU’s dedication to excellence and its pivotal role in shaping the future of education in India,” a statement from IGNOU said.