Ram G Takwale
Encyclopedia
Professor Ram G Takwale was the Former Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University
and former Chairman of National Assessment & Accreditation Council.
Through hard work, dedication and sincerity of purpose, and a clear vision to reach his goals, Ram emerged as a leader in the field of education in his native state, Maharashtra, first and his country, India, later. Moving comfortably from quantum physics and classical mechanics to managing one of India’s renowned universities in science education, Ram quickly realised the limitations of higher education in India to serve the masses. He therefore readily accepted the first opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to serve the disadvantaged communities when he was invited to be the founding Vice-Chancellor of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
, based in Nashik, India
. That university took on the challenge of delivering much needed training in the field of agriculture and other related fields to poorly trained and under educated workers. He introduced many innovative distance-learning curricula to vocational and agricultural programmes, quickly making it India’s only open university mainly focussed on the poor, marginalized and isolated populations. Success often leads to invitations to take on new challenges.
Besides leading three Indian universities, Ram has also been active in a large number of professional and civil society organisations in science, education and the newer technologies.
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...
and former Chairman of National Assessment & Accreditation Council.
Academic Growth
Professor Takwale may have emerged from humble, rural and agricultural origins but that did not stop him from going to the top of the academic world in his country. Along the way, he demonstrated how education with its focus on people can change poor, backward, marginalized and forgotten communities into productive, resourceful, healthy and vibrant societies.Through hard work, dedication and sincerity of purpose, and a clear vision to reach his goals, Ram emerged as a leader in the field of education in his native state, Maharashtra, first and his country, India, later. Moving comfortably from quantum physics and classical mechanics to managing one of India’s renowned universities in science education, Ram quickly realised the limitations of higher education in India to serve the masses. He therefore readily accepted the first opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to serve the disadvantaged communities when he was invited to be the founding Vice-Chancellor of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
The Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University was established in July 1989 by Act XX- of the Maharashtra State Legislature, named after Yashwantrao Chavan, Maharashtra’s great political leader and builder of modern Maharashtra. It is the fifth Open University in India...
, based in Nashik, 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...
. That university took on the challenge of delivering much needed training in the field of agriculture and other related fields to poorly trained and under educated workers. He introduced many innovative distance-learning curricula to vocational and agricultural programmes, quickly making it India’s only open university mainly focussed on the poor, marginalized and isolated populations. Success often leads to invitations to take on new challenges.
Vice Chancellor in IGNOU
In the case of Ram Takwale, the invitation came from the Central Government for him to lead the Indira Gandhi National Open University for a period of four years. His period at IGNOU saw the university move resolutely into the digital world, a world he still surfs with great delight finding ways to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural India.Besides leading three Indian universities, Ram has also been active in a large number of professional and civil society organisations in science, education and the newer technologies.