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C-DAC rolls out eVidhyapeeth

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CIOL Bureau
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Nanda Kasabe



PUNE: Center for Development of Advanced Computing’s (C-DAC's) advanced computing training school (ACT) is building an online university called `eVidhyapeeth'. This is meant to be a distance education program that is totally technology driven right from the registration process to payment facility.



eVidhyapeeth is a "learning management system and e-learning infrastructure product". "This has been conceived with a vision to transform the Internet into a powerful environment for teaching and learning. This system can be used for launching almost all the courses offered by various universities and educational institutes," explained C-DAC ACTs group coordinator Zia Saquib.



eVidhyapeeth has been envisioned as a virtual classroom with the delivery of content coming from ACTs. Students can choose the course of their interest by browsing the eVidhyapeeth site and then can register for the appropriate course. The instructor will verify the personal and payment details and then accept as a student. After this one can start accessing the course online through a username and password.



"It took us eight months to develop this product," Saquib said. So far three courses have been launched through the online campus. These include diploma in software engineering, diploma in data communications and preparatory courses for diploma in Advanced Computing.



eVidhyapeeth already has around 1200 students on roll. The courses are targeted at working professionals who wish to enhance their IT skills. C-DAC has already entered into an MOU with the government of Ghana for eVidhyapeeth. The first batch of 50 students is already in progress here. In addition, C-DAC is tying up with the government of Mauritius to establish the eVidhyapeeth for some online courses in information technology. C-DAC is offering B. Sc. courses in Mauritius and the DAC (Diploma in Advanced Computing) courses in Ghana.



According to Saquib, the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India does not accredit online courses. In contrast, foreign universities do recognize such online courses. A representation is being made from C-DAC to the UGC for gaining approval for accreditation. Should this come through, eVidhyapeeth of ACTs would become the first online university in the true sense of the term.



The pricing for these courses is yet to be worked out. Presently, students are charged Rs 300 for each module. Saquib expects ACTs to come out with a model for pricing at the end of the year. ACT was set up in 1993 to impart quality training in high-end technologies to existing and prospective users of advanced computing and is targeting a base of 3,000 students for eVidhyapeeth.



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