Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University l Annual Report 2017-18 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, a premier institution in the field of Distance Education in the state of Assam continues its journey towards expanding its horizon, extending education beyond barriers, reaching out to the unreached and making a difference to the lives of all sections of the society. The University has achieved several milestones under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Hitesh Deka, the Vice Chancellor KKHSOU, and further continues in its commitment towards providing quality higher education and lifelong learning to the deprived, as well as, denied sections of the state and the region. At present the University continues to function from its Main Campus at Patgaon, Rani and simultaneously from the City Office located at Housefed Complex, Dispur Last Gate, Guwahati. Significantly, the year 2017-18 is marked by several important events and activities such as the University Memorial Lecture and educational talks, cultural activities and social initiatives, academic activities and academic collaborations as well. The University at present offers 6 Bachelor Degree, 10 Master Degree, 6 Post Graduate Diploma, 9 Diploma and several Certificate programmes together with the D. El. Ed programme. It requires special mention that the University continues in its efforts to fulfill its social obligations by providing free education to the jail inmates of the Central Jails, Guwahati, Abhayapuri and Jorhat respectively, as well as, District Jail, Mangaldai. The University also provides free education to the differently-abled persons along with SLMs in Braille and audio formats for the visually impaired learners. The University celebrated its 12th Foundation Day on 11 December, 2017 which was graced by His Excellency the Governor of Assam and Chancellor of KKHSOU, Professor Jagdish Mukhi who presented the Krishna Kanta Handiqui National Award to the former Election Commissioner of India, Shri Harishankar Brahma. Also, the Krishna Kanta Handiqui National Fellowship, 2017 was jointly presented to two young promising women of the region- mountaineer Smt. Anshu Jamsenpa and young talented writer Smt. Sarmistha Pritam on the occasion. The Krishna Kanta Handiqui Memorial Lecture, 2017 was delivered by eminent litterateur and recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award and Assam Valley Literary Award, Professor Nagen Saikia on the occasion of the 119th birth anniversary of the great Sanskrit scholar of Assam, Shri Krishna Kanta Handiqui. 9 Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University l Annual Report 2017-18 To highlight some of the major events of the national and international repute: University that were held from the period 2017- 18 are as mentioned below: l Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi l Public Lecture by His Holiness the l National Council for Science and Dalai Lama, 2 April 2017 Technology Communication, l First Achyut Lahkar Mermorial Drama Department of Science and Evening, 12 June 2017 Technology, Government of India l International Yoga Day, 21 June 2017 l Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) of the l Teachers’ Day, 5 September 2017 European Union l Orientation Programme for Awareness The Centre for Internal Quality Assurance of the Rights of Women Employees, (CIQA) of the University is actively engaged October 2017 in quality enhancement, developing ICT, l Mother Counselling Programme at Learners’ Support Systems (LSS) and adopted village of KKHSOU, 9 Examination Reforms to mention a few. The November 2017 centre organised its earlier proposed workshop on Question-paper setting for all the academic l Inter- Study Centre Music Competition, programmes of KKHSOU while also laying 3 December 2017 emphasis on the presentation of faculty l International Conference on seminars to encourage both individual, as well “Development Interventions and Open as, group activity in the University. Also, in Learning for Empowering and keeping with the top priority of the University Transforming Society, 16-17 December with regard to the reforms of the examination 2017 system for the year 2018, the CIQA office was focused on monitoring the examination centres l Release of University Publications, 1 of KKHSOU in order to improve the efficiency January 2018 of all the centres located across the state. l Friendly Football Match between In the area of the Learners’ Support KKHSOU and Cotton University, 11 Services which comprises a range of easily January 2018 accessible learning facilities, the University The period 2017-18 witnessed the active continues to extend its services to the learners participation of the officials of the University through the official University website, in various seminars, conferences, workshops University mobile web application, e-BIDYA, to gain first-hand knowledge on different Open Access Journals Search Engine (OAJSE), aspects on the University Management, Question-paper Repository, Community Radio problems and prospects of Open Universities, Service (CRS) and Multimedia Production Unit OER Policy, New Educational Policy and (MPU) of the University. Significantly, the enhancing Teacher Education through School Central Library of KKHSOU has begun its based Support in India etc. During this period, Digital Library initiative with a focus on the University made a strong move by extending the University’s academic output to collaborating with the following institutions of the global community. 10 Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University l Annual Report 2017-18 As the Study Centers of KKHSOU acts as a bridge between the University and its learners some of the new and interactive events such as workshops on the management of the Study Centres were held in order to address the issues regarding their effective functioning and management of the Study Centres under the districts of Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup (Rural). Also, the online orientation for Grade II Employees of the Study Centres was introduced by the IT Cell of the University, together with the celebration of the Brajen Barua Memorial Documentary Festival held in various Jails across the state with the collaboration of the Assam Prison Head Quarters and the Non-Governmental Organisation- Film and Cultural Society of North East. As far as the Jail Study Centres are concerned, the University has also set up 10 new centres across various jails of Assam and the counselling sessions are underway with a total of 24 learners enrolled under programmes such as BA, MA, BCA, CCA and CSTCPM. In the academic session that begins in the month of July 2017, a total number of 27,909 learners were enrolled in the first semester of various programmes of KKHSOU and as per the declared results of final semester for various Master Degree Programmes, Post Graduate Diploma, Diploma and Certificate programmes, the pass percentage indicates an improvement in the academic performance of the distance learners of KKHSOU. Thus, the University continues to march ahead with both its strong vision and mission, striving towards excellence in the field of Distance Education while also maintaining its commitment to the larger social responsibilities. It still has a long way ahead and in keeping with the same, the University continues to measure its progress with its internal- assessment, modern innovative strategies and continuous improvement, in all the concerning areas of academic, administrative, Learners’ Support Services (LSS), research, examinations, as well as, Study Centre management. Although, the future is filled with several challenges, yet the University stands focused on the ‘opportunities’ embodied in these challenges. With its enriching experiences in the past, the advantage of its resources combined with the invaluable support of all the well-wishers, our learners, resource-persons, people engaged in the KKHSOU Study Centres and the society at large, the University shall undoubtedly move from strength-to-strength. 11 Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University l Annual Report 2017-18 KEY OFFICIALS Chancellor Shri Banwarilal Purohit, His Excellency the Governor of Assam (August 2016 - October 2017) Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, His Excellency the Governor of Assam (from 10 October 2017 - Present) Vice- Chancellor Dr. Hitesh Deka Registrar Dr. Arupjyoti Choudhury (i/c) Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor and Public Relations Officer Dean (Academic) Shri Sachindra Nath Misra Dr. Arupjyoti Choudhury Assistant Registrar Dean (Study Centre) Dr. Kanta Chakravarty Dr. Dibyajyoti Mahanta Assistant Registrar (Examination) Director, CIQA Shri Kashyap Mahanta Prof. Nripendra Narayan Sarma Assistant Registrar (SLM) Controller of Examinations Dr. Samar Bhattacharya Dr. Bhabaranjan Sarmah Assistant Registrar (Study Centre) Finance Officer Shri Birinchi Bora Shri Bishnu Chakraborty Systems Analyst Deputy Registrar (Administration) Shri Binod Deka Dr. Ratul Kr. Patowary Assistant Regional Director (Regional Centre, Deputy Registrar (Academic) Jorhat) Dr. Limpon Bora Mr Geetam Misra Deputy Registrar (Examination) Assistant Librarian Shri Arabinda Saikia Dr. Gautam Sarma Deputy Director (Multimedia) Administrative Officer Dr. Sangeeta Kakoty Dopati Choudhury 12 Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University l Annual Report 2017-18 COMMITTEES of KKHSOU PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Chairperson 1. Dr. Hitesh Deka, Vice-Chancellor, KKHSOU Members 1. Shri Bhabesh Kalita, Hon'ble Minister, Govt. of Assam 2. Shri Ramendra Narayan Kalita, Hon'ble Member of Assam Legislative Assembly 3. Prof. Amarjyoti