With the significance of digital transformation in the education industry, UGC (University Grants Commission), AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) and the Department of Higher Education have started the process of establishing Digital universities in India. This idea was first introduced in the presentation of the Union Budget 22-23 by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.
The objective of the Digital University in India
The main objective of setting up the Digital campus in the higher educational institutes is to have students across the country access the world-class quality education with global standards. Furthermore, it will provide a tailored great learning experience directly at their doorsteps. According to the Government, the Digital University will be established using the “Network hub-spoke model”, supported by cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) being used for hub building. Moreover, the university will be available in multiple Indian languages and ICT formats. The top public universities and institutions of India will also anticipate taking part and collaborating as a network of hub spokes for Digital University.
The Key Features of Digital University in India
- No Restriction on Seats
Digital universities will not limit the number of seats available for students for each course or education program. This was done in order to address the issues of restricted seats earlier available in higher education universities and colleges.
- Widely Accessible Higher Education
Through Digital University, it will give easy access to remote learning, quality education and a personalized learning experience to all the students in India, irrespective of their language or geographical location.
- Reduce Inequalities in Faculty Development & Offers More Opportunities
The digital university will bridge the gap that is often seen in faculty development, enrollment in Socio-Economic Disadvantaged Groups(SEDGs), employability skills and more.
- Phy-igital
With the perfect blend of virtual and physical modes of education, Digital University will pave a great step towards an immersive and experiential learning experience.
- No Job Losses & Pay Cuts for Teachers
To accommodate education with ever-changing industry demands, the Digital University will focus on the trends on how hiring is taking place across the industry and enable the opportunity to customize and personalize the education for the students. In addition to this, the establishment of physical colleges and universities will continue to happen as a result of no loss of employment for teachers.
- Digital University Builds Collaboration with EdTech Platforms
With the aim of using educational technology to deliver quality education, the digital universities will be able to create their own facilities using EdTech platforms. Moreover, they can leverage the use of modern technologies offered by EdTech platforms such as Camu Digital Campus to create high-quality content for learning and ease the scholastic and administrative processes of educational organizations.
Summing Up!
Although the proposal for introducing the Digital University was made in the Union budget recently, UGC, AICTE, and the Department of Higher Education have begun their process to establish it. Along with the stakeholders, they have commenced the work that is required in the formation of Digital universities in India. All the information and details regarding this process were shared in the Rajya Sabha by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Rajkumar Ranajan Singh.