Kathmandu-based International Centre for Academics (ICA), providing Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU )degree courses in a variety of subjects, takes lead to develop Knowledge Partnership with leading corporate houses of Nepal thereby bringing higher education to their employees at pro-learner terms of association, writes Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury, ICA’s Chief Academic Consultant.

 

The new year 2071 BS could not have been better. International Centre for Academics is on the roll these days. After being named twice (2011 and 2013) the winner of IGNOU’s best Overseas Partner Institute by the largest open and distance learning university of the world, ICA has just won for the coveted recognition for the third time in 2014 at the 27th Convocation of IGNOU held on April 16 ,2014. 

 

And this recognition for ICA’s consistency, quality and efficiency in providing higher education to working people, housewives and self-employed persons across Nepal has been a shot in the arms of sorts, prompting ICA to do a few newer things ahead.

 

For some four to five months, ICA has been taking ahead its unique concept of Knowledge Partnership with business houses of Nepal. “Initiating a relationship through knowledge-sharing is the motto of Knowledge Partnership, in which we develop a formal relationship with corporate and developmental organisations to provide higher degree education to their employees at a concessional cost and engage their leaders in our education too,” notes Amit Giri, CEO at ICA. 

 

Explaining this further, the founder and Chairman of ICA, Biswajit Mukherjee, notes, “In the light of our expanded operations, global recognition and enhanced academic standards, we have offered ourselves as the Knowledge Partner of various esteemed organisations for the service to their employees seeking flexible, affordable and easily accessible Higher Education in Management and other programmes of IGNOU in offer through ICA, with a blended approach of learning through weekend sessions, study materials, online content, video content and books”.

 

The unique concept of Knowledge Partnership of ICA with corporate houses through a simple easy-to-operate non-monetary MOU between the institute and the corporate brings forth the following benefits to all higher education seeking employees coming through the HR of those corporate and development organizations:

 

•Facility to attend ICA’s Special seminars and workshop programs.

 

•Facility of 15 per cent discount in the official fees of ICA courses provided for the employees of Knowledge Partner Organization.

 

•Facility to attend as a guest in ICA’s special media programs etc; along with the commitment of the leader of the corporate or development organization to take a session at ICA addressing the adult working learners on a suitable theme in a year.

 

The concept of Knowledge Partnership has been welcomed by several corporate houses. In addition to the Bachelors and Masters degree courses, the unique provision of Bachelors’ Preparatory Program (BPP) for school-dropouts among working people has also attracted the attention of many corporate leaders. Clearing BPP, a six months course, allows a learner to be admitted into the Bachelors programs in arts, commerce, management or tourism studies provided by IGNOU through ICA, even if the learner has not completed Plus 2 studies, which are widely accepted and recognized by Corporate , private and government professional bodies  within Nepal and abroad. 

 

The Diplomas and degrees awarded by IGNOU are approved by Ministry of Education, government of Nepal and recognised by the Nepal University Grants Commission, and enjoys equivalence of degrees provided by Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University.

 

Already, corporate likes Yeti Airlines, Himalaya TV, Thamserku, Nepal Bank Limited, Kailash Bikas Bank, Yeti Development Bank, New Business Age, National Kidney Center, and Idealaya have signed this Partnership, and many more are in progress.