BULLETIN
International Center for Academics , College of Distance Education and Online Studies
Issue #2
Partner Institution - 9602 IGNOU | support@ica.edu.np | www.ica.edu.np
IGNOU News ICA Conferred the Best Overseas Partner Institution 2013
Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee recieving a Gold Medal and Citation from the Hon. President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
Among the 82 Overseas Partner Institutions including the Pan Africa Network, SAARC Tele-Education Network, UNESCO and the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation support centres present in 43 countries, the International Center for Academics (ICA), the First Partner Institution of IGNOU in Nepal, has been conferred with the Best Overseas Partner Institution 2013 Award for the Best Services by Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India. The Award was given on the occasion of the 26th Convocation held at the IGNOU Head Quarters at New Delhi on 12 April 2013. A Gold Medal and Citation were presented to Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee, Chairperson of ICA, by the Hon. President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. This is the second time that IGNOU has recognised ICA with such a prestigious award. ICA had already received the Best Overseas Partner Institution 2011 Award for the Best Services at the 22nd Convocation of IGNOU.
Distance Education: A Beauty of Knowledge In the past, distance education was considered an alternative approach to formal education. The Open University, UK, was the pioneer in Distance Education. In Asia, Indira Gandhi National Open University has been playing the leading role where one can see millions of students enrolled from almost half of the globe. There are many open universities in India alone which are serving the distant people with access to education.
for your information
Now-a-days, the concept has changed with the advent of newer technology in the market. The concept of distance education as a second class degree has been completely
erased and people have started to prefer distance education to face-to-face learning. The reasons are many. By doing so, people can utilize their free time and engage themselves for their earning in the prime time. Moreover, those living in distances and getting less or no opportunities to increase their qualification levels now have golden opportunities to educate themselves. The contribution of distance education is substantive. The number of graduates it produces in a year would have taken a decade to produce the same number in the traditional face-to-face education system. Distance education also provides quality to the people enrolled since it has installed IT
ICA Doorshiksha Program
IGNOU Online / Media Support
“ICA Doorshiksha�, an Awareness Program on ODL, can be listened to live in Kantipur FM, every Saturday at 7:30 am. ICA is the first organisation in Nepal to initiate this type of radio program .
The University runs two televison broadcast channels - Gyan Darshan I and Gyan Darshan II / EDUSAT. It also has an FM channel called Gyan Vani. eGyanKosh, IGNOU Online, Education Broadcast, Library e-Resources are parts of the University online support system.
by Professor Mana Prasad Wagley
based individualized instructional system. This support is still a far cry in the regular classrooms. In Nepal, many institutions are adopting foreign-based distance education programs in higher education. One of them is the International Center for Academics (ICA) that conducts around three dozen programs for Nepali students. The quality of the program can be assessed through its recognition by the Indian Government as the best center for two consecutive years. At a time when quality concerns have been a major issue in the Nepalese education market, the contribution made by ICA is applauded.
For access to these resources, contact the ICA study center or log on to http://ica.edu.np/online-support.php http://www.ignouonline.ac.in
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ICA NEWS
FAQs
Simulation Workshop
Induction Meetings
On 10 March 2013, ICA organized a workshop on Entrepreneurial and Business Skills Simulation. The participants comprised of ICA learners, counselors of ICA and professionals outside of ICA as well. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Hermann Rune, Country Representative and Senior Advisor at Rural Microfinance Development Centre (RMDC), Kathmandu. Mr. Rune has been conducting such workshops in various organizations in Nepal and abroad for over 5 years.
The 17th Induction Meetings for the fresh learners of Jan 2013 Session for Management and Non-Management programs were held at the Management Block on 28 December 2012 and 5 January 2013 respectively. Mr. Amit Giri, CEO, gave detailed presentations on the academic programs and procedures; rules and regulations of IGNOU and ICA; and modalities of Distance Learning through ICA.
What is credit? The University follows the ‘credit system’ for most of its programmes. Each credit in IGNOU system is equivalent to 30 hrs. of study comprising all learning activities (i.e. reading and comprehending the print material, listening to audio, watching video, attending counseling sessions and writing assignments responses). Thus, an eight credit course involves 240 hours of study. This helps the learners to know the academic effort one has to put in to successfully complete a course. Is it mandatory to attend the counseling classes? For non practical oriented courses, face-to-face counseling attendance is not mandatory, but it is advisable to attend as many counseling sessions as possible for better and effective understanding of the subject. For practical oriented courses, 75% attendance is mandatory in the practical sessions. Who conducts the examinations and where? The examinations are conducted by the University through our Partner Institution in Nepal under the supervision of the Embassy of India, Nepal at two examination centers Kathmandu and Biratnagar. You can get your questions featured and answered in The FAQs section. Send your questions to support@ica.edu.np.
The simulation exercise involved business setup, business forecasting, market expansion, risk analysis, distribution channel expansion and product line extension. The main rationale behind the workshop was to provide firsthand experience of starting up a business and operating it. The Chairperson of ICA, Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee, distributed certificates to all the participants and presented a special token of appreciation to Mr. Hermann Rune. The event concluded with closing remarks from the CEO of ICA, Mr. Amit Giri, by thanking Mr. Hermann Rune, the participants and the event officials.
Officials @ ICA
Similarly, separate Induction Meetings were conducted for the learners of Computer Science by Mr. Amit Giri and Mr. Prabin Adhikari on 12 January 2013 and Social Work Program by Mr. Bhimesh Kumar Chaudhary and Mr. Rupesh Shrestha on 19 January 2013. Guest Lecture On 11 May 2013, the International Center for Academics organized a guest lecture session in self marketing - Branding Yourself: How to go about it? The lecture was delivered by Professor Ujjwal K. Chowdhury, former Dean of the Symbiosis International University and Director of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. The lecture dealt with how branding is formed, the various concepts in branding and brand awareness,
ANNOUNCEMENT
Professor Ujjwal K. Chowdhury has been appointed as Chief Academic Consultant of ICA. He was the Dean of Symbiosis International University (Pune) and Whistling Woods School of Communication (Mumbai). He had worked for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Acore Group in Dubai, Times of India group, Zee TV group and Business India group in India.
Articles are being called for the 2nd issue of, the annual magazine of ICA “The Eklavyan” … For more details contact ica@ica.edu.np
Mr. Ek Raj Thapa, previously the In-charge of Record Section, has now been promoted to Support Section in the position of Officer Support. Mr. Thapa will now be responsible for matters related to learners’ grievances, discrepancies and other allied student support issues.
Mr. Prakash Mani Paudel has recently joined ICA in the position of Officer Record. Mr. Paudel will be primarily responsible for records related to learners and other allied records maintained at the center.
Ms. Ambika Deoja (Kunwar) has recently joined ICA in the position of Operation Coordinator. Ms. Deoja will be primarily responsible for operations and coordinate among the officials of ICA.
He may be contacted at Ext No: 115 or e-mail: grievance@ica.edu.np
He may be contacted at Ext No: 108 or e-mail: record@ica.edu.np
She may be contacted at Ext No: 120 or email: operationcor@ica.edu.np
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ICA NEWS and how to apply them in personal cases. The lecture was attended by 43 learners of the management program of ICA. They found the presentation skills of Professor Chowdhury was very interesting, inspiring and impressive and requested for more sessions from the professor in the future.
The Chairperson of ICA, Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee, presented a token of appreciation to Professor Chowdhury.
Dhakal , Director, Committee for Open University Infrastructure Development, Government of Nepal; Mr. Dilli Ram Rimal, Director, National Center for Education Development, Nepal; Mr. Rameshwore Prasad Sharma, Chief, Tribhuvan University Equivalence Section; Dr. Mohan Chandra, Attache (HIC), Press Information, Cultural Wing and Indian Cultural Center, Embassy of India, Kathamndu, Nepal; Mr. Prakash Siwal, President of EJG; Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee, Chairperson, ICA; Mr. Amit Giri, CEO, ICA; and Mr. Shekhar Giri, Spokesperson, ICA.
of infrastructure to establish an Open University.”
Dr. Mana Prasad Wagle, opined that there was an urgent need of political commitment and government’s priority to formulate necessary laws in order to establish Open University.
Due to the lack of an Open University in the country, different educational institutions in Nepal have taken affiliation from Indian and other foreign open universities. Different educational institutions, including ICA in Nepal, are offering various programs in the ODL mode.
Interaction Program An interaction program on “Status and Challenges of Open and Distance Education in Nepal” was organized jointly by ICA and Education Journalist Group (EJG), Nepal on 16 April 2013, at Hotel Everest, Kathmandu. The program was attended by more than 30 educational journalists from leading media houses of Nepal. Among them were Mr. Mahashram Sharma, Spokesperson, Ministry of Education Government of Nepal; Prof. Dr. Mana Parasad Wagle, renowned Educational Expert of Nepal; Mr. Kamal
Spokesperson for Ministry of Education, Mr. Mahashram Sharma, said that the government had given high priority to establishment of an Open University in the country. “That’s why a committee has been formed to suggest for necessary laws and development
Dr. Pramod Dhakal, member of the committee, said that the committee has not been as effective and functional as expected due to the lack of clarity in the concept of Open University. Mr. Kamal Dhakal, executive director of the committee, said that sub-committees have been formed for designing courses of different faculties.
Officials and media personnel present at the program congratulated ICA for receiving the “Best Overseas Partner Institution - 2013 Award” conferred by Indira Gandhi National Open University. All present at the interaction program acknowledged that contribution of ICA in the area of the ODL in Nepal is quite commendable and stated that ICA’s contribution will be quite important for the overall development of the ODL system in Nepal in the years to come.
Activities & Deadlines - July Session 1.
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Assignment Submission Semester Program: 31 Oct 2013 Non Semester Program: 30 Apr 2014
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Term End Examination (TEE)
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Form Fill - up Semester Program: 30 Sep 2013 With Late Fee: 15 Oct 2013 Non Semester Program: 31 Mar 2014 With Late Fee: 15 Apr 2014
Project Proposal Submission Semester Program: 31 Aug 2013 Non Semester Program: 28 Feb 2014 Project Report Submission Semester Program: 15 Nov 2013 Non Semester Program: 15 May 2014
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Field Work Journal Submission 30 Apr 2013
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Collection of TEE Hall Ticket Semester Program: 4th Wk of Nov 2013 Non Semester Program: 4th Wk of May 2014 Term End Examination (TEE) Semester Program: 1 to 31 Dec 2013 Non Semester Program: 1 to 30 Jun 2014
Useful Links Academic Counseling Routine http://bit.ly/1bq9SbV Assignments http://bit.ly/12L6k2G Past Question Papers http://bit.ly/188evVS Presentations http://bit.ly/18ao4ag Operation Calendar http://bit.ly/14Kh8vI
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ICA BRIEFS
Social Work Program – Orientation Visit
Special Session Management Program Project ( MS-100)
by Rupesh Shrestha, Social Work Program Coordinator, ICA
ICA had organized an orientation visit to Pharping on 18 April 2013 for both BSW and MSW learners. They were accompanied by Mr. Rupesh Shrestha, Social Work Program Coordinator, and were provided with the guidelines of collecting information and oriented about the discussion that they should stress upon in the places visited. A School for Community (ASC) believes that “Community itself is a school where an individual or a group can learn and share their experience as an open school.” ASC internalize its inspirational statement, “If not here, then where; If not now, then when; If not me, then who” and has encouraged people to do something in their own places, taking every day as a beginning, with whatever resources and capability they have. Set out with a mission to empower women and create opportunities to make them self-reliant in a justifiable society, Women Empowered Society for Development are involved in community education for women, vocational trainings and micro-enterprise development. They receive technical support from Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training and have formed cooperatives to collect money from the local community for development activities.
dial us at
444-5540 204-2289
Shikharapur Community Learning Center is a community owned and managed institution going beyond formal education system setup. Its objective is to provide educational and learning opportunities to the locals for the development of the community and improvement of local people’s life.
On 2 February 2013, a special session on MS-100 (Project Work) was conducted by ICA. This session was delivered by Ms. Chetna Thapa, in which learners were clarified about basic information related to MS-100, how to obtain a supervisor, their responsibilities and important dates and deadlines for proposals and reports. The learners came prepared for the session with questions regarding university standards, citations and other issues in which they were confused. Ms. Thapa clarified the learners queries and also briefed them about proposal and report writing and its contents along with citation issues. After the session, presentation slides and MS-100 project guides were distributed to the learners.
Overseas Partner Institution Coordinators’ Meet
Shikharapur Community School, previously a private school , was handed over to the community for imparting education to the community children at minimal cost till SLC. Overall, it was seen and felt that their work was done whole heartedly for the community well being. “Working with the community is more essential than working for the community” is their belief. Community development is possible through collective participation, cohesion, sense of ownership, dedication and belief to change for the better. A point to note: although they don’t have long term donors, their programs have been running through community support. All in all, the visit was a great practical learning experience for the learners. They have been enabled to internalize social problems and relate to the scope of Social Work Program they are currently pursuing.
ICA
The Center Coordinator and the Assistant Center Coordinator of ICA participated in the 7th Annual Overseas Partner Institution Coordinators’ Meet organized by the International Division of IGNOU on 18 to 20 February 2013 at its headquarters in New Delhi, India. The main objective of the Meet was to have two day interactive platform for discussing various aspects of operations and student support services. The Meet was very beneficial in terms of knowledge sharing and better understanding of various operational aspects.
we are at facebook.com/ignouatica twitter.com/ica_edu youtube.com/ICAIGNOU
ICA, Gyaneshwor, Beside German Embassy
http://blog.ica.edu.np