The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched two online courses on Sand Art in collaboration with renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. The courses, titled “Introduction to Sand Art” and “Principles & Formats of Sand Art” will be offered through the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM platform at onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in.
Interested learners can visit the SWAYAM platform to enroll in the courses before the deadline of 15 September. The course will commence on 15 July and conclude on 15 November.
Course structure
The two courses are designed to introduce learners to the fundamentals of sand art and provide them with practical insights into the techniques and environmental considerations involved in creating sand sculptures.
The instructor for both courses is Sudarsan Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee and Sand Artist based in Puri, Odisha. According to the SWAYAM website, Pattnaik brings extensive global experience, having represented India in over 60 international sand art championships and festivals.
Course schedule and broad overview
| Parameter | Details |
| Course Status | Upcoming |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Category | Arts |
| Credit Points | 4 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Course Start Date | 15 July 2025 |
| Course End Date | 15 November 2025 |
| Enrollment End Date | 15 September 2025 |
What topics will be covered in the course?
The courses will cover multiple foundational and practical aspects of sand art creation. The course layout is divided into key thematic units, including:
| Topic Number | Topic Description |
| Topic 1 | Sand Art across the world |
| Topic 2 | Selection of the right place for creating the art |
| Topic 3 | Selection of sand |
| Topic 4 | Selection of right kind and amount of water |
| Topic 5 | Gathering and compacting the sand on the basis of the right format |
| Topic 6 | Choosing/Creating the right kind of environment for sand art |
Certification and assessment criteria
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To be eligible for the SWAYAM certificate, learners must complete both internal and external assessments:
–Internal Assessment: 30 marks are assigned to a final quiz conducted at the end of the course.
–External Assessment: 70 marks are allocated to a proctored end-term examination.
Learners are required to obtain at least 40% overall marks to qualify for certification, which includes a minimum of 12 marks in the internal quiz and 28 marks in the external examination.
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