The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman, Anil D. Sahasrabudhe answered queries about why a slight fraction of online courses are permitted to join the framework of formal higher education.
He shared the benefits of these online courses, demanding courses, its use and despite teaming up with industry why regulators are wary about credit-transfers etc.
AICTE has collaborated with Microsoft and several multinational corporations and industry farms like Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies). The companies are offering various popular and certified courses and free certificates of courses which are in high demand. Microsoft is also offering about US $100 as a stipend to students.
He explained that AICTE is only offering credit transfer for the courses which are provided through SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) Portal. These courses will be offered by reputed government organizations and their faculty members.
Read: UGC Online Courses: 100 UG, PG Courses Available On SWAYAM Platform From January 2021; Details Here
AICTE is not planning to allow credit transfer from certificate courses to a full-time diploma or degree course from now. They do not have a problem if a college after conducting an entrance test admits the students and impart skills to them accordingly through these online certificate courses.
He informed that they can not give the credit transfer facility to the industry. If the credit transfer facility is enabled, someone will come saying in the market that they are providing credits after Class 12 and that will not be a good choice .
Since lockdown was imposed in the last eight months, online certificate courses have mushroomed yet AICTE is not mulling on regulations for these courses. As they are not authorizing credit transfer for these online certificate courses offered by any organization other than SWAYAM and recognised institutions, there is no question of imparting regulation at all.
Sahasrabudhe suggested that the emerging trends in the online certification segment, include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), data science and augmented reality, IoT (internet of things), have a huge demand for skilled people.
Sharing his thoughts on the difference between online education and distance mode of education he shared that he does not see the two modes of education as distinct. The only difference is that earlier, in the distance learning form of notes and study materials are shared hand to hand which is now done by sending pdf files.
He further explained online education certainly has an advantage over distance learning. As a student can view recorded classes at any time as per his convenience. Whereas In the ODL mode, students have to attend classes at their study centers once a week.
Online education is just like attending lectures in virtual mode. So according to him, online classes are a little ahead of distance learning .
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