In a landmark decision, The Hon’ble President of India appointed Professor Uma Kanjilal as its first woman Vice Chancellor (VC) since its establishment in 1985 after Jamia Milia Islamia University and JNU. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is the world’s largest university with over 3 million students. The announcement, made by the Ministry of Education on July 25, 2025, marks a transformative moment for India’s premier distance-learning institution. Prof. Kanjilal, who had been serving as IGNOU’s Acting VC since July 25, 2024, brings 36 years of expertise in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) to the role. Her professional capacity as indicated by IGNOU through website is-
“Professor Uma Kanjilal assumed the charge of Acting Vice-Chancellor on July 25, 2024. Prior to this, she served as the Pro Vice-Chancellor at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, from March 2021 to July 2024. Throughout her career, Prof. Kanjilal has held several key positions at IGNOU: Director of the Centre for Online Education (COE) (Jan 2019 to May 2021); Director of the Inter-University Consortium for Technology Enabled Flexible Education (IUC-TEFED) (Aug 2016 to Jun 2019); Director of the Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning (ACIIL) (Jan 2012 to July 2013); Director of the School of Social Sciences (July 2007 to June 2010); and University Librarian (June 2004 to May 2006). She has around 36 years of experience in the Open and Distance Learning System. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, her professional journey began as a Research Assistant at IIT Kanpur (1984-85). She then worked as a Cataloguer (Sept. 1987- Aug 1988); and Professional Assistant (Aug 1988- Aug 1989) at IGNCA before joining IGNOU as a Lecturer (Aug 1989- Oct 1995). She made strides in her academic role as a Reader (Nov 1995 – Oct 2003) and has been serving as a Professor since November 2003. Prof. Kanjilal was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, in 1999-2000, where she focused on multimedia courseware development and web based course development. Prof. Kanjilal’s international assignments include consultancy for the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (Sept. 2016- March 17), a scoping study for UNRWA in Jordan (Nov 2010- March 2011), and developing modules for the Commonwealth Computer Navigator’s Certificate for the Commonwealth of Learning in Canada (2007). She is the National Coordinator of SWAYAM (India MOOCs) and SWAYAM PRABHA (Educational DTH Channels) of the Ministry of Education. She is also the Coordinator, IGNOU-PMU (Project Management Unit) under the Project Management Unit Head of NMEICT Phase-III scheme of MOE (Nov 2022 to till-date). Prof. Kanjilal has been recognized with several fellowships and awards, including being a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, receiving the Manthan Award for e-Education, an Australia-India Council Grant, and a DANIDA Fellowship, among others. Her contributions have earned her the Silver Medal for 2nd Best Paper at IGNOU and DELNET’s Best Lending Library Award (2004-05). Prof. Kanjilal has been actively involved in numerous professional and statutory bodies serving as member Project Advisory Board of NMEICT 2019- till date), SWAYAM Board, Technical Committee Member SWAYAM Platform (2016 -2018), Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Ministry of Culture (2017- 2023 for two terms), Advisory Board Member of National Library, Kolkata (2018-2021), member Standing Committees for the National Mission on Education through ICT (2009-15) and ePG Pathsala (2011-16), being a member of the Project Review and Supervisory Group for the National Digital Library of India (2014-18), and holding various Advisory and Technical committee roles for NMEICT projects. Prof. Kanjilal’s research projects include leading initiatives like the Web Enhanced Training Programme on WINISIS (2002-04), DSIR; developing Multimedia Courseware on Digitisation and Digital Libraries (2006-09), DSIR; coordinating the Sakshat One Stop Education Portal (2009-17) of MHRD (MoE); Library Automation and Networking under NMEICT (2011-17). She also contributed to the EDRP project for web hosting management and e-portfolio modules (2010-13) of NMEICT (MoE) and the National Virtual Library of India project (2016-2020) of Ministry of Culture. Prof. Kanjilal’s areas of specialization include e-learning, multimedia courseware development, ICT applications in libraries, and digital libraries. Prof. Kanjilal’s publications include 1 authored and 2 edited books, 14 book chapters, 38 research papers, and 5 policy documents, Throughout her career, Prof. Kanjilal has demonstrated a commitment to advancing online education and digital library initiatives, both nationally and internationally. A Fulbright Scholar and Professor of Library and Information Science since 2003, Kanjilal is celebrated for bridging India’s digital divide through innovations in e-learning, digital libraries, and multimedia education. Her accolades include the Manthan Award for e-Education and international fellowships from Australia and Denmark.”
Kanjilal succeeds Professor Nageshwar Rao (2018–2024), who took charge after Professor M. Aslam (2013–2017). Prof. Kanjilal’s appointment shatters a longstanding glass ceiling in IGNOU. Her unique blend of “academic leadership, digital innovation, and institutional knowledge” as vital for IGNOU’s future. With IGNOU adopting a semester-based CBCS system and targeting rural inclusivity, her digital expertise is poised to redefine open learning in India.
Appointment Order: https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/VC_IGNOU.pdf
