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The University of Delhi is planning to provide up to 40 per cent of its courses through online medium. DU will place a proposal with this as an agenda item before the University’s Academic Council during its meeting scheduled for November 30, 2023. This will include discussions on the inclusion of Swayam, to supplement the current teaching-learning process in the institute.

The proposal is made in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020; which intends to achieve 50 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education by the year 2035 with the help of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provided by the Swayam portal; an online learning platform by University Grants Commission.

Before this, under the UGC Regulations, 2016 (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM), the institution could allow only up to 20% of the total courses being offered in a particular programme in a semester through the online learning courses provided on the platform.

These regulations were then considered and approved by the Academic Council in 2019, followed by recommending their approval to DU’s Executive Council which also approved and accepted them.

However the UGC, in its notification, later in the year 2021, revised the regulations; stating that institutions may allow up to 40% of the classes online.

The higher educational institutions may allow only up to 40% of the total courses being offered in a particular programme in a semester through the online credit course through the SWAYAM platform.” -UGC (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM) Regulations, 2021

UGC also asked the higher educational institutions to devise a framework for credit transfer and integration of these online courses with existing programmes.

All universities to adopt the courses offered through SWAYAM platform so that the students’ community is able to reap maximum benefits.”

While more deductions and detailed analysis of the notification can only be made once the Academic Council meeting takes place, DU allowing online courses as part of the semester curriculum will have wide ranging implications for the University as well as the students.

Delhi University’s Commerce Department is likely to be the first to implement MOOCs and develop its course content based on the curriculum of the university. In a Departmental Council meeting in February this year, the various details including intricacies like the title of the MOOC to be offered, its course coordinator, and credits to be assigned for the same have been decided and approved.

Read Also: Recruitment Process On the Go for DU Faculty

Featured Image Credits: The Wire

Kavya Vashisht

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