Bhubaneswar: The Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for jointly offering seven academic programmes in agricultural sciences.
The two parties agreed to terms and conditions governing their relationship to provide educational opportunities to communities at large.
A Learner Support Centre (LSC) will be set up in SOA, under the distance education system.
The LSC, at SOA’s faculty of agricultural sciences Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), will initially offer Certificate programmes in Organic Farming, Bee Keeping, Poultry Farming; Diploma programmes in Horticulture and Dairy Technology; Postgraduate Diploma programme in Agribusiness; Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Policy.
The number of programmes will be increased with time.
As per the agreement, signed by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda and Director (RSD) of IGNOU Dr Manorama Singh, the host institution will provide space, classrooms and allow the use of laboratory and computers to IGNOU learners for specialised programmes requiring use of institutional infrastructure.
SOA will also extend facilities for use of library to IGNOU learners for reference purposes.
SOA will also provide a full-fledged computer lab for the purpose.