IGNOU redefines the concept of HR Management

New Delhi: The four-year period beginning 2006-07 has not only witnessed an impressive growth for the Indira Gandhi National Open University - the People's University - but also resulted in empowering its academic and non-academic staff on all counts.

Numbers speak for themselves. The University appointed 146 academics during the 11th Plan Period (2006-2011). The total number of academics who have been promoted, at least once during 2006-2011, stands at a record 122, while the number of administrative staff promotion has reached 300 in the same period.

The period beginning November 2006-2007 has been a golden era as far as the Human Resource practices within the IGNOU system are concerned, and the role of Academic Co-ordination Division and Administrative Division is crucial in achieving this goal - the goal of nurturing a large pool of academics in the Decade of Innovation.

"Promotions given in the Administrative Division from November 2006 till date show the University has taken care of each and every individual when it comes to honoring one's skills, dedication and hard work. In Group A cadre, the University promoted 98 individuals; in Group B cadre, 143 staffers were promoted while in Group C (technical cadre), 60 people were given promotions in last four years," informs U.S. Tolia, Registrar, Administrative Division.

The Academic Coordination Division at IGNOU is entrusted with the responsibilities of establishment, Administration and other service matters pertaining to Teachers and Academics of the University.

"IGNOU hired 93 Consultants (Academic) and 215 Consultants (Administration) since November 2006-present, a record of sort for the University. Senior-level superannuated teachers who have retired from service were also appointed on re-employment basis to utilize their experience and expertise in the development of various programmes and courses of the University," says Dr M.S. Senam Raju, Director, ACD.

The Division is also entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating appointment of Adjunct professors and engagement of Consultants, On-line Experts, Web Developers and Project Associates, etc. on full-time as well as part-time basis for various academic activities to support the permanent faculty appointed for performance of certain core functions and all other development needs.

"The idea is not only to strengthen the faculty in terms of numbers, but also sustain and nurture a large pool of academics who can help the nation achieve its educational goals in the Decade of Innovation," says Vice Chancellor, Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

In the same period, the number of Ph.D. holders (including Administration) rose to 342 (227 Teachers and 115 Academics) in this period. The number of research scholars (both full-time and part-time) stands at 540. These include 38 M.Phil, 376 part-time, 35 full-time and 91 RTAs.

"About 800 teachers and academics with Ph.D. and higher-level research qualifications are working in the University. An exclusive Research Unit was created in the University recently to coordinate all these research activities," adds Prof. Pillai.

"Research is a process of systematic collection, investigation and analysis of information to increase a research scholar's understanding of the study which he or she has undertaken with specific objectives.
In this context, it is the responsibility of the researcher to commit himself/herself to the study undertaken. The RTA Scheme is a unique move in this period and will benefit highly meritorious full-time postgraduates," stresses Dr V. Venugopal Reddy, Director, Research Unit.

IGNOU is heading for a paradigm shift in its research policy and research facilitation processes in the context of the global scenario of full-time research, part-time research and systemic research under the open university and distance education systems.

"The University has a research project scheme. Paid research study leave, in addition to the sabbatical leave scheme, are available to teachers and academics. Participation in national and international research conferences is facilitated by travel grants," says Prof. Pillai.

"IGNOU has a faculty strength of over 1,000 with doctoral and post-doctoral qualification who are occupying permanent full-time positions as Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors or equivalent academic positions as Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors and Directors."

"In addition, the University has a rich pool of over 40,000 part-time academic counselors. A large number of very eminent scientists and academicians are also serving the University as consultants, Emeritus Professors and Chair Professors. The University also provides family residential facilities for over 400 teachers and other staff," adds the Vice Chancellor.

"IGNOU has 62 Regional Centres in its own buildings or in rented premises. The University is in the process of building facilities for all the Regional Centres. Laboratories for specific science Programmes and an Inter-University Consortium for Technology-Enabled Learning are also housed in the Campus," informs Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Latha Pillai.

The University, as did other autonomous institutions across the country, also bore a major additional burden on account of outgo toward salaries and wages.

The payment of arrears due to the generous award by the Sixth Pay Commission also added to the outgo. Payments toward salaries and wages - due to both higher payout and recruitment - went up from 35.68 crore to 86.12 crore.

As a result, the percentage-expenditure under this head, which was hovering around 18 percent till a few years ago, ballooned to nearly 25 per cent.

"IGNOU was one of the first Universities in the country to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, including clearing the arrears," Prof Pillai points out.

Added to that, the non-plan expenditure toward staff welfare - due to the reasons aforesaid - also shot up from 9.23 crore to 57.02 crore. These expenses are toward contributions for the new pension scheme, bonus, pension, gratuity, leave encashment, leave salary, honorarium and other welfare schemes.

"This expenditure is also a necessary part of the University's effort to keep its staff and faculty satisfied and maintain high productivity levels," says Prof Pillai, adding that a concerted effort has been made to ensure that senior faculty members have independent rooms and personal assistants. All of them have also been issued laptops to increase efficiency and productivity.

With increased salaries, the University also had to incur a much higher expenditure toward terminal benefits, compared with earlier years. Total Quality Management remains the highest priority in all areas of operation of the University.

Expenditure on staff welfare rose from 9.31 crore to 57.83 crore - an almost six-fold increase. As a percentage of expenditure, this was a jump from 4.03 percent to 12.94 percent of expenditure.

Against this backdrop, there has also been a concerted effort on the part of the University to curtail expenditure. This is the reason why the share of non-plan administrative expenses to total expenditure has fallen significantly from 28.24 percent in 2006-07 to 17.14 percent in 2009-10.

New strategies are also being evolved to mobilize resources so that the University can continue to work on its mandate without any financial impediment.

In addition, maximizing non-monetary inputs and achieving cost-effectiveness in operations and economy in spending also remain the guiding principle of the University.