Catholic university launches free certified online courses

It is seen by learners across the globe as the next ‘big thing’ in education.

By C M Paul
Guwahati:  A Catholic university in India is offering free university certified on-line courses for learners across the globe.

“Don Bosco University (DBU) Global launched its very own MOOC (Massively Open Online Courses). It is open to the general public, absolutely free,” said Stephen Mavely, its vice chancellor.

MOOC is seen by learners across the globe as the next ‘big thing’ in education, which allows traditional universities to allow public and private participation, and grant certificates, explains Francis Fernandes, the university’s director of distance education.

DBU Global’s MOOC initiative, uGlobal (accessible at www.uglobal.org), in partnership with University18, saw the launch of a Certificate Course in Management with some 2,600 students from across the Indian Sub-Continent enrolling in the first few weeks of its opening.

Others include courses offered in Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Business Strategy.

“We use a series of pre-recorded lectures taught in an easy to follow manner. The program delivers an introductory level course and learners who complete the assessments successfully receive a certificate from the University,” said Raunak Singh Ahluwalia, DBU Global director.

uGlobal also partners with the Indira Gandhi National Open University for the delivery of a few other programs, and intends to add on other Universities from around the country.

By the end of 2013, DBU Global hopes to have about 10,000 students enrolled over a variety of MOOC Courses in uGlobal.