Bhubaneswar: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the largest open university in the world, will soon introduce a certificate course on sand art, which will be as a first of its kind in the country. Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik from Odisha will help IGNOU to design and develop the course.

Prof Ravindra Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the University, informed about the new course on sand art at the East Zone Regional Directors’ Meet held here on 04 November 2016. Further, this course will be available via online mode under the university’s massive online open course (MOOC) programme.

Commenting on this initiative, Mr Patnaik said both theory and practical aspects of the courses will be developed for the programme. The theory part will consist of the selection of sand, use of water, measurement of sand. Also the course will guide the students how to use the props while making the art and incorporate the entire process of making a sculpture on sand.

On the practical side, Mr Patnaik “Efforts will be made to upload videos of making a sculpture on online through IGNOU’s website for students.”

Vice chancellor Kumar informed that the institution will host this course on its online platform while the course will be initially offered at Bhubaneswar region of IGNOU.

Currently, IGNOU has developed more than 300 MOOC courses while these courses will be offered on the government’s own internet platform called ‘Swayam’. The programme on sand art will also come on this platform.