Joining the bandwagon of universities offering technical education via distance education, Bangalore University on Monday decided to offer BE/BTech in open/distance learning (ODL) mode, possibly making way for a confrontation withVisvesvaraya Technological University (VTU).
The BU academic council cleared the first hurdle to allow the university to offer practical-intensive technical education courses in ODL mode from this year. This will help rural students and working professionals to add on another degree. The decision is contentious as VTU, which governs all engineering colleges in the state, has already objected to Karnataka State Open University's move to offer BE/BTech as correspondence course. VTU has written to the higher education department saying that offering technical courses in distance mode will affect the quality of engineering education in the state.
UVCE UNDER LENS
When the topic came up for discussion, there was a long debate over deteriorating quality of education offered at University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, BU's only affiliated technical college. "UVCE is one of the oldest colleges in the country and until recently, it was ranked among the best. Of late, there are no takers for UVCE and there is a feeling that BU is not taking good care of the college. We should ask the college authorities to present a white paper on its activities and explain why UVCE is not a toppers' choice anymore," members said. Some suggested that the university first determine the quality of conventional degree courses being offered through distance mode before adding technical courses.
BU VC N Prabhu Dev said the university has drawn up a vision document to nurture UVCE and make it a centre of excellence. He said the university will obtain approvals from the Distance Education Council and the All India Council of Technical Education before launching the BE programme in ODL mode. To begin with, BU plans to offer programmes in civil and mechanical engineering and will tie up with 50 colleges to deliver the classes.
The BU academic council cleared the first hurdle to allow the university to offer practical-intensive technical education courses in ODL mode from this year. This will help rural students and working professionals to add on another degree. The decision is contentious as VTU, which governs all engineering colleges in the state, has already objected to Karnataka State Open University's move to offer BE/BTech as correspondence course. VTU has written to the higher education department saying that offering technical courses in distance mode will affect the quality of engineering education in the state.
UVCE UNDER LENS
When the topic came up for discussion, there was a long debate over deteriorating quality of education offered at University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, BU's only affiliated technical college. "UVCE is one of the oldest colleges in the country and until recently, it was ranked among the best. Of late, there are no takers for UVCE and there is a feeling that BU is not taking good care of the college. We should ask the college authorities to present a white paper on its activities and explain why UVCE is not a toppers' choice anymore," members said. Some suggested that the university first determine the quality of conventional degree courses being offered through distance mode before adding technical courses.
BU VC N Prabhu Dev said the university has drawn up a vision document to nurture UVCE and make it a centre of excellence. He said the university will obtain approvals from the Distance Education Council and the All India Council of Technical Education before launching the BE programme in ODL mode. To begin with, BU plans to offer programmes in civil and mechanical engineering and will tie up with 50 colleges to deliver the classes.
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