RAJENDRA SITA VIDAYA's Review On Indira Gandhi National Open University - [IGNOU], New Delhi

Only good words and especially Regional Center, Pune Director Mrs. Gupte was so helpful and I found even a simple mail from student has been answered immediately with all queries & problems solved.

After spearheading a non-profit organization after completing my engineering course is a learning experience but to enrich fine nuances of social work compelled me to take admission in Masters in Social Work(MSW) and after taking counselling from Academicians of repute I found that IGNOU is the best platform for working professional like us.

Course curriculum is quite comprehensive and elaborate with special emphasis on research and field level interaction with beneficiaries and community level organizations. Electives are also varied from which you've to select 2-papers per year and very interesting like philanthropy, women & child development etc.

IGNOU help in identifying good NGO for internship through their registered counselors as Internship for 30-45 days in both years are mandatory. After completing the internship we have to prepare a detailed project report with the help of Supervisor. IGNOU Study Center generally provide a list of good NGOs working in different fields and with the help of Supervisor select an NGO. Usually NGO who provide internship doesn't provide any stipend and student have to bear all expenses incurred.

IGNOU doesn't provide any placements but Study Center with the help of their Coordinator & Counselor help their students through proper guidance in identifying good companies, NGOs etc. for their placements. Due to new Corporate Social Responsibility Act enacted by Government of India MSW Students are great in demand.

With the mushrooming educational institutes and awarding degrees with low standard curriculum with high fees the reasonable fees Rs.28000 approx for 2-years Masters Course is really refreshing. The most beautiful and excited part is IGNOU also provide all course content (great and prepared by highly qualified academicians) is sufficient to score high marks if you fully read course materials sincerely then there's no need to go for any other reference books.

As the fees are so reasonable I think there is no need of any loan and no such scholarship provided by IGNOU though State Governments provides scholarships to various SCHOLARSHIPS with specific income criteria.

Campus life is good at study center and gender ratio is satisfactory but need to be enhanced though in present time more and more girls are taking social work stream and now a days it's not a taboo subject but most happening subject with initiation of mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility programme for corporate now there are plenty of job-openings for social work professionals and this is fueling the demand of MSW course.

There're no hostel facilities and mess food provided by Study Center students have to manage their own but the Study Center Coordinator & Counselor are very cooperative and help all students who are interested in Hostel in near victinity. There are plenty of good mess facilities and hostel facilities, PG's with reasonable rents whom students can opt with the help of their Counselor, seniors or Study Center Coordinator.

Recently IGNOU has developed an alumni network portal and it's really fantastic with lively interaction . Here alumni always eager to help their juniors with their valuable inputs, guidance and any help sought. One of my senior helped me greatly in preparing,guiding 1st & 2nd year project work as I was quite apprehensive about it but with his guidance I overcome my fear.

You have to submit assignments in 1st year as well as in 2nd year. Annual Exams are held in both years in all papers (10-papers) and each exam is of 3-hrs and spreaded to 8-9 days. Question papers are not very tough but you've to be very update about the contents.

Every year in the month of January they widely publicise for admission in their different courses and you've to submit all related documents along with admission fees for 1-year (which is quite reasonable) and after proper verification they'll confirm your admission after a fortnight. After confirmation of admission IGNOU will send you all course materials and Identity card and attach you with nearest study center where you'll have to attend classes in 2-shifts in weekends.

Faculty of the Study center is very qualified and classes held at Study Center is very interactive, informative and faculty are very cooperative in answering all doubts of students. Faculty emphasized on learning through grand work experience means to work at grassroot level through some community organization or directly participate in various social or community development initiative to learn first hand the naunces of social work. They stresses on social work is more on ground work rather than theory and for that we have to inculcate various life skills to become an effective social work. They also stressed that in present scenario we have to be technology savvy so that documentation, data compilation etc can be easily made.