Prof Uma Kanjilal has been appointed as the vice chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), thereby becoming the first woman to hold the position since the university’s inception. She had been serving as acting vice chancellor since July 25, 2024.
Prof Kanjilal has over 36 years of experience in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, as per a statement. She is known for her pioneering work in digital education and academic leadership. Before this role, Prof Kanjilal served as pro vice chancellor (2021–2024) and has held several key positions at IGNOU, including Director of the Centre for Online Education, Inter-University Consortium for Technology Enabled Flexible Education, Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning, School of Social Sciences, and University Librarian.
A Professor of Library and Information Science since 2003, she has been at the forefront of integrating digital tools in education. She is currently the National Coordinator for the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA initiatives.
Internationally, she is a Fulbright Fellow (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), has worked with the Commonwealth of Learning, and contributed to digital education for UNRWA in Jordan. Her recognitions include the Manthan Award for e-Education, an Australia-India Council Grant, and a DANIDA Fellowship.
Prof. Kanjilal also led the National Virtual Library of India Project and currently coordinates IGNOU’s Project Management Unit under NMEICT Phase-III.
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