PATIALA: Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University to roll out its first course by coming January, said newly appointed Vice Chancellor of University, Dr. Karamjit Singh during his maiden visit to the temporary office of the University at Government Mohindra College, Patiala, today.
He said as per the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the first and foremost priority of the University would be to provide the opportunity of higher education to the youth who could not complete study or go to college due to one and another problems. For this, curriculum and courses would be designed in such a way that they could be skilled with job oriented courses along with other graduate and postgraduate courses. Our preference would be to those courses that make youth self reliant, her added.
Accompanied by Registrar, Gurdarshan Singh Brar, he said that he was feeling lucky to have the opportunity of State's first open university, that too in the name of First Sikh Master, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He said that as per the new education policy guidelines issued by UGC, there is too much flexibility in college level education and it would be helpful to design curriculum and courses for this new Open University. He said that focus would be given to online courses as per the importance of online education emerged from COVID era. He said that we have formed some committees to complete the initial set up of the university like its own website, library and other human resources and infrastructure needs.
He said that courses would be designed in such a way that any age group can complete his/her study as per his/her ease of time. Courses like Secretarial and Front office Executives would be designed in such a way that it would be as much as comprehensive as per the need of the corporate and Government Sectors. University would also have distance education courses, besides online study, he added.
He was welcomed by Registrar Gurdarshan Singh Brar, College Principal Dr. Simrat Kaur, Associate professors Dr. Deepika, Dr. Suresh Kumar, Dr. Ram Kumar, Dr. Jagseer Singh.