JU Should Take Lead in the Implementation of Technologies and lead By Example- Prof Dhar

Departments to motivate the students to use Departmental Infrastructure for completing the SWAYAM Courses, initially of 4 credits, which would, later on, be increased to 10% of the Course Credits and then to 20% as desired by the Ministry of Education, Govt of India, said Prof Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu in  One day workshop on MOOCs (Massive online open course) on SWAYAM platform organized to orient the Deans, Heads and Convener Board of Studies, and Departmental SWAYAM Coordinators about the modalities of the SWAYAM for University of Jammu. Vice-Chancellor reiterated that the MOOCs from SWAYAM is mandatory for the students. The University should be a leader in the implementation of newer technologies and should lead by example. He further said that very soon the offsite campuses will also have to adopt CBCS, hence they should also start preparing their infrastructure for the adoption of MOOCs through SWAYAM. Addressing the queries raised by the participants he reassured them that the Departments have been supported financially under RUSA, and hence have been enabled in Computer hardware and Internet connectivity. He stressed that the future is of Online Education and the University of Jammu has been recognized among the few Universities of India, to offer Online Degrees in ODL Programs. In his concluding remark, he said that this workshop has rightly consolidated the initiatives started in the year 2017 and congratulated the team SWAYAM JU. The objectives of the Session were to present the SWAYAM Implementation Framework, familiarize all present regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Departments, Students, Departmental SWAYAM Coordinators, Academic Wing, Examination Wing, IT Wing, and others, and to address queries regarding SWAYAM Implementation. It is noteworthy to mention here that the  SWAYAM (meaning 'Self'), a Hindi acronym that stands for "Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young and Aspiring Minds", is an Indian Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform. SWAYAM was an initiative which was launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, now the Ministry of Education, Government of India, under 17 by 17 Digital Learning Initiatives, to give a coordinated stage, and free entry to web courses, covering all advanced education, High School, and skill sector courses. It was launched on 9th July 2017 by the Honorable President of India. The National Education Policy 2020, has stressed the consequent shift to the Online Mode of teaching-learning, thus reflecting the growing importance of online education in India. Focus on learner-centered pedagogy, and blended approach, to address the social, affective, and psychomotor dimensions of learning has also been emphasized, to improve the quality of teachers, and teaching. As part of Digital Initiatives 17-by-17 of the Ministry of Education, the University of Jammu has already adopted the online courses through the SWAYAM since 2017. The University Academic Council has endorsed the adoption of SWAYAM courses vide Item No. 33, Dated: 23.11.2017, and made it Mandatory vide University Council Resolution No: 86.26, Dated:11.09.2020.

The session was introduced earlier, by Prof. Naresh Padha, Dean Academic Affairs who delved upon the series of developments for the implementation of MOOCs through SWAYAM platform, in the University of Jammu. He also explained the modus operandi of SWAYAM courses being opted by the students of the University of Jammu. He further elaborated that these courses are uploaded on the SWAYAM portal twice a year, and the DAA Office will take all measures to regularize them, as has been done for the Open Electives offered by the University.  Earlier, Prof Jasbir Singh, Controller of Examination, praised the SWAYAM team for the initiatives undertaken to make it successful. He also delved into the procedure of transferring credits earned through SWAYAM in the marks card of the students. He also impressed upon the role of Departmental SWAYAM Coordinators in streamlining the entire process. Prof. Jasbir assured full support and cooperation of the Examination Wing, to all stakeholders. Prof Neeru Sharma, UGC SWAYAMCoordinator, University of Jammu, gave a detailed presentation on the working of SWAYAM. She also focused on the challenges being faced in the phase of implementation of MOOCs. She further delved upon the salient features and benefits of MOOCs, some research facts related to MOOCs, and the role of SWAYAM in promoting the National Education Policy 202O. She discussed the four-quadrant approach for the SWAYAM MOOCs. Dr. Suresh N Rao gave a detailed presentation about the initiatives undertaken by the University of Jammu and explained the constitution of committees for the smooth functioning of SWAYAM at the University and College level. He discussed the hierarchal structure of SWAYAM to be followed at the University of Jammu and elaborated on the roles and responsibilities of DSCs.

Earlier, Prof. Alka Sharma, Co-Coordinator SWAYAM, JU welcomed the august gathering. Mr. Ravi Kant Verma, Programmer from the office of Controller of Examination discussed the patterns of Marks cards for different disciplines and shared solutions for the marks/credits transfer for the SWAYAM course at the University of Jammu. The session was opened for discussion wherein several questions were raised by HOD’s, Deans, and DSCs, which were addressed by dignitaries on the dais and the SWAYAM team. In the last, the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Samridhi Arora. Dr. Hema Gandotra, DSC Sociology conducted the proceedings. Amongst those present were Prof. Arvind Jasrotia, Registrar, University of Jammu, Prof Prakash Anathal, DSW, Prof Lalit Sen, Deans of Faculties, Heads of the Departments and Rectors of Offsite Campuses, SWAYAM Mentors Prof B K Bajaj, Dr. Jeevan Jyoti, Dr. Garima Gupta, Dr. Nisha Kapoor, and Dr. Anil Gupta from the Digital Learning monitoring Committee, JU, and Departmental SWAYAM Coordinators. MrKulbhushan and MrArif from the DSW Office and MrRumal Chand from the Department of Home Science provided secretarial and technical assistance. More than 100 participants took part in the workshop.