AAU to launch 54 online certificate, diploma courses through open, distance mode

HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Jan 3: The Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is all set to launch 54 online certificate and diploma courses through open and distance learning mode from February this year.
The AAU vice chancellor, Dr Bidyut Chandan Deka said, “The university has geared up to introduce a wide range of online courses for enabling youths of the region to take up self-employment ventures in agriculture and allied sectors.”
“The duration of the courses would be from 10-days to three months for certificate mode, while for diploma the duration would be from six months to one year,” said Deka.
He said that initially eight certificate courses will be launched from next month – tentatively from February 15.
The programmes will be four of one-month durations and the rest of 10-day ones. The vice chancellor stated that modules of the courses having instructional videos will also include hands-on training sessions at institutes/units of the varsity spread over the state.
He said that the eligibility for the programmes would be under-matric to HS passed for different certificate courses.
Deka said that to run the programmes, a Directorate of Open and Distance Learning is being established within the Extension Education Institute of the varsity, which recently was shifted from Jorhat campus to Veterinary College  campus at Khanapara, Guwahati.
He said that by the year-end, the university plans to roll out altogether 54 programmes under this mode. Deka further stated that a process was on to upgrade four laboratories of the university and get accreditation by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).