A course on cereals processing from IGNOU

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is offering a year-long distance diploma course in cereals processing from the 2013 academic session, a varsity statement said Monday.

The Diploma in Production of Value Added Products from Cereals, Pulses and Oilseeds "intends to inculcate vocational and entrepreneurial skills to widen employment opportunities, particularly among rural youth and the disadvantaged sections of the society as well as self-employment", said the statement.

The course, developed with financial support of the central food processing industries ministry, "aims to develop competent human resource in the field of post-harvest management of cereals, pulses and oilseeds and production of value added products from them", it added.

Candidates must have passed class 12 or bachelor preparatory degree from IGNOU to be eligible to pursue the course.

The minimum duration of the course is one year. Candidates also have the flexibility of completing the programme within four years. The medium of instruction is English and the cost of the course is Rs.11,000.

IGNOU is the world's largest open university system with a pan-India and international reach with flexible entry qualifications and a wide range of affordable academic programmes.