Dated: April 28, 2004

      The Directorate has been planning to upgrade the existing 3 months’ deck cadets programme. In order that all candidates eventually  get diploma / degree after completing the standard course , the Directorate has been in continuous touch with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and these discussions have reached   final stages of implementation.  Many of the training institutes were invited for discussing modalities with DGS and IGNOU on more than one occasions. 

            It is proposed to start the new B.Sc. Degree  Programme in association with IGNOU from 1^st July, 2004.  The basic information of the new course is as under : 

1.         Brief outline of the programme : 

2.         Salient features of MoU with IGNOU would be as follows :

2.1      Methodology :  A total of 108 credits are required to be awarded for B.Sc. degree.   

           This   would be achieved in 3 distinct stages.  

2.1.1     Pre-sea stage :  Candidates would be selected by training institutes as per the present

present practice. However, enrollment would be jointly at IGNOU and also at the respective training institutes. Training would be conducted by institutes as per programme jointly approved by DGS and IGNOU. There will be two semesters, each of six months duration during the one year pre-sea training. Examinations at the end of each semester would be conducted by IGNOU. Successful candidates would be awarded “Diploma in Nautical Science” by IGNOU and credited with 36 credits.  

2.1.2     Sea service :  During the 24 months sea service, distance-learning programme would be conducted by IGNOU and implemented through the help of respective training institutes.  Successful candidates would be awarded “Advance Diploma in Nautical Science” by IGNOU and credited with 54 credits.  

2.1.3     Post-sea education of 4 months duration and subsequent competency examination for award of Certificate of Competency would continue to be conducted by respective approved training institutes without any changes. IGNOU has agreed to award 18 credits and “B.Sc. (Nautical Science)” degree to successful candidates without any further examination. 

2.2     Student Instructional Material:  “Study Guides” for the first year of training is required  to be prepared to launch the programme. Detailed study material for the next batch of candidates, i.e. those starting the course from July 2005, would  be prepared within the next one year.     

2.3     Fee sharing :  Fee sharing mechanism has to be worked out between IGNOU and the respective training institutes. The concept here essentially is that the profit out of the tuition fee component of the total fees must be shared between training institute and IGNOU. The exact percentage share of IGNOU and training institutes would need to be discussed by  training institutes with IGNOU. Alternately, fees sharing could also be a fixed amount per enrolled student to be paid to IGNOU by the training institutes. In this regard, there would be separate MoUs between IGNOU and training institutes.  DGS would facilitate. 

2.4     Committee :  Principally, the programme would be monitored and implemented by two tiers of committees. At the top would be “Monitoring and Implementation Committee” chaired by VC/Pro. VC with two members from IGNOU and DG(S) or his nominee with two more members from the DGS.  Next would be “Experts Committee” consisting of about 10 members from DGS/Training Institutes/Employers and about 6 members from IGNOU.  The term of reference for this committee would be to design the programme details.  Actual writing of study materials would be undertaken by various sub-committees of Experts committee.   

3.                   This new Programme would start from 1^st July 2004.

4.                   Existing Institutes already conducting the 3 month Pre-sea Deck Cadet training may continue to induct trainees till 1^st January, 2005 for the last batch to commence training.  Thereafter, existing 3 months deck cadet course will stand discontinued.  Therefore, Training Institutes are advised to upgrade to conduct new Pre-sea Deck Cadet training programme at the earliest. 

5.                     Necessary Guidelines for conducting this course will be issued shortly.

            This issues with the approval of Director General of Shipping and ex. Officio Addl. Secretary to Govt. of India.

Sd/-
(Naresh Salecha)
Sr.Dy. Director General of Shipping