Student-picked syllabus ready for launch

The first-ever textbook based on the feedback of hundreds of students and around 127 subject faculty will be launched at the University of Mumbai campus in Kalina on Monday. The zoology textbook for FYBSc students has been made based on the topic preferences of students and expert inputs from faculty who are in constant touch with the industry requirement.

“While introducing the new FYBSc syllabus in the subject of zoology from the academic year 2015-16 a need was felt to prepare and make available quality study material,” said Dr Anil Singh, a zoology professor from Mithibai College and one of the co-ordinators for the new text-book. “There was also a strong desire for uniform implementation of it in all affiliated colleges from Colaba to Sawantwadi in order to benefit students studying in urban as well as rural areas equally.”

The textbook is an attempt to standardise the syllabus across all the colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Special attention has been given to the ecology prevalent in and around the colleges in these regions so that students are able to get practical learning experience without going far from the college or their homes.

The textbooks and practical books with ISBN are prepared by writers’ committee comprising teachers in the subjects under the chairmanship of Vinayak Dalvie. The subject matter of the books are peer reviewed by more than 127 teachers and hundreds of students before being published by the University press. This exercise is a pioneering effort of the Mumbai University and if practised in all the subjects can generate revenue even if the prices of books are as low as Rs 60 and Rs 85.

The initiative is a first-of-its-kind as textbooks have been prepared solely by subject experts based on their research and study and their understanding of the requirement of the syllabus. However, Dr Dalvie said, “The centre has proposed a choice-based credit system and this textbook aims to integrate the same. The Board of Studies for Zoology has been the first to accept the fact that students have specific requirements and hence involved them in preparing the new syllabus.”

The textbook will be launched by minister of state for higher and technical education Ravindra Waikar at the Phirozshah Mehta Auditorium at the Kalina campus.

Source | Asian Age | 29 June 2015