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This story is from August 14, 2019

Central University, Punjab ahead of new central universities in running courses at UGC-Swayam

Central University, Punjab based at Bathinda is at the forefront of union government's new initiative 'UGC-Swayam', that enables anyone to acquire skills. UGC-Swayam is 'massive open online course'(MOOC), which anyone can take through internet, irrespective of educational background.
Central University, Punjab ahead of new central universities in running courses at UGC-Swayam
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BATHINDA: Central University, Punjab based at Bathinda is at the forefront of union government's new initiative 'UGC-Swayam', that enables anyone to acquire skills. UGC-Swayam is 'massive open online course'(MOOC), which anyone can take through internet, irrespective of educational background. It is designed to disseminate quality education to all including most disadvantaged and take students towards digital revolution.
At Swayam the courses from class IX till post graduation have been prepared to be accessed by anyone, anywhere and anytime.
Central University Punjab going ahead of other new central universities across the country have made available two new courses for anyone to enroll free of charge. Some other universities have prepared not more than one course, adopted to disseminate technology-driven education to enable the citizens to acquire skills necessary to face competitive job market.
One of the most popular among the courses available at the Swayam platform is 'solid and hazardous waste management', which is a 4 credit post graduate course. The course prepared by Professor Vinod K Garg, Dean Academic Affairs at CU Punjab, has attracted around 4000 enrolees across the nation and is still open for enrolments. The 15 week MOOC course is prepared to enable students with the skills needed for solid and hazardous waste management. Management of solid and hazardous waste is challenge for urban local bodies, scientists and policy makers. The course will offer municipal solid waste, bio medical waste, e waste, plastic waste, radioactive waste, flash", said Vinod Garg.
With research and teaching experience of more than 26 years, Prof Garg is an acclaimed academician in the country. He has guided 17 PhD students and completed research grants worth Rs. 13 crores sponsored by the union government. He has chaired a major project on ePG Pathshala by MHRD.
The course on 'Biostatistics and Mathematical Biology' by Felix Bast, Assistant Professor at CU Punjab, is a 3 credit Post graduate level course. The 12 week course will thoroughly cover basic mathematics essential for biologists and beneficial across the disciplines including sciences, engineering, medicine, humanities, actuarial science, management. The course has more than 1500 enrollers and is still open for enrolment. Felix has won Teaching Innovator Award from MHRD in 2019 and served with President of India as an Inspired Teacher for a week in 2015.
CU Punjab plans to launch more MOOCs through UGS Swayam platform in near future. The learners need to pay Rs. 1000 in case they require formal certification after the successful completion of the course upon passing the exams of course both online and offline. This certificate can be used to claim the credit across all Indian universities as part of UGC's credit transfer mechanism. However, if one gets more than 40% marks the fee will be totally reimbursed, said Felix Bast. The courses are available at https://swayam.gov.in/.
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About the Author
Neel Kamal

Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology.

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