New Delhi [India], April 4 (HBTV): The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is preparing to revive five discontinued engineering courses at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in blended mode, more than a decade after they were phased out, officials said.

A committee headed by IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Nageshwar Rao has been constituted to evaluate the feasibility of the proposal. It is expected to submit its report within a month.

According to officials, the proposed programs for relaunch include: Diploma in Civil Engineering (General), Diploma in Computer Science and Technology (DCST), Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (DME), BTech programs, and Diploma in Engineering and Technology.

AICTE Chairman Prof TG Sitharam highlighted the importance of blended learning in technical education, stating that it offers greater flexibility and affordability by allowing students to complete theoretical coursework online and attend in-person sessions for practical training.

‘If approved, the blended mode will allow students to complete theoretical coursework online while attending in-person sessions for practical training,’ Sitharam said.

‘What we have learned is that blended learning is here to stay. With the advent of augmented reality and virtual reality, students can conduct experiments online. However, we cannot call an engineering program purely online. Students will have to spend three weeks in the university for practical sessions, while the remaining nine weeks can be completed online. We are working on a model that will significantly reduce the cost of learning and improve accessibility,’ he added.

Officials confirmed that the committee, which was formed in January, has already held several meetings.

Simultaneously, AICTE has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education seeking approval for the resumption of engineering programs.

‘We want to take the concurrence of the Ministry of Education regarding this. We are awaiting their response,’ the AICTE chairperson said.

IGNOU had earlier been directed to discontinue its Bachelor of Technology (BTech) and Diploma in Engineering programs following regulatory orders.

In 2009, the Ministry of Education issued guidelines barring universities from offering technical courses, including BTech and BE, through distance learning. This directive was reiterated in 2012 when the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Distance Education Council (DEC) instructed IGNOU to stop its engineering programs.

IGNOU had previously offered BTech degrees through distance learning under the Vertically Integrated Engineering Programme (VIEP), admitting students in 2009–10 and 2010–11, before discontinuing the program. The university also offered diplomas in Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, and Mechanical Engineering, all of which were phased out by 2012.

(ANI)