Launch of MOOC on Development of Online Course for SWAYAM

COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education in entire world. Universities and Colleges and Schools in India are almost closed since last 15 months. Hence, Universities and Colleges are encouraged to make use of SWAYAM Online platform for Students learning. University Grant Commission, Govt. of India is also encouraging the faculty members to submit their expression of Interest for developing Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses for SWAYAM platform. For faculties of Universities and Colleges to develop Online Courses, they require training so that they can design and develop Quality Online courses based on the SWAYAM Guidelines. Hence, there is a necessary for development of an online training course on SWAYAM, which will be able to motivate and guide step by step procedure for development of courses for SWAYAM. This MOOC will build the capacities of the faculty members to develop Online Courses.

In this regard, CEMCA with support from a team of experts (Open University Faculty) has designed and developed a two-week MOOC on “Development of Online Course for SWAYAM”. The MOOC is for Teachers of Higher Education with the objective that they will learn the SWAYAM framework for design of Online Courses for SWAYAM. CEMCA along with Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) launched this MOOC on 18 May 2021 with the presence of Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi; Dr. B K Bhadri, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India; Professor Om Prakash Singh Negi, Vice-Chancellor, Uttarakhand Open University; Professor Subha Sankar Sarkar, Vice-Chancellor, NSOU, Kolkata; Professor Madhu Parhar, Director, CEMCA, New Delhi; Esteemed Course developers: Dr. Manas Ranjan Panigrahi, CEMCA; Professor Anirban Ghosh, NSOU; Dr. G Mythili, IGNOU and Dr. Jeetendra Pande, UOU and all enrolled learners. Around 392 peoples from various higher education institutions participated in this online launching ceremony.

In his inaugural address Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU appreciated the effort of the CEMCA and shared the requirement of 10,000 MOOCs for SWAYAM which will be a great support for the learners in this current situation. Further he also extends his concern, that this training MOOC will be a boost and increase the contribution online courses toward the SWAYAM.

Dr. B K Bhadri, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, Congratulate CEMCA for this innovative contribution, which will enable pool of academia will be enhanced capacity to design and develop online courses for SWAYAM and create a landmark for the wider benefit of various stakeholder in the changing scenario of Open and Distance Learning.

Professor Om Prakash Singh Negi, Vice-Chancellor, Uttarakhand Open University said that the MOOCs are very much popular in India specially in this pandemic. It helps the learners and teachers in their adequate learning process. He also encourages all the higher education institutions join hands for expansion open and distance learning approach which will enable reach to unreached.

Professor Subha Sankar Sarkar, Vice-Chancellor, NSOU, Kolkata extends his gratitude to CEMCA for giving opportunity to host this MOOC and also congratulate all the young course developers of this MOOC.

Professor Madhu Parhar, Director, CEMCA extend her gratitude to all the dignitaries and extend thanks to IGNOU, UOU and NSOU for extensive collaboration. She also assured that this MOOC will be enhanced large number of higher education teachers capacity and they will significantly contribute the innovative courses to SWAYAM including other platform for better learning opportunity.