Srinagar, Apr 3 (KNS) : Open learning offers a great opportunity for students from downtrodden sections of society to pursue education, Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Nilofer Khan said on Monday.
Delivering the regional convocation address at IGNOU's 36th Convocation in Srinagar, Prof Nilofer said this is an era of Open Learning.
"The NEP-2020 lays great emphasis on Open and Distance Mode Learning to enable students from downtrodden sections of society to have equitable access to education. Therefore, students who may not be able to pursue higher education in regular mode today have ample opportunities to study through Open Learning with all resources available at their fingertips," she said.
I think educational institutions will have to gear up to meet this challenge as well and make greater use of technology to further promote open learning so that education reaches the last person standing in queue, the VC said.
The VC said it was a great pleasure to listen to the Honourable President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu's highly insightful and enlightening Convocation address on the occasion of IGNOU's 36th Convocation.
This illuminating address by our Honourable President will continue to inspire us all to move forward in life with great dedication and commitment, she said.
She congratulated all students who recieved their degrees and medals during the Convocation, expressing confidence that these students will
will secure a dignified space for themselves in this world which is full of opportunities.
She said Universities need to break the traditional shackles of education and produce not merely graduates having degrees in their hand, but scholars, thinkers and scientists who can contribute to making the lives of people, especially those from underprivileged sections of society, better.
This is an era of innovations and entrepreneurship, of 21st century skills, of Artificial Intelligence and Machine-Learning, and of multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary education, the VC said, impressing upon academics to revisit the teaching-learning practices and pedagogies to stay relevant within and beyond their classrooms.
"With rapid technological advancements and newer challenges like ‘ChatGPT’ which qualifies even high-end examinations in the world, teachers should not find themselves wanting for answers in classrooms which the students may be knowing well in advance," she said. (KNS)