study centres, and 21 overseas centres (in 15 countries). Approximately 20% of all students enrolled in higher education in India are enrolled with IGNOU. IGNOU offers 226 academic programs comprising courses at certificate, diploma and degree levels. Research Unit The Research Unit has been established at the Indira Gandhi National Open University vide notification dated 6 October 2008. Prior to that, research-related activities were looked after by the Academic Coordination Division. The Unit has been established with the following objectives: To conduct Research Council and Research Council's Standing Committee meetings for developing policies and frameworks for the conduct of research activities. To register and monitor all full-time and part-time MPhil and PhD candidates. To engage Research Teaching Assistants under IGNOU-DEC RTA Scheme for the conduct of research and teaching. To conduct workshops/seminars on research methodology for full-time and part-time research candidates. To facilitate systemic/discipline-based research in the University. Institutes, Cells, Centres, Units Accreditation & recognition (IGNOU) has been granted the authority to confer degrees by Clause 5(1)(iii) of the IGNOU Act 1985. IGNOU is also recognised as a Central University by the University Grants Commission of India (UGC). The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises IGNOU conferred degrees as on par with the degrees conferred by its members and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) recognises the Master of Computer Applications and Master of Business Administration program of IGNOU. In 1993, IGNOU was designated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) as its first Centre of Excellence for Distance Education empowered "to actively participate in Commonwealth co-operative endeavors to identify, nurture, and strengthen open learning institutions throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in the Third World ..". IGNOU also operates as an accreditor for open university and distance education systems in India through the Distance Education Council (DEC). Authority to do so is granted under Clause 16 and Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act 1985. IGNOU is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the highest grade of A++. Convocations in the past Notable faculty Nageshwar Rao - current vice chancellor of IGNOU Barun Mazumder - journalist Kapil Sibal - politician and lawyer George Panthanmackel - professor Nandini Sahu - poet and creative writer Raman Kapur - medical writer and doctor Ashok Kumar Hemal - academic and urologist Ram G. Takwale - former vice chancellor of IGNOU Shyam Singh Shashi - anthropologist and poet M. Aslam - former vice