G. Ram Reddy
Encyclopedia
Professor G. Ram Reddy is renowned architect of Distance Education
and the father of open learning in India
.
district in the former Nizam's Dominion
, where educational opportunities were fewer than those available in other parts of colonial India, he was one of the very few from his district to attend high school and college. Obtaining his MA from the Osmania University
, Ram Reddy did further graduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science
before joining Osmania as a lecturer in public administration in 1959. His reputation as a teacher and researcher ensured quick promotion to full professorship within a decade.
When the newly established Social Sciences Research Council created regional centres, Professor Reddy was chosen to head the first regional unit located in Hyderabad. In 1977, at the age of 48, he became the Vice-Chancellor of his alma mater, the Osmania University.
, the Andhra Pradesh Open University (now called Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University) in 1982. This led to the Central Government asking him to prepare the groundwork for the establishment of the Indira Gandhi National Open University
of which too he became the founding Vice-Chancellor in 1985.
As India's most prominent open learning expert, he was invited to be associated with every stage of the establishment of The Commonwealth of Learning
. He was a member of both the Briggs and Daniel committees and, later, India's representative on COL's founding Board of Governors. Such was his attachment to COL that he agreed to join as its first Vice-President in 1989 and helped to lay the firm foundations of the management of the organisation.
While he distinguished himself as a scholar in public policy studies, it was in the field of higher education administration that he reached commanding heights as is attested by his adorning the Chairmanship of India's University Grants Commission
and Chairman of the Social Science Research Council. As UGC Chair, he piloted the establishment of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
to promote quality assurance in higher education in India. This is the first of its kind in the South Asian region.
He was presented the prestigious Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation
Award for his stupendous work in Education in 1994.
In memory of his remarkable services, the Andhra Pradesh Government named the Centre of Distance Education in Osmania University as G. Ram Reddy Centre of Distance Education. Also, Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture was instituted in his memory by the IGNOU, New Delhi.
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
and the father of open learning in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life
Born in a small village of Mylaram in KarimnagarKarimnagar
As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of...
district in the former Nizam's Dominion
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, where educational opportunities were fewer than those available in other parts of colonial India, he was one of the very few from his district to attend high school and college. Obtaining his MA from the Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
, Ram Reddy did further graduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
before joining Osmania as a lecturer in public administration in 1959. His reputation as a teacher and researcher ensured quick promotion to full professorship within a decade.
When the newly established Social Sciences Research Council created regional centres, Professor Reddy was chosen to head the first regional unit located in Hyderabad. In 1977, at the age of 48, he became the Vice-Chancellor of his alma mater, the Osmania University.
Role in ODL in India
It was during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Osmania that his association with distance education began. It would be no exaggeration to say that he is the father of open learning in India. Almost single handedly, he founded India's first Open UniversityOpen University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, the Andhra Pradesh Open University (now called Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University) in 1982. This led to the Central Government asking him to prepare the groundwork for the establishment of the Indira Gandhi National Open University
Indira Gandhi National Open University
The Indira Gandhi National Open University , known as IGNOU is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 2000 crore, when the Parliament of India passed...
of which too he became the founding Vice-Chancellor in 1985.
As India's most prominent open learning expert, he was invited to be associated with every stage of the establishment of The Commonwealth of Learning
Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning is an intergovernmental organization of the Commonwealth of Nations headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
. He was a member of both the Briggs and Daniel committees and, later, India's representative on COL's founding Board of Governors. Such was his attachment to COL that he agreed to join as its first Vice-President in 1989 and helped to lay the firm foundations of the management of the organisation.
Recognition
Professor Reddy's role on the global distance education scene was equally significant. He was elected as the first Secretary General of the Association of Asian Open Universities and was an active member of the International Council for Distance Education. It was thus most appropriate that he should be one of the first recipients of the COL-ICDE Award of Excellence for meritorious services to distance education at ICDE's conference in Birmingham this year. He was also honoured by being made Life Member of ICDE. It is a tragic but fitting irony to this career that he died within days of receiving these honours.While he distinguished himself as a scholar in public policy studies, it was in the field of higher education administration that he reached commanding heights as is attested by his adorning the Chairmanship of India's University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission (India)
The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...
and Chairman of the Social Science Research Council. As UGC Chair, he piloted the establishment of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
to promote quality assurance in higher education in India. This is the first of its kind in the South Asian region.
He was presented the prestigious Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation
Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation
Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation is a Charitable Trust that promotes Arts, Sciences, Literature, Medicine, Journalism, Humanities and other intellectual pursuits and to honour distinguished persons in these fields. Established in 1979 in Chennai by P.V...
Award for his stupendous work in Education in 1994.
In memory of his remarkable services, the Andhra Pradesh Government named the Centre of Distance Education in Osmania University as G. Ram Reddy Centre of Distance Education. Also, Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture was instituted in his memory by the IGNOU, New Delhi.