The Delhi-based Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University aka IP University (estb. 1998), which has an aggregate enrollment of 40,000 students in its eight schools and 86 affiliated institutions, is perhaps Indias only community varsity offering study programmes in subjects such as disaster management, rehabilitation, real estate etc and providing skills upgradation courses for working professionals on weekends. In India, the concept of taking leave from work, studying and working again, as they do in developed countries is unfamiliar. This not only impedes technology absorption but career progression as well. Thats why we have devised continuing education programmes for professionals attended by 700-800 people on weekends, says Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, an eminent IT expert and educationist, and vice-chancellor of the university since its inception. Moreover, come September 14, Aggarwal, who is the incumbent president of the 50,000-member strong Computer Society of India, will also assume presidency of the prestigious South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation at the eight-nation bodys annual conference scheduled to be held in Chennai.

CSI is the oldest society of computer professionals in India and in fact, has parented organisations like NASSCOM. Therefore our deliberations and discussions on issues like the growth of IT in this part of the world will be important. Indian IT prowess has gone places around the world, but ASEAN still remains to be conquered in a big way, so the interaction and sharing of ideas will open up new opportunities for the further growth of this industry, explains Aggarwal, an alumnus of Punjab and Kurukshetra universities, who has headed various IT-related institutions like DOEACC (of the ministry of information technology) and Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers, prior to taking charge of IP University a decade ago.

A strong proponent of IT education in schools, Aggarwal believes that its a long haul proposition. ICT is a tool, it depends on how you use it. Therefore, while computer literacy is vital, content development and uniformity, access etc are issues which have to be properly addressed to fully integrate ICT into education, he says.

Meanwhile, suggests Aggarwal, India can harness its potential best by investing in its English language advantage, developing its maths and sciences heritage with institutions such as the Ramakrishna Mission, DAV colleges etc, which are actively involved in education, to reap the demographic dividend. Moreover he entertains the hope that after IP University inaugurates its new campuses in Dwarka and East Delhi, it will become a model to emulate throughout India.
Autar Nehru (Delhi)