JNU Plans To Offer Short-Term Online Learning Courses

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) plans to kick off e-learning segment to provide various short-term online learning courses for students across the country, official informed. It aims to support e-learning on campus to cater students from underprivilege sections and residing in rural areas.

The university is working on methods to develop infrastructure including video recording room with camera, light and soundproof facilities. B S Balaji, Chairperson, Special Centre for E-learning, JNU, informed, “JNU has received a HEFA loan of Rs 455 crore and is in the process of creating infrastructure to support faculty members to develop these courses”.

Balaji further informed about JNU plan to introduce UGC approved, four-credit and 15-week long Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Climate and Environment Protection. This will be started as part of its undergraduate programme on Indian Arctic Policy (ACP) for students across the country.

Around 6-8 open online courses on international relations, political science, social science and languages are also expected to be rolled out in the coming years, the Chairperson informed. These courses will be provided via SWAYAM platform and some of them through LMS portal of JNU Digii campus. The courses developed by JNU-LMS are expected to be incorporated with future UG and PG programmes.

“Initially, the courses developed for JNU Digii campus will be offered only to JNU students and later, university will explore the courses to be offered to students from the entire country”, BS Balaji added.

The credits earned through these courses will be reflected on the Student’s Academic Bank of Credits after successfully clearing the year end examination conducted by NTA.

The university may charge a nominal fee for the course provided through JNU. However the MOOCs provided through SWAYAM will be available free of cost.