First of its kind Joint Certification Program to Enable
Development of Young Minds through Chess
New Delhi, 23 September, 2010: NIIT, leading Global
Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT trainer, and Indira Gandhi
National Open University (IGNOU), world’s largest Open University, have come
together to launch ‘Certificate Program in Chess as Mind Booster’, to enable
development of young minds through Chess. The program was unveiled by
World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Also present on the occasion
were Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU; Prof. K.R.
Srivathsan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU; Sh. Udai Singh Tolia, Registrar, IGNOU
and Mr. P. Rajendran, Chief Operating Officer, NIIT. Dr. Anita Priyadarshini,
Director, DEP-SSA and convener, welcomed the gathering.
The program aims to encourage young students to play Chess which would
enable young minds to develop, and subsequently help them to think logically and
improve their life skills. Also, under the guidance of Grandmaster Viswanathan
Anand, IGNOU and NIIT will work towards extending the - NIIT MindChampions
Academy across the country. The program will help the students to learn the
game, practice, solve puzzles, analyze great moves, enrich their knowledge on
Chess history and expose them to games of eminent players. Students will get an
opportunity to play with Anand and participate in the annual ChessMaster.
“We are pleased to take our association with NIIT to the
next level by offering joint certification program to promote Chess across the
country. We are confident that this will encourage more and more people to learn
and play Chess and will help in making India the world’s foremost nation in
Chess once again” said Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai,
Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU.
Commenting on the importance of Chess as a mind booster, Mr. P.
Rajendran, COO, NIIT Ltd., remarked, “Studies have revealed that
Chess has a positive impact on academics. I am confident that the Certificate
Program in Chess as Mind Booster from NIIT & IGNOU will enable development
of young minds and improve their concentration.”
Speaking on the occasion, World Chess Champion and NIIT MindChampion,
Viswanathan Anand, said “I am delighted to be part of this unique
initiative by NIIT and IGNOU that will go a long way in popularizing the game of
Chess amongst youngsters in India.”
After the successful completion of the program students will be felicitated
with a joint Certification by NIIT and IGNOU. This will enable the students to
become members of the NIIT MindChampions Academy and contribute to the Chess
movement in India.
Prof. K.R. Srivathsan, Pro Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, who initiated the
program between of IGNOU and NIIT, explained the importance of offering this
program through the Distance Education Program of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. This
would further help making school education more exciting and relevant to
children’s development. Prof. Srivathsan stated how this program will be made
openly accessible to all interested through the ‘Sikshadhara’ portal of open
education under the DEP-SSA whose development he had been guiding.
A Pan-India study on the Impact of Chess programmes on children -
‘Developing MindChampions through Chess’, indicates that Chess benefits students
by enabling them to meet academic challenges through thoughtful preparations and
flawless execution. These children also developed self-regulated learning,
increased concentration on problem solving and a quest for newer concepts. The
study proves beyond doubt that proficiency in Chess helps students to organise
and manage time effectively.
About NIIT MindChampions Academy
A Joint initiative
by NIIT and GM Viswanathan Anand- ‘NIIT MindChampions Academy’ was introduced in
the year 2002 with the objective of initiating students into the world of Chess.
The Academy today fosters nearly 9000 Chess clubs with more than 8,50,000
students cumulatively since inception. The phenomenal success of NIIT
MindChampions Academy has reiterated the fact that Chess has been a rewarding
experience for students, helping them approach the academic problems in a more
tactical and logical manner.
About DEP-SSA and IGNOU
The Distance Education Program
– Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (DEP-SSA) is an MHRD Project hosted at IGNOU. DEP-SSA
conducts continuing education in distance mode as well as through workshops in
different regions for teacher-educators, the SSA District Education
Coordinators, SSA associated officials in the states and others. MHRD officials
and experts from school education related organizations use its services and
IGNOU’s EDUSAT Teleconferencing and other facilities to reach out to SSA
officials in all the states along with teachers and educators for necessary
continuing education related to SSA Programs. Vice Chancellor, IGNOU is also
the Chairperson of the DEP-SSA Project.
For media queries, please contact:
PrateekChatterjee,
NIIT Ltd, Ph: (Cell) +91 9910201085, (Dir) +91 124 4293041
Email:
prateek.chatterjee@niit.comOr
Reema Bardhan, NIIT Ltd, Ph: (Cell) + 91 9891267470, (Dir) + 91 124 4293042