| The courses include Master's, Bachelor's, Diploma and
Post Graduate Diploma programs. Twinning programs have
also been launched, in collaboration with IT organisations.
The main advantage that distance education offers students
is in providing requirement-based and career oriented
programs while offering flexible course offerings, delivery
systems and processes. The University uses 500 plus strong
nationwide network of learning centers to deliver its
programs. This enables a student to choose a learning
center that is easily accessible to him/her. |
|
The University learning
centers of SMU-DE will be permitted to offer all courses
leading to the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. To improve
the quality of lecture and faculty presentations, all
the University learning centers have been equipped with
an effective interactive distance learning system, making
use of VSAT technology. These presentations broadcast
from the studio at Manipal can be seen and heard live
by the students in their centers. |
|
| The study centers are linked by a robust
V-SAT network providing a unique amalgam of instructor-led
courses supplemented by online delivery. |
|
| The programmers have been well received and
range from diploma to bachelor and postgraduate degrees.
Manipal University also provides additional courseware
for select markets including Sri Lanka, the Middle East
and select African partner countries. These courses are
offered jointly with well established channel partners
who have a strong network in these locations. |
|
|
| Manipal University also delivers an MBA
programmer on the Hughes Direct Way platform for MAHE. The
programmer is designed specifically for working professionals
who wish to enhance their business management skills and
keep abreast with the latest tools and techniques of today's
corporate world. The most important aspect of the EMBA
Program is that it allows the participants to earn a MBA
degree from MAHE, without interrupting their career or
having to leave their current location. |
|
| As a Learning Resource Centre for SMU-DE and
MAHE, Manipal University provides infrastructure, processes,
delivery and audit support. Manipal University also engages
with the industry to ensure that curriculum and syllabus
are in sync with emerging industry requirements. |
|
| SMU-DE Features: |
 |
Caters to the needs
of students and working professionals |
|
Allows lateral entry of students |
|
Provides opportunity to continuing
education |
|
Lab work and additional support
is Industry oriented |
|
Confirms to UGC standards |
|
Quality courseware, Strong faculty |
|
Reasonable fees provided by study
centers |
|
|
| CME |
| Given the strength of the Group in the area
of Medical Education; Manipal University has established
a separate Continuing Medical Education (CME) division.
Changes in medical technology, the need to maintain standards
are clearly drivers. In addition, if India is to be positioned
as a hub for medical tourism, customers will demand a
robust CME programmer. Manipal University therefore have
begun its initial efforts to position it for this segment.
Initial programmers have been developed and rolled out
in the area of allied health and nursing training. Additional
modules to address the GP and healthcare segment are
expected to roll out shortly |
|
| Corporate Training |
| Employee retention, continuing learning
and enhancing human capital are the emerging as one of
the key challenges for the corporate sectors. Knowledge,
skill up-gradation and ongoing learning remain critical
factors for growth and competitiveness as corporate are
willing to invest a part of their budgets for in-house
and external training. The emerging sectors in India such
as insurance and the BPO segment are also embracing this
trend. A separate division to address this market has been
created. |
|
|
| Continuing Learning |
| In addition to the foregoing, Manipal University
is also focusing on the continuing learning and vocational
training segment. These typically relate to short term
and certification modules with an emphasis on enhancing
competencies in given areas. |
|
| Learning Technologies |
| New technologies are making available cost
effective other methods for anywhere, anytime, anyhow
learning as also for enhancing productive and effective
corporate training. |
|
| Areas of interest will
include inter-alia: |
|
Content conversion
and content development |
|
Deployment of LMS & LCMS including
integration services |
|
Deployment of digital libraries,
new systems and administrative tools for education
institutions |
|
E-learning solutions |
|
|
| Accreditation |
| Manipal University is also seeking to build
strategic partnership to add to its quality and to its
accreditation standards. Such partnerships will also include
focused initiatives with institutions both domestic and
international in improving quality, adding value through
additional accreditation as well as in incorporating international
best practices in ODL |
|
| Summary |
Manipal University today is possibly one of the largest private sector players in the distance
education segment in India. To ensure it's positioning
as a pure-player in distance education and learning
services company. |
|
|
