Shillong, Dec 5: Vice Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Prof. Uma Kanjilal has been conferred the prestigious Prof. G. Ram Reddy Award for Excellence in Distance Education, 2025.
The award was presented by Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) yesterday, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Prof. G. Ram Reddy, a visionary and pioneer in the field of distance education in India.
The award recognises Prof. Kanjilal’s outstanding contributions to Open and Distance Learning (ODL), her leadership in advancing technology-driven education, and her commitment to expanding access to quality higher education in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Prof. G. Ram Reddy’s contributions to higher education are widely revered. He was instrumental in establishing India’s first open university, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University, where he served as the founding Vice-Chancellor. His visionary leadership later guided the establishment of IGNOU in New Delhi, where he became the University’s first Vice-Chancellor and architect of a system that has since empowered millions of learners through flexible, inclusive, and lifelong education.
IGNOU has congratulated Prof. Kanjilal on receiving the distinguished honour, which reflects the University’s continued commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in distance education.
