Education, Careers & Professional News
New courses in distance education
Source
DH EDUACATION
Date
2005-06-21
Information
The Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education wing of Bangalore University at Central College campus is planning to introduce new courses including PG diplomas in library science, Gandhian studies, Ambedkar studies, international business management and journalism.
The Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education wing of Bangalore University at the Central College Campus is undergoing infrastructural renovations and academic upgrading under the aegis of its Director, Professor B C Mylarappa. The department now aims to reach out to a larger number of students and offer quality education.
Established in 1976, the department catered to around 500 students for degrees such as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Now, students who make use of the available 28 correspondence courses and distance education courses number around 25,000.
Prof Mylarappa says the new courses will be started from the academic year of 2005-06. These courses include Post Graduate diplomas in library science, Gandhian studies, Ambedkar studies, international business management and journalism. The duration of the courses is for a period of one year. Other certificate courses offered by the department are French and Kannada language studies. For in-service teachers, there are Bachelor of Education and Master of Education courses, each for a period of two years and an intake of 500 and 300 students respectively.
Asked how students perform in the courses of the department, Prof Mylarappa said the results have not been good in the past. The students scored 30-35 per cent and so the results were poor, he said. The director has, therefore, decided to increase the duration of the contact classes from 10 hours per subject to 15 hours per subject every year.
A minimum of 80 per cent attendance is necessary at these contact classes. Otherwise, the student responsible will not be allowed to write the examinations. Additionally, the director has also decided to constitute an expert committee in charge of each subject to maintain the quality of the study material. By providing good renumeration and benefits, the department aims to attract the best professors to prepare the course material involved.
For PG courses, the study material has been upgraded and converted into self instructional material or SIM in the form of CDs. As the department follows an annual scheme and not a semester wise system, there is one CD prepared for each year. Prof Mylarappa says this is especially useful to urban students.
For rural students, the study material is available in the form of textbooks. The Directorate is also taking steps to start an FM Channel for transmission of lectures. It has also drafted a proposal to the government to be allowed to use EDUSAT, an exclusive educational satellite channel as its resource material.
The department is criticised by the students for admission delays and marks cards being sent late according to Prof Mylarappa. He plans to introduce transparency in the system through computerisation. With a plan to introduce a code number for each student from 2005-06, admission and application processes can all be done online.
Asked about the infrastructure of the college, he says “This college is a heritage site.” At first glance, Central College does not appear so. The garden area looks neglected and a section of the ground is filled with garbage.
Prof Mylarappa says that extensive renovation will be done. The building has been freshly painted and the old floor tiles have been discarded for gleaming white tiles.
We have contacted the Lalbagh Botanical Staff to do the garden and install a shelter for parents and students, the director says. The old world charm is intact in the wooden and wrought iron roof. But new cubicles, new chairs and new computers lend modernity to this building built in the time of the British Raj.
The department of Distance Education and Correspondence Courses is making big plans to offer quality, value-based education. Whether or not the project really takes wings remains to be seen.