Academic counselling sessions held 

Regular conduct of academic counselling sessions (for theory and practical courses) at Learner Support Centres under each Regional Centre during the preceding academic year

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Response: 

In the open and distance learning system, the Academic counselling is the most important component in the teaching-learning process in the ODL system as it provides the essential human interface to the learners who are separated by location from their teachers and peers.

The sessions are meant for Informing, Advising and Counseling. The academic counseling can cover both academic and non-academic components at the various stages like at pre-entry, during entry to the programme, during the course of study, at the time of examination and post-study. 

An in-depth picture of academic counseling comprises of Tutoring and Counseling. In fact both the terms are interchangeable. Tutoring primarily deals with academic component in enabling learning whereas the term counseling deals with communication both at the academic as well as at non-academic levels and learner-centred. 

In academic counseling, the emphasis is to be given more to the non-academic communication and tutoring should be restricted to minimum possible level. The reason is that the SLM in Open University provides the entire content and course requirement in a structured and programmed format. In a nutshell, academic counseling is to cover the following components: 1. Helping 2. Guiding 3. Motivating 4. Supporting 5. Enabling Learning 6. Creating dialogue with learners.

At Learner Support Centres of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University it is regular practice to provide Face-to-face Academic counselling by the approved and empanelled academic counsellors/subject experts. The ICT based academic counselling is also provided to learners with the use of various ICT tools by all the Schools of Studies located at BAOU Headquarters. 

Ref:

The academic calendar is drawn on time before commencement of the academic term and communicated to the learners, Regional Centres, Learner Support Centre by uploading it on the University website. The academic staff at the University who are coordinating with the Regional Centres monitor the conduct of academic counselling sessions at the Learner Support Centres.

The face-to-face academic counselling sessions are organized and conducted throughout the academic term/academic year at the Learner Support Centres (LSCs) to facilitate learning and also for motivating learners’ engagement with the SLM for:

• acquisition of required knowledge and skills;

• clarification of doubts and overcoming difficulties encountered during their course of study;

• provision of continuous evaluation for assessment and feedback on progress made;

• development of required competencies and imparting skills through practical and hands on training.

Academic counselling sessions are conducted at nearly 235 LSCs functioning under the Learner Support Service Division of the University.

http://ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/division/rsd/activities/detail/206

The sessions were conducted for 12,56,887 learners enrolled at various LSCs of the University. As per the data template, 3,32,187 theory sessions (for theory courses: duration of 2 hours each) and 1,22,873 practical sessions (duration of 4 hours each) for practical courses were organized and conducted at the LSCs by empanelled academic counsellors in accordance with the UGC (ODL) Regulations, 2017. All the LSCs are devised directly under different RCs and all the activities of the LSCs are monitored by the RCs.  

For B.Ed. programme a Contact Programme of 120 hours / 15 days is being conducted at LSCs to impart the essential competencies and skills for effective teaching through individual and group activities.

Payment norms for conduct of Theory and Practical counselling sessions have been defined by the university.

(http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/division/rsd/paymentnorms). 

The bill for conducting the counselling sessions with the schedule of counselling sessions and attendance of Academic Counsellor and Learners are submitted by the LSCs to Learner Support Service Division for release of payment further Budget proposals are received from LSCs for release of quarterly grant to LSC Coordination Division for payment to LSC for conduct of counselling sessions and remuneration to the staff associated with the LSC. 

Further, the counselling for the practical sessions are conducted at LSCs having specific infrastructure and equipment in respect of the requirement of practical courses. For example, for practical in Computer Science programmes i.e. BCA, BCA-Multimedia and PGDCA the sessions are conducted in the computer labs equipped with required hardware and software facilities. One machine is  assigned for two learners for a batch of 20 learners per session. For BCA learners’ one machine is being shared for two learners for practical related activities. In addition to academic counsellors, machine room operators and lab attendants are also present to assist in the practical work.

Practical courses of B.Ed. programme were conducted at LSCs to impart the essential competencies and skills for effective teaching through individual and group activities.

In addition to face-to-face counseling the University facilitates the learners by providing counselling through various below mentioned modes of contact programs and other ICT based methods.

1. Interactive radio counselling

2. Online LMS based counselling

3. Teleconferencing

4. Web-conferencing

5. Laboratory based counselling

6. Internship

7. Workshops

8. Field study

9. Seminar

10. Extended Contact Programme (ECP)

11. Enhancement of Professional Competency (EPC)