The University of Madras is revamping its distance mode education programme. Foremost among the proposed changes is the introduction of a Choice-Based Credit System at the Institute of Distance Education from the next academic year.
Candidates will be allowed to take 20% of the required credits through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Thus, a candidate requiring 20 credits will be allowed to take up to five courses online.
Transfer of credits
Candidates will also be allowed to transfer their credits from regular courses to IDE and vice-versa, to enable them to complete the programme.
To ensure a smooth transfer, the core courses will remain common to the regular and distance modes. Candidates can also choose NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) courses — both certificate courses and those that require them to take exams will be permitted.
“MOOC courses are announced a month or two before a semester begins. The chairman of the Board of Studies will identify the courses that candidates can choose,” said university Vice-Chancellor P. Duraisamy.
As soft skills are not mandatory for the distance mode, they will be permitted to take other online courses, he said. Such major policy changes are normally placed for approval in the Academic Council which meets annually in the last week of February.
The university has decided that this procedure will be dispensed with and the Academic Council will authorise the Syndicate for blanket approval of the courses in the interest of the students, the V-C said.
The university has shut down its study centres outside the State, complying with a rule laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
With the Ministry of Human Resource permitting universities to offer online courses, it plans to offer such courses from the next academic year.
“We have not admitted anyone outside the State through the distance education programme this year. Those in the second and third years are continuing their programme to enable them to complete their courses,” he added.
E-books, audio-visual and self-testing modules are under preparation. Weekly discussion fora through Skype have been planned. “We cannot do away with contact classes. So weekly contact programmes will be held,” Mr. Duraisamy said.
According to him, the university has prescribed a higher number of credits than the UGC.
