Education has always been the key to success. The knowledge you gain; the way you implement determines how your future shapes up. It is not easy to get into the best schools. The primary reason being money and lack of resources. And in the competitive world that we live in, it is all the more tough to make it into a good school or college.
Distance Education in India
But in the past few years with the advancement made by the internet and expansion of the virtual world, it has become easier for students to lay their hands on quality education. It has been possible because of digital advancements like Distance Education.
There has been significant progress in the field of Distance education in India. More and more students are joining the institutes and their desired courses. In today's world and economy, it isn't easy to get the kind of education you want. Education comes at a price, and people don't want to be buried under student loans. In conditions like these, people often shift to distance learning.
The best thing about distance education is that it is economical and allows you multiple opportunities to improve your skillset. And the past few years, Distance learning has made some significant advances in India.
Machine Learning Specialization
The Machine Learning Specialization is a foundational online program created in collaboration between DeepLearning.AI and Stanford Online. This beginner-friendly program will teach you the fundamentals of machine learning and how to use these techniques to build real-world AI applications.
Explore DetailsHow does Distance Education work?
Traditionally learning was all about books and paper. And it is still very prominent. People need to purchase study material, attend classes and physically appear for exams in authorized centres. But things have been evolving. The acceptance of digital learning platforms has been a little slow, but India is definitely progressing.
There was a time when things were restricted to study material and periodic exams at a specified location. But those times are gone. Now there are apps and websites to help you make the best of distance education.
Most universities which offer online courses or distance learning courses, do it via an app or a website. Teachers either make videos or go live. Most recorded sessions are not interactive but packed with information. It is the most common approach seen in distance education.
There are few universities and college which choose to conduct a live session. The reason behind unpopularity is because live sessions are tough to record and steam. In addition to this, there might be some issues on the receivers’ end. But there is a significant advantage, in a live session, students are allowed to ask questions and make requests.
There are some universities which try to use a little bit of both. Most of their educational material is available in the form of downloadable videos. And they also have live sessions where students can clear their doubts.
In addition to the videos, you also get downloadable text and e-books. You might also come across interactive quizzes and online exams to improve your grasp on the subject.
What is the value of Distance Education?
Distance education has brought a major change in the Indian education system. Most people who take up distance education are people who do not have time for college. They are usually working-class professionals who have a family to support. But they also want to pursue higher degrees and rise in life. Distance education gives them that opportunity.
Since distance education is affordable, you can easily join the course of your dreams. You can work and continue studying at the same time. Once you finish your course and get certified, you can apply for your dream job. This is the prime reason why people choose distance education.
Many reputed institutes offer distance education courses to make it easy for students to study and make a living.
Deep Learning Specialization
The Deep Learning Specialization is a foundational program that will help you understand the capabilities, challenges and consequences of deep learning and prepare you to participate in the development of leading-edge AI technology. In this Specialization, you will build and train neural network architectures such as Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks, LSTMs, Transformers and learn how to make them better with strategies such as Dropout, BatchNorm, Xavier/He initialization and more.
Explore DetailsAdvantages and Disadvantages of Distance Education
Like all good things, distance education comes with a set of advantages and drawbacks.
Advantages:
- Economical
- Incredibly flexible
- Time-saving procedure
- On-demand access to education
- Great for people who already have a job
- You get the freedom to join the college and course of your choice
- Great for stay at home mothers who desire to get back in the field
Disadvantages:
- Prone to boredom
- Probability of getting scammed
- Less interaction between teachers and students
- Students who are used to traditional learning methods might have problems adjusting to distance learning
What are the best Correspondence Courses for Distance Education in India?
There are many undergraduate and postgraduate courses to choose from. These courses are usually UGS approved. Candidates who opt for distance education are usually graduates looking to complete their postgraduate degree. Never the less these are some popular distance learning courses pursued by students.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts covers a lot of topics. And once you have a B.A. degree, you can go on to have a career in business, theatre, education, recreation, writing and designing.
Master in Business Administration
Who doesn't know about MBA? But did you know that you can get your MBA degree online? Most people might doubt the credibility of online MBA courses, but never the less there are universities which excel in providing excellent online education regarding MBA. Studying MBA would expose you to things like accounting, finance, marketing and human resources.
Bachelor in Computer Application
Bachelor in Computer Application is one of the most sought after undergraduate degree. It covers many computer languages which will help you with software designing.
Some other common degrees include- Bachelor in Commerce, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, B.Sc. Information Technology, Masters in Science, Bachelor of Education and Master in Interior Design. All these courses are UGC recognized.
Prompt Engineering (Generative AI)
Learn to augment and amplify your human creativity and critical thinking with Generative AI. By the end of the course, you will be able to use Generative AI as an exoskeleton for your mind. In this hands-on specialization, you will learn how to tap into the emerging capabilities of large language models to automate tasks, increase productivity, and augment human intelligence.
Explore DetailsUniversities offering Correspondence Courses for Distance Education in India
There are many universities which provide legit distance education courses. These are some of the most common universities which provide distance education
IGNOU: Indira Gandhi National Open University
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers a bunch of online courses. It is known for its experienced team and dedicated professionals. This university has undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses for students in arts, science, commerce and management departments. And all courses are UGS approved.
Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning
SCDL is another university which has a reputation in the field of distance learning. They offer postgraduate and diploma courses related to management. The best thing about this institute is that they have a live chat session where students can interact with teachers.
Sikkim Manipal University
Sikkim Manipal University offers courses related to various subjects. It is one of the most prominent universities in North-eastern India. Although a private institute there is a lot to look forward to at this university.
Other prominent UGC recognized universities include - IMT Distance and open learning institute, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, Netaji Subhas Open University and many more.
Conclusion
Distance learning is still in its infancy, and it is best if you do not rush into it. There are many fake universities and courses out there. So make sure that you run a background check before joining a university for distance learning.