Capacity Building for Professional Development in Open, Distance and Digital Learning

Abstract

Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) in IGNOU has been developing and imparting capacity building programmes for faculty and staff of higher education institutions at national and international levels since 1986. In alignment with the vision of the National Educational Policy 2020, STRIDE has become a significant capacity building centre not just for teachers teaching at a distance but also those teaching through face to face, online, and blended modes. In 2022, UGC recognized IGNOU-STRIDE programmes as equivalent to those offered by Human Resource Development Centres (HRDC) thereby enabling participants to accrue Academic Performance Indicator (API) scores and avail benefit of the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). Additionally, the Ministry of Education through UGC entrusted IGNOU-STRIDE with the responsibility of conducting NEP Professional Development Programme for Capacity Building of University and College Teachers at the national level. Further in 2024, IGNOU-STRIDE was recognized as a UGC Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Amid changing demands and innovative instructional strategies, STRIDE is engaged in national and transnational capacity building programmes. This paper attempts to trace the major developments that have taken place in the capacity building efforts of STRIDE in the recent past, along with the future perspective. These initiatives will impact the future training methodology as well as have implications for professional development programmes, and capacity building for not just ODL but also all institutions of higher education across India