Uma Kanjilal becomes first woman vice-chancellor of IGNOU

Professor Uma Kanjilal has been appointed the vice-chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), becoming the first woman to hold the position in the university's history. She has been serving as the acting VC of IGNOU since July 25 last year.

Having 36 years of experience in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, Kanjilal brings on the table academic leadership, digital innovation, and institutional knowledge.

Before assuming the role of acting VC, Kanjilal served as pro-VC (March 2021 – July 2024). She held various key leadership roles, including director, Centre for Online Education (2019–2021); director, Inter-University Consortium for Technology Enabled Flexible Education (2016–2019); director, Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning (2012–2013); director, School of Social Sciences (2007–2010); and University Librarian (2004–2006).

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Starting her career as a professor of Library and Information Science in 2003, Kanjilal is nationally recognised for her expertise in e-learning, ICT in libraries, digital libraries, and multimedia courseware development. She currently works as the national coordinator for SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA initiatives.

IGNOU VC's contributions

Her global contributions include a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1999–2000), consultancy for the Commonwealth of Learning, and digital education work for UNRWA in Jordan. She has received multiple accolades including the Manthan Award for e-Education, an Australia-India Council Grant, and a DANIDA Fellowship.

Kanjilal played a significant role in expanding IGNOU’s digital infrastructure and online education offerings while serving as the principal investigator of the National Virtual Library of India Project and currently holding the charge of coordinator of IGNOU's Project Management Unit under NMEICT Phase-III.