AgriNation News Network
New Delhi | 19 Jan 2018

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Thursday signed an agreement with the Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) to strengthen the skill development activities and to develop new educational and training programmes in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors.

“The University intends to integrate vocational and skill based programmes as per the National Skill Qualification Framework and in line with the policies of Government of India with respect to skill mission and Start Up India programmes.” said Prof S B Arora, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU.

This collaboration would add value to the pass-out students of different agriculture programmes, he added.
The MoU was signed by Dr Jitendra Kumar Srivastav, Registrar, IGNOU and Dr Satender Singh Arya, CEO, ASCI in the presence of IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof S B Arora.

Under the agreement, IGNOU will provide academic and faculty support for development of Qualification Packs (QPs), Popularization of QPs and in identification of new Training Providers. The ASCI will provide academic and faculty support in aligning the Programmes with QPs, approval of IGNOU including its study centres as the training providers, assessment of students under RPL (Non-Government Support), organize the train the trainer programme and in development of MOOC.

According to the IGNOU’s statement, “ASCI and IGNOU may also think in future to jointly develop Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc) Degree programme in the agriculture and allied sectors following the framework given by the UGC

The ASCI is a not-for-profit entity formed under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and works for upgrading skills of farmers, wage workers and anyone engaged in the field of agriculture and allied fields.