IGNOU will now be able resume its operations in nine centres abroad and start fresh enrollment of international students, two years after it had to close its facilities across 84 countries due to legal complications.
The varsity had to abruptly stop enrollment of students at its Overseas Studies Centres (OSCs) after host nations objected to its direct agreements with the foreign institutes.
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) today signed MoUs with partnering institutions from countries including Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Oman, Mauritius, Nepal, Ethiopia, Kenya and Ivory Coast.
"In 2014, a view was taken that keeping in perspective the statute of the university, the Overseas Partner Institutions should be renamed as Overseas Study Centres, meeting all criteria as outlined by the HRD Ministry," the varsity said in a statement.
"The ministry last month conveyed the approval of the Visitor for IGNOU to establish nine OSCs in these countries," it added.
The nine OSCs will offer IGNOU's academic programmes -- Masters, Bachelors, PG Diploma, Diploma and Certificate programmes, approved by the statutory bodies of the varsity.
Fresh admissions for the January 2016 session of these OSCs will commence from December 10 and the application deadline will be January 31.
Due to administrative hassles, the number of centres abroad had reduced to 29 from 84 and even there fresh enrollments had to be completely withdrawn in 2013.
When the operations of OSCs were kept in abeyance, the student strength across all centres abroad was 40,000. IGNOU had been facilitating classes, end-term examination and other processes for the students who were enrolled prior to 2013.
