Handset maker, Nokia has said entered into a strategic partnership with India’s Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to provide certificate programmes in English through its devices in the country.

Under the agreement the two organizations will initiate a Certificate Programme in Functional English (CFE) through Nokia devices which support Ovi Life Tools. Nokia already offers educational services through Life Tools however this will be the first initiative for a certificate course.

The certificate programme will begin January 2011 in some districts of Maharashtra and will cost Rs 1,900 per student. Under the programme, Nokia will offer IGNOU admission forms on the Ovi Life Tools.

The students will receive the study material and related support from IGNOU along with daily study material from Nokia through Ovi Life Tools Services. Then the students complete the course they will be awarded certificates from IGNOU.

The Ovi Life Tools provides a range of mobile information and application services including crop prices, education, health, games, maps, music and entertainment.

Nokia India MD D. Shivakumar said, “As of the now, the programmes will be available on more than 12 variants of Nokia devices pricing between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 6,000.”