In a first, students can now opt for solo singing classes, others are free to explore poetry, and mythology can be mulled over too by the undergraduate students at Mumbai University’s (MU) distance learning wing, all thanks to the National Education Policy (NEP). While the NEP has already seen the light of day at conventional colleges, MU’s Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) has begun enrollment under its NEP-guided undergraduate courses for the first time.
Having already provided distance learning to over 24,000 students last year, CDOE has now geared up to offer a four-year degree wherein a student has the option to exit the degree after every academic year. They also have an option to re-enter the courses after a hiatus to pick up where they left off.
“Most of the pupils are working professionals who want to upskill themselves. We also account for students who have experienced a shift in their priorities, owing to circumstances, parenthood, migration, or simply marriage. The option to exit or enter courses helps students regain their momentum,” said Prof Dr Shivaji D Sargar, director of CDOE.
However, NEP implementation takes more than some tweaks in the syllabus; the policy looks to change the way one approaches distance learning. Self-taught courses have shifted to a hybrid format. Students now have to complete 40 per cent of their degree via online lectures and recorded modules. “To make sure no student is left behind, the university has signed MoUs with learning centres where disadvantaged pupils can access computers and other facilities to complete credits,” said Dr Sargar.
Officials claim to have visited as many as 200 educational hubs around Kalyan, Palghar, Dahanu, Sawantwadi, and more to spread awareness about the new distance learning concept. Sceptical towards the approach, educationists believe that the gap between planning and implementation needs to be bridged to make such courses work under NEP.
“We need to know how universities are going to maintain logistics and transparency while keeping a check on the equivalence of marks awarded by different institutes. Though the idea is welcome, its proper implementation would be a big challenge,” said former MU vice-chancellor Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar. The CDOE has recorded over 2000 admissions since enrolment started last week.
