Sankaracharya University to launch its online learning course in 2016

Come January and you can learn Sanskrit offered by the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) from anywhere in the world online.

The varsity’s first experiment in the massive open online courses (MOOC) platform will kick-start in 2016.

Confirming the development, Vice Chancellor M. C. Dileepkumar told The Hindu on Monday that the courses will be offered under the varsity’s international school set up using assistance from the State government.

“We will offer two courses; one certificate and the other a diploma course in the beginning. The duration of the certificate course is six months while the diploma programme will run for a year,” he said.

The MOOC initiative will be linked to the varsity’s ongoing programmes to popularise Sanskrit around the globe.

“People of any age could join the online courses. It will not be free, as the varsity will have to meet various expenses including the salary for teachers involved in it,” Mr. Dileepkumar said.

The varsity is now planning to introduce a differential fee structure for students in the country and abroad. A flexible learning system will be in place for the online courses. Learners will have the option of completing the courses without appearing for an examination.

Smart classrooms will be set up at the learning centres of the varsity to enable students to log on to the internet to watch the classes live. The e-governance network on the campus will be used extensively to promote massive open online courses.

The Vice Chancellor said that experts in Sanskrit from outside the State will be roped in to strengthen the project on open online courses.

“We also hope to get support from the Centre for popularizing MOOCs in a big way from next year,” he said. An expert committee will oversee and monitor the implementation of the delivery of open online courses.