Microsoft to design app for Indian govt's open online courses

Microsoft has been selected as the technical partner for HRD ministry's SWAYAM platform that will launch 2,000 massive open online courses for over three crore students this year

Microsoft has been selected as the technical partner for HRD ministry's SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) platform that will launch 2,000 massive open online courses (MOOC) for over three crore students this year.

Sources said the technology giant will deploy a team of dedicated people to set up the state-of-the-art application for which Microsoft and All India Council of Technical Education has signed a deal of Rs 38 crore. Microsoft will be running the app for three years after which it will be taken over by AICTE.

Meanwhile, UGC (Credit Framework for online learning courses through SWAYAM) Regulation, 2016 has been finalised. As per the regulation, online courses shall be made available on SWAYAM platform by partner institution identified by the National MOOCs coordinator.

Twice each year, registrars of all the institutions will be given the list of online courses being offered in each semester. Physical facilities like laboratories, computer facilities, library etc, shall be made available for free by the parent institution.

A certificate upon successful completion of the MOOCs will be issued by the parent institution and issued through the host institution.

The parent institution will give equivalent weightage to the students for the credits earned through courses through SWAYAM platform in the credit plan of the program.

"A student studying in Jharkhand can take a course in IIT, Bombay and the credit earned can be transferred to this marksheet. We are hopeful this will bring a new change in the education system," a senior official in the education ministry said.

Source | http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/microsoft-to-design-app-for-indian-govts-open-online-courses/52790346

             

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