CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal : The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in collaboration with The Open University (UK) and the Quality Assurance Agency (UK), inaugurated a two-day International Workshop on “Developing Best Practices for Quality Assurance in Open, Distance, and Digital Learning (ODDL).” The event was held at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Centre, IGNOU, New Delhi.

The objective of this workshop is to exchange best practices for enhancing the quality and credibility of open, distance, and online education. Under NEP 2020, the goal is to achieve a 50% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2035. Experts believe this can only be achieved through the expansion of ODDL and strong quality assurance frameworks.

In the inaugural session, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Uma Kanjilal said, “We are witnessing a technological shift in the access and delivery of higher education. This workshop is a crucial step towards quality education.” NAAC Chairman Ganesan Kannabiran added that currently, only 40% of universities and colleges fall under accreditation, stressing the need for capacity building and new frameworks.

Prof. Devendra Kodwani of The Open University (UK) remarked, “India has the potential to become an exporter of education, but solutions must emerge from India itself.” Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Mr. Mrutyunjay Behra, emphasized the importance of addressing challenges related to language diversity and policy frameworks.

Ms. Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director (Education India), British Council, stated, “The future is dual-mode. No university will remain purely traditional. India–UK collaboration will strengthen education quality globally.”

The event witnessed participation from academic leaders, policymakers, technology experts, and representatives of quality assurance agencies from both the UK and India. The workshop includes plenary addresses, thematic discussions, and the presentation of an action plan for future collaborations.

The workshop will conclude with a vote of thanks by Prof. Shachi Shah, Director, IGNOU. It is expected that this initiative will make Open, Distance, and Digital Learning more transparent, effective, and reliable.

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