HRD Ministry mulling launching 'Swayam' platform for online courses

New Delhi: The HRD Ministry is mulling launching its Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform 'Swayam' that will host over 2,000 courses for up to 3 crore students across the country on August 15.

Sources said preparations for getting the entire system ready for the ambitious project is on in full swing and it is likely be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a special ceremony here.

"The preparations for the project are on in full swing. The project has the capacity to revolutionise the education system. It is expected to be launched by the Prime Minister on August 15," a source in the Ministry said.

SWAYAM is an Information Technology platform which will host Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and provide high quality education on various subjects from school level class 9-12 to Under Graduate and Post Graduate students covering all disciplines.

About 2000 courses shall be launched backed by a network that is expected to support 10 lakh concurrent users on anytime, anywhere basis.

Through this scheme the Ministry has proposed to provide high quality e-content to all colleges and universities free of cost.
The HRD Ministry has roped in Microsoft as the technology partner for this venture.

"When completed, it would bring in interactive eContent on MOOCs format of more than 2.5 lakh hours which would make it the world's biggest repository of interactive electronic learning resource under a single window," officials said.

The UGC has already notified the UGC (credit framework for online learning courses through SWAYAM) Regulation 2016 which allows for transfer of credits earned through these courses into the academic record of the student in the parent institution.

"This would allow any student in the country to take the courses offered by the best teachers on SWAYAM, especially bridging the academic deficit experienced in the backward areas and helping raise standards of education," officials said.