Riaz Mulla received the award for Best Overseas Partner Institute from Padma Bhushan Professor S.K. Joshi at the the 21st convocation at IGNOU. Education plays a vital role in everyone's life. It provides training and helps develop thinking and decision-making skills. It is an absolute necessity for any nation's economic and social development. Large numbers of people can't get to schools and universities, but they can learn via distance education, which uses printed documents, audio-video resources and the latest communication technology to connect teachers and students, and has dramatically changed the world of learning. It has become more and more popular because it offers flexibility and convenience, and students of all ages, in all locations can study at their own pace, on their own schedules. Most people use it for professional development and to enhance their career opportunities; governments provide on-the-job training to their staff and companies use it to upgrade their employees' skills and keep them abreast of rapidly advancing technologies. Distance education is also important for overseas students who cannot go home to pursue university-level education. Universities such as Indira Gandhi National Open University – the world's largest university with a student base of more than three million according to UNESCO – play a significant role. The University was established in 1985 by an Act of Indian Parliament with the objective of disseminating high-quality higher education through distance learning. In 1996, its International Cell was assigned the task of promoting academic programs by establishing international cooperation and exchanges. Now, programs are offered in 38 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Far East, in addition to African, Pacific and Caribbean countries. The study center in Saudi Arabia, which opened in January 2004 with 70 students, now has more than 2,500 students – 70 percent of who are women – and centers in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, with the support of the Indian Mission. Its aim is to reach out to the student community with varied programs in the fields of Education, Commerce, Arts, Literature, Tourism and Management Studies. It is also offering a wide range of programs for certificates, diplomas and degrees and including MBA, M.Ed, B.Ed, M.Com, MA, B.Com, BA, BTS. Fees range from SR1,500 per year for certificate programs to SR3,375 annually to pursue a Masters degree. The University also offers a SR750 bridge program for those who have not completed their 10+2 qualification or A levels and want to do so and pursue a Bachelor's degree. In the past seven years IGNOU has offered distance learning, a considerable number of students have achieved their goals of furthering their education and the university has been recognized for the quality of its work. Students have said the institution is fulfilling its pledge to reach those in need of education, including those who left schools and colleges to work in Saudi Arabia, and encouraged a diverse range of people – from housewives to professionals – to continue their higher education. Contact details for the IGNOU Study center in KSA: General Manager: Riaz Mulla Director: Dr. Shahnaz Contact numbers: 02-6762030 (Jeddah center) 01-2153537 (Riyadh center) 03-8653122 (Dammam center) E-mail: [email protected]
