Latest news with #MOOCs
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nod at key DU meeting to course on ‘Sikh martyrdom', credits through online platforms leads to objections
A slew of curriculum changes were approved on Saturday at the Academic Council (AC) meeting of the University of Delhi amid a sharp dissent from a section of faculty over content control, outsourcing of credit hours, and the shifting locus of teaching authority. Among the key decisions was the approval of a new general elective course titled 'Sikh Martyrdom in Indian History (c.1500–1765)' to be offered by the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies (CIPS). The course aims to critically explore the development of Sikhism and the historical context of martyrdom under Mughal rule, covering key figures such as Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Banda Singh Bahadur. The nod, however, faced immediate criticism from some members of the council. AC member and history professor Maya John called its academic positioning 'highly objectionable.' 'The offering of this course by the CIPS is itself concerning,' she said, objecting that it will be taught outside the History department. John further flagged the absence of clarity on where and how the 60-hour course will be taught, given that students enrolled in various colleges will be selecting it as a generic elective. Calling for scholarly rigour, John said: 'I strongly recommend the inclusion of primary readings like the Zafarnama, Aurangzeb's Will, the writings of Bhai Mani Singh, and works by scholars such as Yoginder Sikand, K.S. Duggal, G.S. Chabra, and Hardip Singh Syan.' She urged that the course be suitably modified and taught by trained historians. Another agenda item that was criticised was the formal adoption of a provision allowing undergraduate and postgraduate students to earn up to 40% of their credits through online platforms such as SWAYAM and MOOCs. SWAYAM has been developed by the Indian government to provide free online courses. While the move aligns with UGC guidelines and aims to offer flexibility and multidisciplinary access, it drew strong opposition from several faculty members. 'The award of 5% credits through Swayam and MOOCs will gravely jeopardise the integrity and academic standards of DU's UG and PG programmes,' said John. 'It will contribute to endemic flux in teaching workloads, diminish meaningful student-teacher engagement, and compromise classroom instruction,' John added. Echoing these concerns, the Academic for Action and Development, Delhi Teachers' Association, the university teacher body, said in a statement: 'What's more alarming is that institutions may allow up to 40% of the total courses in any semester to be offered online. Courses taught in classrooms for decades will now be shifted online. And with that shift, teachers will slowly be pushed out of the system, silenced by screens, replaced by portals.' The Council also approved the implementation of the fourth year of UG programmes under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022. Students in their final year will now have the option to pursue one of three tracks — Dissertation, Academic Projects, or Entrepreneurship. Faculty members, regardless of whether they hold a PhD, will be eligible to supervise, provided they have relevant expertise. An Advisory Committee for Research (ACR) will oversee project allocations. In a relief, the Council also passed a resolution allowing students admitted in the 2016–17 academic session an extension of two additional years to clear backlogs. This was done in view of course restructuring during the transition from CBCS to UGCF, which reportedly left several students behind schedule. 'Those who have fallen behind by one year in the final stage of CBCS will be able to avail this benefit,' the resolution noted. DU's Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) also saw new additions. Students will now be able to take up radio jockeying as a course. The curriculum will include training in voice modulation, studio operation, scripting, anchoring, and music curation. Students will be given exposure to mock studio sessions and interactions with professionals. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh directed that pending bills related to paper checking be cleared urgently. 'All departments should submit the bills soon and ensure payment without delay,' he instructed the Examination and Finance branches. A condolence resolution was also passed in memory of late Professor P C Joshi, former Pro-Vice Chancellor and Acting VC of DU.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
JNU puts its digital future on fast track with 11cr e-learning centre
New Delhi: What began in a small, soundproof room equipped with basic audio-visual tools for online lessons is now set to become a full-fledged Special Centre for E-Learning at Jawaharlal Nehru University . The university has earmarked nearly 11 crore to develop the new infrastructure. After years of deliberation, the project is finally taking shape. The plan to set up this centre was approved by JNU's executive council several years ago, but it was only in 2024 that the university established a makeshift recording facility to begin offering MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). With formal infrastructure now in the pipeline, the university is preparing to scale up its capacity for digital education in a more structured and sustainable manner. Once operational, the centre is expected to enable JNU to offer some of its regular courses online—an expansion that could benefit students from distant regions of the country and abroad. As per current University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, universities can allow their students to obtain up to 40% of their credits through online mode. Currently, Jamia Millia Islamia is the only central university in Delhi that has made it compulsory for their students to obtain up to 40 % credit from online courses offered by SWAYAM platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to officials, the upcoming facility at JNU will include content creation studios, support for learning management systems (LMS) and virtual classrooms to facilitate the production and delivery of online courses. The Special Centre for E-Learning will be spread over 2,500 square metres. In a move to balance infrastructure expansion with ecological concerns, JNU is also exploring a vertical space-sharing model—an approach that involves housing multiple university centres within the same building. The idea is to reduce land use and limit tree felling during construction. The university is currently considering clubbing the Special Centre for E-Learning with the proposed Incubation Centre under one roof. "The Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee's clearance has helped us proceed with the plan. To minimise tree felling, we are working on clubbing several centres together. The e-learning centre could be built along with the incubation centre," said B S Balaji, chairperson, Special Centre for E-Learning. The Incubation Centre, estimated at 17.7 crore and planned across 4,000 square metres, aims to support start-ups and innovation on campus through co-working spaces, prototype labs, investor engagement cells, and mentoring support. Officials said that co-locating the two centres is both a spatial and strategic choice, allowing the university to maximise limited construction space while minimising ecological disturbance. This development comes in the wake of a recent clearance by the Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee, which granted permission to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to construct hostels and academic facilities in a designated green zone on the South Central Ridge, subject to strict environmental safeguards. The committee recommended the use of 2.1 hectares of forested land for the project. According to the approved plan, 27 trees will be felled, and 19 others will be transplanted. As part of the compensatory measures, JNU is required to plant 500 saplings and contribute 5% of the project cost to the Ridge Management Board. Earlier, construction for both centres was expected to begin in July 2025. However, the university now expects to start work by the end of this year, according to chairperson Balaji.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra University introduces major administrative & academic reforms
Visakhapatnam: Andhra University has decided to introduce several structural changes aimed at strengthening academic and administrative efficiency. A new dean for faculty affairs has been appointed to address matters and issues related to teaching staff. Similarly, the university has created the dean of alumni relations post for the first time to foster strong connections between alumni and their alma mater. To enhance the university's reputation through academic initiatives and collaborations with industry and govt, a new position, namely dean of outreach, has been introduced. A professor-in-charge has been appointed to oversee courses such as NPTEL, SWAYAM, and MOOCs. Furthermore, a professor-in-charge for university branding and media affairs, along with the IQAC coordinator, will operate in alignment under the purview of the dean of outreach as part of a newly designed structure. A chief coordinator has been appointed for the spot valuation section to reinforce the integrity of the examination system. The roles of the director of admissions and the centre for distance and open learning have now been consolidated under a single new director, who has been entrusted with full responsibility for both domains. In prioritising student welfare, a new dean of student welfare has been appointed. Under this division, the NCC, NSS, and the department of arts have been integrated. A separate dean position has been established to coordinate infrastructure, planning, and management. This division will oversee essential services including civil, electrical, transport, and security operations, and will be responsible for infrastructure development. To further strengthen the research and development division, it has now been integrated under the purview of a dean. The projects and intellectual property rights (IPR) sections have also been brought under this domain, with an in-charge appointed to oversee their functioning. Vice-chancellor Prof GP Rajasekhar said that these institutional changes have been introduced to enhance transparency, accountability, and the efficiency of services at Andhra University. "As part of this, there was a complete restructuring of deans and directors related to the administration. New positions have been created, including dean of faculty affairs, dean of outreach, dean of alumni relations, dean of infrastructure, planning and management, and chief coordinator of spot valuation. Furthermore, several measures are being taken to strengthen the examination evaluation system. It is important to connect the century-old university with its alumni, recognising and honouring their contributions. In this direction, several institutional reforms are being introduced in the university's administration," the V-C added.
