CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: NN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress / ITDC News, Bhopal: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) organised the 31st Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Convention Centre on its New Delhi campus. The annual memorial lecture is held in honour of Prof. G. Ram Reddy, the founding Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, whose visionary leadership laid the foundation of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system in India and transformed the landscape of higher education. This year's lecture was themed "IGNOU's Teacher Education Initiatives and Transformative Changes in the Indian Educational Landscape."
The chief guest for the event was Prof. Pankaj Arora, Chairman of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The memorial lecture was delivered by Prof. Mohandas B. Menon, Chairman of Disha Global Trust and former Vice-Chancellor of Wawasan Open University, Malaysia. The programme was chaired by Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Prof. Jitendra Srivastava, Registrar of IGNOU, said that the memorial lecture serves as an important occasion to commemorate the invaluable educational legacy of Prof. G. Ram Reddy. He described it as one of the university's most prestigious academic events, providing a platform for meaningful deliberations on contemporary issues in higher education while reaffirming IGNOU's commitment to inclusive, equitable and learner-centric education.
During the programme, an inspiring short film highlighting the life, vision and extraordinary contributions of Prof. G. Ram Reddy was screened. The film showcased his pioneering role in establishing IGNOU, promoting open and distance education in India and abroad, and laying the foundation for an educational movement that has empowered millions of learners. IGNOU students also shared their experiences, explaining how the university's flexible and inclusive education system had positively transformed their lives and careers.
Prof. Mohandas B. Menon's Memorial Lecture
Delivering the 31st Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, Prof. Mohandas B. Menon shared his personal association with Prof. Reddy and recalled how the confidence and autonomy extended to young academics during IGNOU's formative years enabled the university to innovate and democratise higher education.
He noted that many of the key principles emphasised in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020—including flexible learning, modular education, credit accumulation and transfer, multidisciplinary education, learner-centric teaching and lifelong learning—had been integral to Prof. G. Ram Reddy's educational philosophy since the inception of IGNOU.
Prof. Menon highlighted the pioneering role played by IGNOU's School of Education in developing teacher education programmes that integrated theoretical knowledge with practical and activity-based learning. These programmes significantly strengthened primary teacher education across the country through the open and distance learning mode.
He also referred to the regulatory challenges faced by teacher education programmes over the years but expressed confidence that the reforms proposed under NEP 2020 would create fresh opportunities for innovation. According to him, IGNOU is uniquely positioned to function as a national laboratory for the effective implementation of NEP 2020 because of its multidisciplinary approach, flexible learning systems, technology-enabled education and comprehensive learner support services. He added that IGNOU's success in democratising higher education remains the finest tribute to Prof. G. Ram Reddy's visionary leadership.
Address by Chief Guest Prof. Pankaj Arora
Chief Guest Prof. Pankaj Arora described Prof. G. Ram Reddy as a visionary educationist and institution builder whose educational philosophy continues to shape India's higher education system.
He observed that the core principles of NEP 2020—flexibility, lifelong learning, multidisciplinary education and student choice—had already been put into practice by IGNOU decades ago.
Prof. Arora emphasised that open and distance learning is an effective instrument for promoting social justice as it extends educational opportunities to learners who are unable to pursue conventional education due to personal, social or economic constraints.
He noted that India's national goal of achieving a 50 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 2035 would not be possible without the significant expansion of open and distance learning.
Highlighting the importance of teacher education, he said that teachers create teachers, and teachers build the nation. To realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, teacher education must be redesigned in line with emerging technologies and future-ready pedagogical practices.
He further stressed the need to establish continuous mentoring platforms for in-service teachers, promote the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, and develop technology-enabled teaching systems where AI serves as a collaborative tool rather than replacing teachers. He underlined that open education does not compromise academic quality; instead, it removes barriers to access and creates greater educational opportunities for a larger population.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal's Presidential Address
In her presidential address, Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, paid heartfelt tribute to Prof. G. Ram Reddy, describing him as a visionary educationist whose ideas continue to guide the university's mission.
She said that IGNOU's diverse student community stands as testimony to the university's unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion and lifelong learning. She observed that IGNOU has consistently demonstrated that quality and inclusivity can progress together and that the objectives of NEP 2020 reaffirm Prof. G. Ram Reddy's educational vision.
Prof. Kanjilal stressed that teacher education occupies a central role in nation-building and that future teachers must possess not only subject expertise but also sensitivity, creativity, critical thinking and the ability to effectively utilise technology.
Referring to the university's AI-enabled virtual learning environment, she said IGNOU is well positioned to make significant contributions towards the successful implementation of NEP 2020 through innovation-driven digital education models.
She also recalled that Prof. G. Ram Reddy had played a significant role in guiding the establishment and development of open universities and open learning institutions not only in India but also in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, reflecting the global reach of his educational vision.
Panel Discussion
Following the memorial lecture, a panel discussion was organised on the theme "Teacher Education for the 21st Century: Innovation, Inclusion and Building Teacher Competencies." The session was chaired by Prof. Mohandas B. Menon.
The discussion featured eminent educationists, including Prof. Karanam Pushpanadham, Head of the Department of Educational Administration, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda; Prof. N. V. Varghese, former Vice-Chancellor of NIEPA and Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Bombay; and Prof. Kailash Chandra Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana State Higher Education Council, Panchkula.
The Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture is one of IGNOU's flagship academic events. It brings together distinguished academicians, policymakers, education experts and members of the academic community from India and abroad to deliberate on issues of national importance in education. The lecture also serves as a tribute to the enduring ideals and lasting contributions of Prof. G. Ram Reddy, widely regarded as one of the principal architects of open and distance education in India.
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