Quoting the eternal words of Swami Vivekananda

“Arise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is reached”,

the Governor said that students should be constantly motivated and inspired by these words throughout their life journey and make the alma mater proud.

She stated this during the 32^nd Convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Regional Centre, Imphal at Asha Hall, Asha-Jina Complex, North A.O.C, Imphal. 

An exhibition was also inaugurated by the Governor as part of the Convocation organised by the Regional Centre, Imphal. Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the main Convocation at Delhi campus. 

Dr. Najma Heptulla said that, the occasion is a golden opportunity to share thoughts and views on higher education in a unique forum where almost all stakeholders are present – the students, the teachers, the academicians, the researchers and some policy makers. Both past and present and outstanding members of civil society.

By applauding for the professors and staffs of the University she expressed that, the Convocation is an occasion and a celebration for the University graduates, their families and friends. This is where the hard work of the students is being acknowledged and they are being awarded for their dedication and motivation towards their studies so far.

The University, established by an Act of Parliament in the year 1985, with the main objective to promote open and distance education system in the country, has been constantly trying to bring about democratisation in higher education and provide quality education irrespective of age, religion, gender and region.

 The Governor added that in recognition of its benevolent services in the field of education, the University was conferred the center of excellence award in distance education by Commonwealth in 1993 and also been recognised by UNESCO as the world’s largest higher learning institution. 

Apart from catering to the educational aspirations of millions of students worldwide through its 21 Schools of Studies, 67 Regional Centres and 4 Sub-regional Centre across the country. The University has a significant international presence with a networking of 12 overseas study centres.  One can have a fair idea of its popularity from the fact that in 2017-18, enrolment status of the University was above ten lakhs seventy two thousand, she added.    

Applauding the works and significant initiatives of the University in emerging as a training hub for capacity building interventions in the country particularly in the field of Teacher Training. She added that the University also offers free education to the jail inmates in the country. The University is also offering affordable education to the under privileged students and reaches the doorsteps of the learners with its excellent student support service system, added the Governor.

Stating that, education is a privilege and should not be thought of as ending on leaving the portals of the institution. Ms. Heptulla mentioned that students should never end their thirst for knowledge. 

Students need to remember that education is the transformational act that takes us from where we were to where we can go, she said. Governor urged the teachers to ignite the minds of the youth in such a way that throughout life they have a quest for knowledge and a desire to make this world a harmonious place to live in. She further added that Research in Universities must be emphasised and promoted to a great extent to push frontiers of knowledge as well as to evolve technologies and to implement them for development. All efforts should be made in this direction so that our research becomes comparable to the best in the world, she added.

Dr. S.J.  Neethirajan, Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Imphal, Dr. Oinam Jayalakshmi Devi, Asst. Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Imphal, Dr. Mayonmi Shimray, Assistant Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Imphal, faculty members and students attended the Convocation Ceremony.