IGNOU plans entrepreneurship cells in 200 engineering colleges

[dwarakesh]

MADURAI: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has devised a plan to start Entrepreneurship Development Cells in around 200 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu with an aim to develop entrepreneurship culture among students.

This project, which was formulated by the university at national level, will be launched in phases from January, K. Panneerselvam, Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Chennai, said.

Stating that IGNOU will offer a similar support for arts and science colleges also if they come forward, Dr. Panneerselvam said that four national level consultative meetings were conducted so far to discuss the modalities of starting Entrepreneurship Development Cells in colleges. The university is also simultaneously focusing on popularising its six-month course — Certificate in Entrepreneurship — at the student level which is offered in English medium through distance education mode with a nominal fee of around Rs. 1,000. According to M. Shanmugham, IGNOU Regional Director in Madurai, the exclusive course in entrepreneurship was originally conceived in Madurai and it will be implemented in collaboration with various organisations including the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (Tamil Nadu) here.