KANPUR: The premier IIT-Kanpur has emerged first among the IITs to have developed an open platform where anybody from across the country can study 18 different courses. On the completion of the studies the candidate can appear in the online exam and clear the same. The institute is now working in the direction of introducing core subjects of B.Tech course taught in the first and the second year (in IIT-Kanpur) on the open platform. The open platform has been named as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).

Director IITK Prof Indranil Manna informed that there is no institute in the country which has an open platform where outsiders (not from the campus) can choose the online course and study and thereafter, appear in the exam once he/she is prepared for the same.

Prof Manna said that IIT-Kanpur is serious in the area of education technology and even the Ministry of Human Resources and Development has appreciated the concept of open education developed by us. He said that this is known as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).

"The best feature of this open platform of education being that any number of students can register and study. The study material is provided on the platform. At present there are 18 courses being offered. A committee of five professors is working on including some selectives of core subjects of science taught in first and second year of BTech on the institute campus", informed IIT-Kanpur director and further added that that funds for the open platform are being arranged by Ministry of HRD and by IIT-K. He claimed that other IITs are now following the suit including IIT-Madras.

He mentioned that the education is for all and the open platform will empower all those interested in studying further or taking their skills higher. Institute director further mentioned that Prof TV Prabhakar of the institute is the brain child behind the open platform and lauded him for his efforts.