KKHSOU rallies study centres to power up learner support — UGC backs bold reforms

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 23, 2025

Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) turned the spotlight on its study centres with a high-stakes stakeholders’ workshop on Sunday, aimed at turbocharging learner support across Assam.

The workshop was hosted at the university’s city campus in Khanapara, attracting over 102 Centre-in-Charges and Coordinators from 12 districts. Discussions spanned critical academic, administrative, and operational issues that shape the daily realities of Study Centres — the frontline hubs of open education.

The event was led by Prof. Pranab Saikia, Dean (in-charge), Study Centre, who opened the session by emphasising the central role of Study Centres in promoting access, equity, and quality in higher education. He called for stronger localised support, better communication, and targeted capacity building to meet the university’s evolving goals.

A central theme of the day was digital transformation. Prof. Joydeep Baruah, Chairman of the KKHSOU Admission Committee, introduced the University Management System (UMS) — KKHSOU’s homegrown digital platform designed to streamline services and boost efficiency at every level.

Adding national weight to the event, Vinod Singh Yadav, Deputy Secretary of the UGC, New Delhi, addressed the gathering. He urged stakeholders to innovate around learner engagement, including harnessing alumni networks and linking ODL learners with mainstream career development programmes to improve employability outcomes.

Vice Chancellor Prof. R. P. Das took a future-focused tone, calling on Study Centres to lead the charge in raising Assam’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). “Study Centres must become engines of social equity and progress,” he declared, stressing the need to embrace compassion, innovation, and inclusion in service delivery.

One of the workshop’s focal points was the integration of ICT through the UMS system to enhance academic and administrative delivery. Delegates engaged in dynamic discussions on policy implications, regulatory challenges, and strategic management practices necessary for long-term sustainability.

The programme was anchored by Birinchi Borah, Assistant Registrar, who ensured a sharp, focused flow of sessions throughout the day. The workshop served not just as a platform for feedback, but a springboard for collective action — with the clear message that KKHSOU’s learner-first approach will be built from the ground up, powered by the people who run its Study Centres.