A | A- | A+
Screen Reader Access
Research Council
Updated on 18 Jan, 2024


Prof. Santosh Panda

Member

Dr. Santosh Panda, a professor of distance education since 1997 at the Staff Training and Research Institute, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India, started university teaching in 1984.  An Economics graduate, he has MPhil and Ph.D. (Education), Certificate in EdTV (BBC, UK), Certificate in Online Learning (University Maryland), and Fulbright Post-doctorate (UNM, USA).  His past assignments include: Assistant Professor at dual-mode Kurukshetra University; Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor at IGNOU; Director, Association of Indian Universities; Founding Director, erstwhile Inter-University Consortium (IUC) for ICT, IGNOU; Director, Centre for Flexible & Distance Learning, University of the South Pacific, Fiji; and Chairperson, National Council for Teacher Education (a statutory regulator of Government of India), New Delhi/India.  During the academic and administrative career spanning over last 35 years, he has taught various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses at Kurukshetra University, IGNOU, University of New Mexico/USA, and University of Maryland/USA.  Also he has been visiting professor at University of London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Beijing Normal University, and University of Gaudalajara/Mexico.
 
During the past 35 years of teaching, research and administration career, Dr. Panda has extensively worked in areas of: educational planning and economics of education; higher education planning, management and accreditation; open, distance, online and blended learning; and teacher education.  His current and past teaching of courses/programmes include: IGNOU – postgraduate diploma in e-learning, M.A. in distance education (economics of distance education, communication technology for distance education, curriculum development for distance education), M.Phil and Ph.D. in distance education; University of New Mexico - management of distance education (Grad course), and research in distance education (Doc course); University of Maryland – management of distance education-cost analysis; Kurukshetra University – MA (edn), MPhil and Ph.D. (edn.). As coordinator of international programmes in distance education at IGNOU, Dr. Panda expanded the programmes, then offered in 24 countries, sponsored by RGF, COL, UNESCO, SADC, World Bank and ADB.  He was national coordinator and developed DEC-NCTE National M.Ed programme.
 
Engaged in extensive policy and professional development activities, Dr. Panda: i) initiated research training, skill development, curriculum and instructional design models, assessment strategies at STRIDE; ii) initiated policy and training at Inter-University Consortium on IMM and online learning for Commonwealth, and South Asian countries, including taking IGNOU from traditional ODL to the next phase of interactive and virtual technology-enabled teaching-learning; iii) training of senior Army officials through ARCTAC for ODL; iv) training of senior bureaucrats through UNDP and DOPT toward distance and online training; v) training/roundtable of new vice-chancellors, registrars, controllers of examination at Association of Indian Universities; vi) new Regulation 2014 under Justice Verma Commission at the National Council for Teacher Education, with significant reforms in recognition, accreditation, regulation, integrated teacher education, interdisciplinary institutional provisions, e-governance and e-monitoring, and vii) curriculum reforms; and online, flexible and blended learning at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.
 
Dr. Panda’s past and current research areas include; international student mobility, costing of higher education and distance education, virtual research, models of instructional design and course development, student dropout, employability and career mobility, programme evaluation, online research resources, self-regulated learning, OER, open education practices, teacher education, open schooling, TNA, networking and partner institutions, planning and management in distance education.
 
Dr. Panda has presented 3 convocation addresses in universities and 24 international/national conference keynotes and workshops in 26 countries; sits in the editorial board of above 20 refereed international journals. He has published extensively, including the following:
 
Book: (2017). Planning and Management in Distance Education. 1st Edition. London: Routledge.
 
Book: (2008). Economics of Distance and Online Learning. New York: Routledge.
 
 
Book (2019). Linking Skill Programmes with Higher Education Programmes.
    
EDUCATION:
 
Fulbright Post-Doctorate (Online Education) 2003
 
Name of the University: University of New Mexico, USA.
Discipline: Education.
Dissertation Topic: “Online Constructivist Continuing Professional Development of Special Educators”.
Academic Achievement: Senior Fulbright Fellowship by United States Government.
Doctor of Philosophy (Social Psychology of Education) 1984
Name of the University: Kurukshetra University.
Discipline: Education.
Doctoral Research Topic: “Rorschach as a Tool for Investigating Socio-Psychological Aspects of Acculturation”.
Academic Achievement: University PhD Fellowship holder.
Master of Philosophy (Education) 1981
Name of the University: Kurukshetra University.
Discipline: Education.
Dissertation Topic: “Rorschach Test for Personality Assessment”.
Academic Achievement: University Chancellor Gold Medal.
Master of Arts (Education)  1980
Name of the University: Kurukshetra University.
Discipline: Education.
Academic Achievement: University Chancellor Gold Medal.
Bachelor of Arts (Economics) 1978
Name of the University: Utkal University.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Chairperson, National Council for Teacher Education, Government of India, New Delhi. (2013-2016)
Director, Inter-University Consortium for ICT-Enabled Education, IGNOU. (2013-2013)
Director, Centre for Flexible & Distance Learning, University of the South Pacific, Fiji. (2010-2010)
Director, Staff Training & Research Institute, Indira Gandhi National Open University. (2005-2008)
Founding Director, Inter-University Consortium for ICT-Enabled Education, IGNOU. (2004-2007)
Senior Fulbright Scholar, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. (2003-2003)
Director, Staff Training & Research Institute, Indira Gandhi National Open University. (1997-2000)
Professor of Distance Education, Staff Training & Research Institute, IGNOU. (1997-continuing)
Director, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, India. (1994-1997)
Associate Professor (Distance Education), Indira Gandhi National Open University. (1991-1994)
Senior Lecturer (Distance Education), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). (1989-1991)
Lecturer (Distance Education), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). (1987-1989)
Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Kurukshetra University, Haryana, India. (1984-1987)
Project Officer, Centre for Adult Education & Extension, Kurukshetra University. (1984-1984)
 
INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
Dr Panda has visited, presented keynotes, and conducted workshops in the following 26 countries (10 keynotes; 40 workshops; 18 conference papers/ conference chair) on higher education, teacher education, open/distance/online/blended/lifelong learning, and open schooling:
 
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Peoples’ Republic of China, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia,  Lesotho, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Turkey, Sierra Leone, Singapore,  South Africa, Thailand, The Netherlands, UAE, UK, and USA.
 
2019-2019: Visiting Professor, University of Guadalajara, Mexico.
2012-2012: Visiting Professor, Research Centre for DE, Beijing Normal University, Beijing.
2011-2011: Visiting Professor, Beijing Normal University, Beijing.
2007-2008: Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland, USA & University of Oldenburg, Germany.
2005-2005: Visiting Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
2004-2004: Visiting Professor, University of London, & Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
 
FELLOWSHIP/ AWARDS:
Sl. No.
Name of the Fellowship/Awards
Granting/Awarding Institution
Year
1.
Fulbright Post-Doctorate (Online Education)
University of New Mexico, USA & United States Department of Education
2003
2.
British Govt. Fellowship for Certificate in ETV at BBC
British Government
1987
3.
Gold Medal for standing first in MPhil
Kurukshetra University
1981
4.
Gold Medal for standing first in MA
Kurukshetra University
1980
5.
University Fellowship for Ph.D.
Kurukshetra University
1982-84
6.
Scholar of the Year Award
Nes Wadia College, Pune
2016
7.
National Gold Medal for Innovation in ICT in Education
Hon’ble President of India at IGNOU Convocation
2013
 
PUBLICATIONS:
Books: 19
Chapters in books:  44
Refereed research papers: 48
Conference papers: 34
Policy documents: 20
Units written: PGDip Units:10,  Masters Units:8,   MOOC Units and Videos: 25
 
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODY/STATUTORY BODY (INTERNAL / EXTERNAL):
Membership of Professional body/Statutory body
Name of statutory body/institution/
Period
1)      Member, Board of Governors
International Council for Educational Development, UK.
2018-20
2)      President
Network for Staff and educational Development, New Delhi
1997-continuing
3)      Member
International Society for Technology in Education, USA
2007-2009
4)      Life Member
Indian Association of Educational Research
1997-continuing
5)      Life Member
Indian Association of Teacher Educators
1984-continuing
6)      Member, Academic Council
Central University of Gujarat
2016-2020
7)      Member, National Yoga Certification Board
Technical Committee, Ministry of AYUSH
2018-2021
8)      Member, Selection Committee of Directors
UGC-IUCTE (BHU, JNTU)
2015-2018
9)      Member, UGC-DAAD/Committee on Collaborative Research.
UGC & DAAD/Germany
2016-2017
10) Member, PMMNMTT Committee
MHRD, Govt. of India
2014-2016
11) Member, Indian National Commission for UNESCO
MHRD, Govt. of India
2014-2016
12) Member, Advisory Committee, Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education
NIEPA
2015-
13) UGC nominee, Governing Body of St. Ignatius Autonomous College
UGC
2015-2019
14) Member Advisory Committee, PMMNMTT Teaching-Learning Centre
Tezpur Central University
2016-2019
15) Member Advisory Committee of PMMNMTT
Central University of Jammu
2016-2019
16) Chief Minister Advisory Committee on ‘Mo School’
Government of Odisha
2016-2019
17) Member, University Research Council
IGNOU
2002-2005; 2005-2008; 2018-
18) Member, School of Board, School of Education
IGNOU
2018-
19) Member, School Board, School of Law
IGNOU
2008-2011; 2018-
20) Member, School Board, School of Health Sciences
IGNOU
2018-
21) Member, Academic Council
TERI University
2011-2014
22) Member, University Senate
University of South Pacific
2010
23) Member, Advisory Board of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Knowledge Base on ODL
UNESCO, Bangkok
2005-2009
24) Chancellor Nominee, Selection Committee of Professors
Garhwal Central University
2008
25) Member, Standing Committee of Academic Council
IGNOU
2008-2010
26) Member, Planning Board & also Academic Council
UPRTOU
2005-2008
27) Member, Academic Council
Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha
2005-2007
28) Member, Green Teacher Advisory Committee
 COL & Centre for Environmental Education
2005-2008
29) Member, Advisory Committee, Virtual Research Environment
University of London External Programme
2002-2005
30) External Expert, President Research Grant Committee
OUHK, Hong Kong
2000-2005
31) Member, School Board, SOET
IGNOU
2000-2002; 2003-2006
32) Member, School Board, SOA
IGNOU
2005-2008

Click here for detail profile

Subscribe for Updates

[Updated on 10-Apr-2024]