Ignou launches special course for armymen

Six training academies in State identified for the programme

The “Gyan Deep” programme, jointly offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) and the Indian Army, will enable more than 1.2 million soldiers to consider a second career option after retirement. Every year nearly 50,000 trained soldiers retire from the Army after an average of 15 years in service.

CMP Centre and School, ASC Centre and College (South), Pioneer Corps Training Centre, Madras Engineering GP Centre, Para Regiment Centre—all based in Bangalore — and Maratha LI Centre, Belgaum, have been identified for the programme, which was launched here recently.

Based on the US system of community colleges in defence cantonments, the programme will equip soldiers, who join the force just after school, with a graduation degree.
“The programme is aimed at those soldiers who join the forces without a formal degree as they find it difficult to get employment after retirement. In a highly competitive job market, they find it extremely tough to meet the academic qualifications required for jobs in public and private sectors, where a formal degree from a recognised university is mandatory,” an Ignou official associated with the project told Deccan Herald.

“Community colleges recognised by Ignou will empower the excellent training system within the Indian Army and provide an opportunity to soldiers for in-service training to be benchmarked, besides issuing credits to both soldiers and officers to obtain a formal degree,” he said.

In due course, the process will allow for lateral entry into the regular university system by allowing the candidates enrolled in certificate, diploma or associate degree courses to accumulate credits. The jawans will be given BA, BBA, BSc and BCom degrees, depending on their area of work.

An additional commitment of a year’s study under the formal Ignou undergraduate programme will enable the candidates to obtain a degree. Thus, the Army-Ignou community colleges — 47 across the country — will create flexible learning opportunities for defence personnel.

The soldiers need 92 credits to secure a graduate degree, and the first 64 credits will be given for the candidates’ work within the Army. Thereafter, they need to join the Ignou programme to earn the remaining credits.

Empowering jawans

* “Gyan Deep” to enable soldiers to consider second career option
* Every year nearly 50,000 trained soldiers retire from the Army
* The programme will equip soldiers with a graduation degree
* It will allow for lateral entry into the regular university system
* The jawans will be given BA, BBA, BSc and BCom degrees