BRAOU to start online courses soon

To set-up Centre for Online Education and Learning

Hyderabad: Online education has become a new normal for students due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In tune with the demand, Dr BR Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) has decided to launch online courses. Accordingly, the Executive Council of the university has approved to set-up Centre for Online Education and Learning.

“To start with, we are planning to offer two to three-credit courses online. The online courses will be linked to the Swayam portal of the Central government and anyone can opt for courses. Necessary work is being done in this regard,” BRAOU Vice-Chancellor, Prof K Seetharama Rao said.

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Starting this year, the university is planning to enrol students into various courses in two cycles. The first cycle of admissions will commence every year in July and the second cycle of enrolments will be done in December/January.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already permitted BRAOU to hold admissions to distance education courses in two cycles, which will enable the university to increase its enrolments. During the academic year 2020-21, a total of 1,12,600 students were enroled in various courses of the university.

These apart, plans are being drawn by the university to launch BCom (Hons), a four-year course with an option to specialise in a single subject in the third or fourth year. Also, courses including Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work at the undergraduate level are in the offing.

“The university is planning to offer international studies at BA level as one of the options as part of the discipline-specific compulsory course,” authorities said. So far, the PG programmes being offered in Telugu medium will also be available in English medium from the academic year 2022-23. A decision has been taken by the university to introduce English medium in the PG programmes.

“Due to demand, the university has decided to offer PG programmes in both Telugu and English mediums,” officials said. Apart from new UG and PG programmes, the university will start rolling out skill development courses like for office and administrative skills for the executive assistant posts.