Distance Learning

The process of studying without going to a classroom is distance learning. Today, technology has made this a probable option for us. Distance education is now available online; it is known as‘Electronic Learning’ or simply‘e-learning’. E-learning is technically different from distance learning; however, both serve the same purpose.

E-learning is enabled by the development of technology - the internet to be precise. The world has become tech-savvy, and the computer is ruling practically every field— education being no exception.

Online programmes are a boon for professionals, who want to continue their education. One can enroll in an online degree programme in business, nursing, technology, accounting, education, media and many more professional streams.

Virtual lessons

A lot of institutes like Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA) are now going online. Lectures are broadcasted online on a specific date and time via satellite. It’s a virtual classroom. Therefore, access to a computer with internet connection becomes essential. Students have to ensure that they are online during the said date and time, lest they miss the lecture and all that was taught, unless they know someone else who is pursuing the same course from the same university. Although students can see the teacher delivering lectures, they will not be able to meet them unless there is a contact class conducted. The lecture can be‘attended’ by all the students enrolling for the course across the world. There may be just one student in a city, but he/she can be a part of the lecture.

Giving an online lecture is not a simple task. The teacher has to be trained to be able to teach online in the e-environment, which is relatively difficult and different for both, the teacher and the student.

Nivedita, who has done a PG Diploma in Data Analytics and Market Research from MICA via e-learning says,“Classes are on the regular basis and lectures are broadcasted on the internet. I found the experience very different.” She further adds,“Students take a while to get used to the e-environment of the classroom.”

The first step

Students have to be careful while selecting the university and course. With thousands of online programmes in the offering, students should make sure the course and the university is recognised by the National Academic Council (NAC). The university should be a deemed university appearing in the UGC list. It's in best interest to get your online college degree from one of the recognised leaders in the industry– a college that has a good reputation and is accredited to provide online programmes that will be recognised by present and future employers.

Courses can be searched for and applied online. Everything from application forms to fee structure and admission processes is available online. Admissions are broadly based on the Statement of Purpose (SOP). The confirmations are also given online or via couriers. Lectures are conducted irrespective of the number of students pursuing the course at any place.

Examinations and assignments

Question papers are couriered to the centre allotted by the university in the respective city and exams are held in the traditional way. Again, the distance is no bound. The university can be from any part of the world.

Projects and assignments can be either mailed or couriered to the university.

“E-learning has brought courses available in other cities or countries to your doorstep, thus reducing the distance,” concludes Nivedita.

The first steps to problem-solving

What is a problem? Problem means slipping into an uncomfortable position, level of severity of pain being different.

The intensity of a crisis depends on how you take it, rather than how severe the problem is. Injury being the same, a wound at the finger-nail is more painful than at the palm.

When a problem engulfs us, our first reaction is “Why me.” It is brooding over the matter rather than searching for the way out.

To solve a problem, analyse the following five aspects:

1. What I am going to lose by this? 2. How can I recover it back? 3. What should I do to return to my normal position? 4. How much time it would take for salvage (of money/ prestige/ relationship/ freedom etc)? 5. How can I minimise the time or the loss, to overcome the catastrophe?

We waste more time thinking about the reason and people responsible for it, rather than searching for the solution.

When you get lesser marks in a subject, or suddenly your rankings come down, analyse the same above points:

What to do to minimise the loss, how to do it fast to recover to the original position.

It is not because problems are difficult that we do not dare to solve them, but because we do not dare, the problems get complicated.

When you are agonised, go to more agonised people.

Visit a cancer hospital or an old-age home, offer fruits and gifts, talk to them and that makes you comfortable as you realise that your problem is less severe.

When you are confronted with a problem, write it down, glare at it continuously and you will suddenly find a new dimension to solve it. When ‘lift’ was invented, people were comfortable but irritated with its slow pace. Though much faster lifts were discovered later, their impatience continued.

Nobody could analyse the reason. One engineer discovered that it is not the slowness, but the veiled insecurity (while the lift is running up or downwards) is hurrying them to come out of it.

And more importantly, the exasperation of standing close to each other, the odour, immobility, quietness and the congestion is making them irritated.

He suggested fixing of mirrors on four sides to look at and a music system, to keep people engaged. And that solved the problem.

YANDAMOORI VEERENDRANATH

yandamoori@hotmail.com

Five-year AUCE engineering courses

Management gurus say – Innovation is the lifeline for survival and betterment. And when it comes to innovation, the Andhra University College of Engineering (AUCE) seems to find some course or the other. Last year the college developed a couple of new M. Tech. programmes like artificial intelligence and robotics, nano-technology and computer aided chemical engineering.

Staying in tune with innovation, the engineering college launched two new MS integrated programmes this year: MS in Information Technology and MS in Software Engineering.

Giving details on the courses, principal of the college Allam Appa Rao, said: MS programmes are basically offered only by the IITs in India. The MS programmes offered by AUCE are equivalent to any post graduate degree like M. Tech or MS from any other foreign universities.

The duration of the course is for five years and the basic eligibility criterion is 10+2 with MPC. The students have to clear an entrance examination that is conducted by AUCE. The intake of each programme is 30 per year. For details visit: www.andhrauniversity.info.

The principal also said that programmes are designed to suit the industry requirements and are futuristic and research oriented with adequate industry interface. “The first three years would be like any other normal engineering course with focus on fundamentals and subjects. The innovative area would be the fourth and the fifth year.

The thrust on specialisation would be during these two years. We also intend to tie-up with a couple of top universities in the world like MIT, Stanford, University of California- Berkeley and with a few other top universities in China and Japan also. It could be a twinning programme or a direct exchange module.

The last two years would also include a lot of research and project activity with industry interface,” he said. Unlike the normal B. Tech programmes where the total number of courses hover around 40 to 50, the MS programmes would have 60 to 70 courses with intensive practical sessions.

Methodology

The principal of AUCE informed that apart from being integrated courses the programmes are designed in tune with the industry requirements. Under the MS Software Engineering programme, the students would be taught how to develop a software product just like any other engineering product.

“The country is doing extremely well in software industry, but how many products have we designed on our own so far. This course focuses on the process of making a software product,” said Dr. Appa Rao.

The same would be the approach for MS Information Technology. The focus would on areas like intelligence, security and e-commerce. The college intends to tie-up with companies in the sectors of banking and insurance where IT is used extensively.

Medical education set to get a quality boost

The Central Government has finally decided to recognise postgraduate degrees such as Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons and Member of Royal College of Physicians. Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’ announcement recently at a function in Chennai has been widely welcomed by senior doctors.

Doctors feel that the move will bring in the much needed expertise and will also mean replicating the examples of other countries and improving the quality of medical education in India. Doctors also call for better regulations to ensure mishaps are reduced.

Advantage

FRCS and MRCP are equivalent of master’s degree in medicine and surgery given by Indian medical universities. The announcement will mean that Indian doctors who have additional qualifications from English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore will now be considered qualified to practise in India. The move is expected to be reciprocal with these countries also recognising Indian degrees, says A. Rajasekaran, president, National Board of Examinations, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. Dr. Rajasekaran is himself a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Recognition

In 1978, after England de-recognised Indian medical degrees, India reciprocated by de-recognising the FRCS and MRCP. Thus Indian doctors who studied abroad for these degrees were not considered to have special qualifications by Indian doctors, professional medical bodies and the Indian Government.

The reason for de-recognition of Indian degrees was because of a fall in the standards in medical education. “This move (of recognising) will mean opening the gates to government hospitals,” says Rajan Santhosham, former head of cardio-thoracic department, Government General Hospital, Chennai. He has been examiner in India and abroad for FRCS and is a teaching faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons in Hong Kong. The Royal College of Surgeons admitted Dr. Rajan as fellow during his tenure at the GH.

Though not recognised by the Government, corporate hospitals have absorbed doctors with foreign postgraduate degrees. Senior doctors say the Government’s move would mean that experienced doctors would return to India instead of seeking employment in Malaysia and other middle-eastern countries. Initially, the move would mean more doctors would be absorbed by private medical colleges and universities. Senior medical professionals believe the move will also percolate to government teaching hospitals.

Rules for regularisation

Senior professionals say it is time for laying down rules for medical practice too. “Many of our students have no opening abroad. We have to become international [in our outlook]. Our postgraduate institutions are of varying standards unlike in the U.S. or the U.K. These countries have rigid laws about who can perform a surgery, but in our country a person with an M.B.B.S. degree can take up an open heart surgery though they do not do such a thing,” points out Dr. Rajan.

G. Balakrishnan, former head of Plastic Surgery Department at Government Stanley Hospital is currently involved in research and calls for focus on research. “In smaller countries, visiting doctors like me can do research in laboratories with ease,” he says, calling for an end to bureaucracy that makes research difficult to pursue in India. “We need state-of-the-art cadaver research laboratories so that students and researchers can benefit. Our PGs and surgeons should be encouraged to write research papers,” he says.

HCL’s new training centre

HCL Infosystems Limited has opened a new career development centre at Velachery to offer courses in network engineering and information technology. The centre was recently inaugurated by Information Technology Secretary C. Chandramouli. “Courses have been designed keeping in mind the specific needs of modern day organisations,” said S.T.M. Eswar, head of the career development centre. A three-month full time course and a one-year part-time course in network eng ineering are offered. Placement support is available. For details, log on to www.hclinfoystems.in